Module: Export To VRML ()

Description:

This module enables you to export a triangular Surface and optionally the 3D data set from which the surface is derived into a VRML scene. The scene consists of a coordinate system and some animations: the 3D data set is displayed by three ortho slices. To get an idea how the basic 3D data set is related to the derived surface you can set the orthogonal slices via sliders, scrolling through the triangular surface. Moreover, the materials of the surface are clickable objects, which means that they can be hidden or shown by a mouse click.

You can publish such a VRML scene directly on the web, just put a link to it into your homepage. To view the file by yourself, make sure that a VRML viewer plugin like Cosmo Player (version 2.1.1 or newer) is installed for your web browser.

If connected to the Surface View module, a special simple export mode becomes available which produces a VRML scene containing only a single IndexedFaceSet node. This is necessary for some 3D printers with limited VRML parsing abilities.

If no surface is connected, only the slices may be exported to VRML.

Press the Apply button to start the export.

Connections:

Data [required]
The surface to be inserted into the VRML scene. It can either be an Surface data set or the Surface View module.

Image [optional]
A scalar field of type Uniform Scalar Field or of type UniformColorField3 is needed to export the ortho slices. If omitted, no slice is displayed in the VRML scene.

Ports:

Simple Mode

If connected to the Surface View module, a special simple export mode becomes available which produces a VRML scene containing only a single IndexedFaceSet node. This is necessary for some 3D printers with limited VRML parsing abilities.

Filename

Name of the file the VRML code is written to. If export of slices is selected, the slice images are stored to the same directory.

Selection

Info

In simple export mode, the coloring mode and the number of primitives is shown hereno slice are (only available in simple mode).

Selected

This port shows the selected materials (not available in simple mode).

Buffer

With this port the selection of materials can be modified. To remove a material from the list, choose this material from the Material menu and press Remove. Similarly you can use Add. Clear clears the selection list. Initially, all materials are selected (not available in simple mode).

Mask

If the simple export mode was chosen, no selection by material is provided. Instead one can use the selection mechanism of the connected Surface View module. Toggle Selected to export only the primitives selected there, i.e., the visible ones (only available in simple

Slices

Export Slices

If toggled, the slice images taken from the image data are exported. If no image data is connected, no slice is exported regardless of this toggle.

Data Window

Needed to map data values of input field to gray values. See module Ortho Slice for details.

Slice Numbers

Enter the numbers of slices per direction you want to be selectable in the VRML scene. Only available on SGI and when image data is connected.

VRML Output

Render Specular

Adding a specular color to the scene which makes the surface more look like plastic.

Render Smooth

Gives the scene a smoother appearance by using vertex normals.

Move Slices

If clicked, the slices will actually be moved through the volume when the sliders are operated. Otherwise, only the textures mapped onto the slices are cycled.

Static Switches

If clicked, the small objects used to switch on and off the surface parts will be fixed on the screen. Note that this requires at least Cosmo Player 2.1 or similar.

Labels

Toggle this for displaying the material names near the material toggles in the VRML scene.