6.

GEOMETRIC MODELING 1 dimensional Geometric Model 2 dimensional Geometric Model 2.5 dimensional Geometric Model 3 dimensional Geometric Model

6.1

2D GEOMETRIC MODEL

A 2D geometric model is a geometric model of an object as two-dimensional figure, usually on the Euclidean or Cartesian plane. Even though all material objects are three-dimensional, a 2D geometric model is often adequate for certain flat objects, such as paper cut-outs and machine parts made of sheet metal. 2D geometric models are also convenient for describing certain types of artificial images, such as technical diagrams, logos, the glyphs of a font, etc. They are an essential tool of 2D computer graphics and often used as components of 3D geometric models, e.g. to describe the decals to be applied to a car model.

Figure 15 Common 2D geometries in CAD modeling 6.2 2.5D GEOMETRIC MODEL 2.5D ("two-and-a-half-dimensional"), 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:

Graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to

fake or appear to be three-dimensional (3D) when in fact they are not, or

Game play in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is restricted to a

two-dimensional plane.

(a) Front view

(b) Oblique view

(c) Side view

Figure 16 Illustration of 2.5 D solid models Figure 16 illustrates a 2.5 D model being rotated through front, oblique and side views. The arrangement of strokes in 3D is illustrated at the left in each view, while the 2D rendering produced is shown at right. In this cartoon, the front and side views are manually drawn by an artist, while the oblique view is generated automatically by rotating the strokes anchor positions while interpolating the strokes 2D shapes. 6.3 3D GEOMETRIC MODEL

3D models represent a 3D object using a collection of points in 3D space, connected by various geometric entities such as triangles, lines, curved surfaces, etc. Being a collection of data (points and other information), 3D models can be created by hand, algorithmically (procedural modeling), or scanned. 3D models are widely used anywhere in 3D graphics. Actually, their use predates the widespread use of 3D graphics on personal computers. Many computer games used prerendered images of 3D models as sprites before computers could render them in real-time.

Figure 17 Standard 3D geometries in CAD modeling 6.3.1 Representation Almost all 3D models can be divided into two categories.

Solid - These models define the volume of the object they represent (like a rock). These are more realistic, but more difficult to build. Solid models are mostly used for nonvisual simulations such as medical and engineering simulations, for CAD and specialized visual applications such as ray tracing and constructive solid geometry

Shell/boundary - these models represent the surface, e.g. the boundary of the object, not its volume (like an infinitesimally thin eggshell). These are easier to work with than solid models. Almost all visual models used in games and film are shell models.

6.3.2 Compared to 2D Methods 3D photorealistic effects are often achieved without wireframe modeling and are sometimes indistinguishable in the final form. Somegraphic art software includes filters that can be applied to 2D vector graphics or 2D raster graphics on transparent layers. Advantages of wireframe 3D modeling over exclusively 2D methods include: Flexibility, ability to change angles or animate images with quicker rendering of the changes; Ease of rendering, automatic calculation and rendering photorealistic effects rather than mentally visualizing or estimating; Accurate photorealism, less chance of human error in misplacing, overdoing, or forgetting to include a visual effect. Disadvantages compare to 2D photorealistic rendering may include a software learning curve and difficulty achieving certain photorealistic effects. Some photorealistic effects may be achieved with special rendering filters included in the 3D modeling software. For the best of both worlds, some artists use a combination of 3D modeling followed by editing the 2D

computer-rendered images from the 3D model.