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X3D Example Archives: VRML 2 Sourcebook, Chapter 25 - Level Of Detail

The further the viewer can see, the more there is to draw. Note that if a shape is distant, the shape is smaller and the viewer can't see as much detail. So... draw it with less detail. Varying detail with distance reduces initial download time and increases drawing speed.

Increase performance by making multiple levels of shapes: high detail for close up viewing, progressively lower detail for more distant viewing. Group the levels in an LOD node, ordered from high detail to low detail, and using an array of range values to select switching distances .

These X3D scenes are adapted directly from the original VRML 2.0 Sourcebook chapter examples. Also available: VRML 2.0 Sourcebook course notes.

Figure 25.04 Three Torches Side By Side

Figure 25.12 Dungeon Rooms With Sliding Doors

  12 X3D Scenes       Scene Descriptions
Figure 25.01 Torch High Detail A high-detail torch.
Figure 25.02 Torch Medium Detail A medium-detail torch.
Figure 25.03 Torch Low Detail A low-detail torch.
Figure 25.04 Three Torches Side By Side The three torches side by side.
Figure 25.05 Three Torches Single LOD Three torches within an LOD node. First you must change viewpoints or fly in to watch levels shift. Ordinarily transitions are hard to discern, these transitions are designed to be noticeable.
Figure 25.06 Dungeon Room Floor A dungeon-room floor.
Figure 25.07 Dungeon Room Wall A dungeon-room wall.
Figure 25.08 Dungeon Room A dungeon room.
Figure 25.09 Two Dungeon Rooms With LODHiding Two dungeon rooms controlled by LOD nodes, move forward to see second room.
Figure 25.10 Dungeon Wall With Doorway A dungeon wall with a doorway, created using Coordinate and TextureCoordinate.
Figure 25.11 Dungeon Door A dungeon door.
Figure 25.1 2Dungeon Rooms With Sliding Doors Two dungeon rooms controlled by LOD nodes and separated by a wall and a pair of sliding doors.

Online at http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Vrml2Sourcebook/Chapter25-LevelOfDetail

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Master source code archive is under subversion control at
http://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/Vrml2Sourcebook/Chapter25-LevelOfDetail

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Also available: current and archived nightly builds and distributions of these examples, all published under an Open-Source License.

The X3D Resources: Examples page and Savage Developers Guide provide more information about the production of this archive.