Scratch

geckofreak wrote:

I've seen alot of people making projects and saying they are 3-D even if they are not. One major example is 3-D jet fighter. The enemy planes grow overtime to make it look like they are getting closer but this is not 3-D. A 3 Dimensional object is an object that you can look at from any angle and get a different view. AddZero's tank or archmage's 3-D archmage are examples of true 3-D. Thruthely though, nothing on a computer can be 3-D cause the computer screen is flat. 


I just wanted to clear that tidbit of information up with everyone so people will stop calling their projects 3-D

Should the producers of movies that create a 3D illusion using special polaroid glasses quit calling their movies 3D?

Should the Panda3D software development package from MIT change its name to Panda2D?

Should the folks at Carnegie Mellon stop calling Alice an interactive 3D development environment?

Should a holographic system that produces an illusion of 3D be called a 2D system?

Is it allowable to refer to anything that doesn't truly have three dimensions as 3D?  If so, what qualifies for being referred to as 3D?

Is the following quotation from Wikipedia incorrect?

"3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. Such images may be for later display or for real-time viewing. Despite these differences, 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2D computer vector graphics in the wire frame model and 2D computer raster graphics in the final rendered display. In computer graphics software, the distinction between 2D and 3D is occasionally blurred; 2D applications may use 3D techniques to achieve effects such as lighting, and primarily 3D may use 2D rendering techniques. 3D computer graphics are often referred to as 3D models. Apart from the rendered graphic, the model is contained within the graphical data file. However, there are differences. A 3D model is the mathematical representation of any three-dimensional object (either inanimate or living). A model is not technically a graphic until it is visually displayed. Due to 3D printing, 3D models are not confined to virtual space. A model can be displayed visually as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering, or used in non-graphical computer simulations and calculations."

Last edited by dbal (2008-06-02 22:28:58)

CFCRubiks wrote:

If it has 3 dimensions, then it's 3D, otherwise it's not. So, do you think that, on a computer, something can have 3 dimensions? You decide

The animated signatures above have three dimensions:

Height
Width
Time

Are they 3D?

CFCRubiks wrote:

dbal wrote:

CFCRubiks wrote:

If it has 3 dimensions, then it's 3D, otherwise it's not. So, do you think that, on a computer, something can have 3 dimensions? You decide

The animated signatures above have three dimensions:

Height
Width
Time

Are they 3D?

Time is a dimension? Isn't dimension more like Height, width, length, volume, surface area, etc?

In the world of physics, time is clearly a dimension. Volume and surface area are questionable as dimensions, but depth, which you didn't mention, is also a dimension.

My point in responding to the original post the way that I did was to suggest through illustration that prior to holding oneself out as an expert on a topic as complex as 3D, and chastising others for supposedly using the term inappropriately, the presumed expert should have done sufficient study on the topic to actually be the expert that he or she is claiming to be.

There are many aspects to the process of rendering scenes on a flat screen so as to create the illusion of three dimensions in space.  One of those aspects is the type of projection being used.  The most convincing projection for a 3D illusion is perspective (although that isn't the only possibility).  I didn't take a look at the examples referred to by the original poster but it sounds like some of those examples did implement perspective or something close to perspective.  Also, the project posted here recently as a 3D demo did implement perspective as well as the ability to move the camera back and forth along the z-axis.  According to most experts on 3D projections, that would also be considered a good start toward using Scratch to create a 3D illusion but the author of the 3D demo still has a long way to go.

Getting back to time, in a system that has height, width, and depth, the addition of time would generally cause it to be considered a 4D system where time is the fourth dimension.

CFCRubiks wrote:

dbal wrote:

Time is a dimension

Volume and height are in 3D objects too, but I was getting at depth with some of them. And I don't believe you on the time part, but what do I know, I'm only in 7th grade?

Well, you seem to know more than I did when I was in 7th grade, so it looks like you are off to a good start.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DickBaldwin256&search_type= and you will find several videos of varying quality, most created using the Panda3D software development package, which would be considered 3D videos by most experts in the field.  At least, they would be considered as 3D renderings on a 2D screen.

archmage wrote:

Neither my projects or addzero's are true 3D. They are just a series of pictures.

They are closer to real 3-D then anything else on scratch

dingdong wrote:

I kind of laugh at mario kart 64, if you look at the characters they are not 3D, they are a bunch of 2D images to give the impression that they are 3D

All video games are 2D. Also don't diss MK64. It is a great game. I still play it and the original Super Smash Bros and I think they are better then the new wii versions

dbal wrote:

Should the Panda3D software development package from MIT change its name to Panda2D?

FYI - Panda 3D is from Carnegie Mellon as well...before that, from Disney

its height, width, and depth. and yes, time is the fourth dimendion. belive me. i'm the smartest kid in my school (including some teachers! seriously)  hey y do we have blocks that we dont even use. we should <clear> them out. i really <think[ so. 

geckofreak wrote:

archmage wrote:

Neither my projects or addzero's are true 3D. They are just a series of pictures.

They are closer to real 3-D then anything else on scratch

Have you tried Guardian 3D?  I like to call it psuedo 3D, but I think it is as good as any other 3D game on Scratch