[x3d-public] X3D and HAnim Assets Update
Don Brutzman
don.brutzman at gmail.com
Fri Jan 2 14:09:37 PST 2026
*X3D and HAnim Assets Update*
The Web3D Consortium <https://web3d.org/> is starting the new year with an
update to numerous validation and authoring assets. Much work was
accomplished in 2025 to fully implement and deploy two approved
international standards: Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics 4.0 and Humanoid
Animation (HAnim) 2.0 International Standards. Further developmental work
is experimenting with new capabilities for each standard. This 2026
new-year release update supports our ongoing progress.
X3D-Edit
- X3D-Edit 4.0 Authoring Tool
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/X3D-Edit/X3D-Edit.html> is a free,
open-source Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics authoring tool for simple
high-quality authoring, editing, import/export, validation and viewing of
X3D scenes.
- Built as a plugin for the popular Apache NetBeans
<https://netbeans.apache.org/> Integrated Development Environment (IDE),
Tooling Platform and Application Framework.
- X3D-Edit integrates all of the assets listed in this update, with over
32,000 downloads to date.
X3D Tooltips
X3D Tooltips <https://www.web3d.org/x3d/tooltips/X3dTooltips.html> provide
authoring hints for each node and field found in X3D Architecture version
4.0 <https://www.web3d.org/x3d4> International Specification (IS).
Developmental work on X3D draft 4.1
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19775-1v4.1-CD> is
also supported.
X3D Validation
Validation is crucial to ensure that the highest possible Quality Assurance
(QA) is achieved. Validation assets include:
- X3D Specifications: Schema and DOCTYPE Validation
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications> supports formal XML validation of
X3D scenes. Experimental versions are now available for X3D version=”4.1″
testing, and assets will continue to be updated in concert with
working-group efforts throughout the year.
- X3D Schematron
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/schematron/X3dSchematron.html> helps
authors by providing additional rule-based checks to ensure intended
results in X3D scenes and metadata.
- X3D Resources: Quality Assurance (QA)
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html#QualityAssurance>
identifies
errors and warnings in order to make X3D scene content more portable and
reliable. Model authors can ensure they achieve intended results in X3D
scenes and metadata. This is important. providing high confidence that
when 3D modeling errors occur, they can be detected and then corrected. As
a result, X3D models can run in many different file formats and programming
languages, equivalently and correctly.
Java X3DJSAIL
- X3D Java Scene Access Interface Library (X3DJSAIL)
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications/java/X3DJSAIL.html> supports
programmers with standards-based X3D Java interfaces and objects, all as
open source..
- *Goal outcomes:* make it easy to create a fully valid X3D scene graph
using Java, while also making it hard to create an incorrect or invalid X3D
model. X3DJSAIL has succeeded in accomplishing these goals.
Python X3DPSAIL x3d.py
- X3D Python Scene Access Interface Library (X3DPSAIL)
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/stylesheets/python/python.html> supports
programmers with Python interfaces and objects for standards-based X3D
programming, all as open source.
- “Pythonic
<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25011078/what-does-pythonic-mean> is
a word because Python programming is… different, in many excellent ways.”
X3D Ontology for Semantic Web
- X3D Ontology for Semantic Web
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/semantics/semantics.html> provides
terms of reference for semantic query of X3D graphics models, including
interactive 3D geometry, multimedia, and metadata.
- Motivating insight: “The answer to your question is the response to
the query,” Jim Hendler and Dean Allemang.
X3D version 4.1, HAnim version 2.1 Development
Web3D supports a consensus-based process for development of new
capabilities by X3D Community and Consortium members. A proven process for
success continuing over 3 decades, specifications approved by the Web3D
Consortium undergo formal review and approval by the International
Standards Organization (ISO).
To date, three new nodes have been proposed, implemented, and evaluated for
X3D version 4.1 and HAnim version 2.1 draft standards:
- The FontLibrary
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19775-1v4.1-CD/Part01/components/text.html#FontLibrary>
node
can load additional font files for use by *Text* and *FontStyle* nodes.
- The HAnimPose
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19774/ISO-IEC19774-1/ISO-IEC19774-1v2.1/ISO-IEC19774-1v2.1-WD/Architecture/ObjectInterfaces.html#Pose>
node sets *HAnimJoint *values in a corresponding *HAnimHumanoid *skeleton.
(example
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/HumanoidAnimation/Poses/HAnimPosePrototypeIndex.html>
)
- The Tangent
<https://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3Dv4Draft/ISO-IEC19775-1v4.1-CD/Part01/components/rendering.html#Tangent>
node defines
a set of 3D surface-normal vectors used when computing lighting and shading
for advanced physically based rendering (PBR) effects.
X3D Examples
- X3D Resources, Examples: Scene Archives for X3D
<https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html#Examples>
demonstrate
how X3D nodes and scenes work for each of the assets updated here.
- Thousands of scenes are provided in all X3D encodings. You can browse
them individually online or download fully complete, separately installable
.zip archives.
- X3D is a widely used interchange that can be directly deployed and
published the Web. We strive to make X3D a “first-class media type”
available for any 3D author and user.
X3D Standards Progress
- All Web3D-produced standards are royalty free (RF) for any
purpose, and thus are actionable for use by industry, academia, government
agencies and individuals.
- All of these assets are provided under the Web3D Consortium Open
Source License <https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/license.html>.
- X3D Standards Progress <https://www.web3d.org/x3d/progress>
provides current
editing status for X3D and HAnim International Standards, with much work
ongoing.
Participation is Always Welcome
- X3D efforts are collaborative and cumulative. You are welcome to
participate <https://www.web3d.org/participate> freely with many
opportunities available.
- Web3D Consortium membership offers further value with many member
benefits <https://www.web3d.org/membership>.
What a great year for technical progress, and what a great community. Many
thanks to everyone who has contributed such impressive work, this is
definitely a team sport.
Have fun with X3D and HAnim graphics! 😀👍
p.s. this release announcement is also available online at
https://relativemotion.info/x3d-and-hanim-assets-update
all the best, Don
--
X3D Graphics, Maritime Robotics, Distributed Simulation
Relative Motion Consulting https://RelativeMotion.info
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