Tom Smith explores how 3D technologies can be used in-browser to create beautiful and highly engaging interactive experiences
WebGL is a JavaScript API for real-time rendering of 3D and 2D graphics within a browser and is based on OpenGL ES – the software API used on embedded systems such as smartphones and tablets.
Traditionally, web browsers used the CPU to rendercontent, but in recent years browsers have adoptedsupport for hardware acceleration, which means webdevelopers can now tap into a device’s GPU to allow for rendering of complex graphics. It’s a tough language to grasp, but luckily there are a number of JavaScript libraries that make WebGL more accessible, such as Babylon.js and three.js.
Such technology is merging skill sets between traditional web developers, game developers and VFX artists, where all these disciplines work together to develop interactive experiences on the web. Having an understanding on basic VFX principles is crucial – lighting, cameras, animation and 3D geometry all come into play – and it’s vital to have a grasp of JavaScript frameworks and HTML.
EXPORT 3D FOR THE WEB
A particular problem associated with exporting 3D assets into a WebGL environment is the weight of the files. When dealing with heavy assets like 3D models, extra care has to be taken during asset creation to ensure the models are loaded efficiently. There are many factors that can increase a 3D model’s size, but there are three good rules to follow to help reduce weight in a browser.
1. Good topology
Topology refers to the mesh flow of a 3D model – the cleaner the mesh the more efficient the model, meaning fewer polygons used and a reduction in the overall weight of the asset.
2. Normal mapping
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