3D Phrasebook
This is a simplified explanation of our most used 3D phrases.
3D modell – Model of the object that is to be visualised. Example: a house, a building, a product or a detail. This is also called: 3D geometry, 3D file, 3D object.
3D coordinates – An objects position is defined with: X, Y, Z –values. These values can be positive or negative.
3D modelling – In this process, the model is built by polygons.
Polygons – Multisided, geometrical shapes, the cornerstones of a 3D model. Several polygons are put together to a mesh that represents the finished model.
Extrude – A technique that means that you “pull out” a 2D plan to create a 3D model.
Boolean operation – A technique that ads or subtracts geometry from one model to another.
3D material – A colour or image in several layers that is applied to the 3D model in order to simulate a material from the real world. Also called: 3D texture, 3D shader.
3D texturing – To apply material to a model.
3D Scene – After the modelling and texturing, several models are put into a virtual set. This set is called a 3D Scene. Also called: Virtual stage.
3D view – Describes what side you are viewing the model from: Front, back, left, right, top, camera or perspective.
Light-setup – To light up the scene and the objects with different types of lights.
Spotlights – One of many light-types that is used in a 3D scene.
IES lights – Realistic light “profiles” from lamps in the real world. This makes the light from a lamp look the same in the real and the virtual world.
Camera – The virtual world uses cameras in the same way as they are used in a TV studio or film-set.
Camera view – The way the camera is facing, this corresponds to the view of the final image.
Camera angle – As in photography the 3D camera has different lenses, – normal, tele and wide angle.
Render – The term Render means “to generate an image”. This is the final step in the 3D visualisation process. This is where all the settings and values are used to calculate a 3D image.