Section Map:
1. Introduction to 3D / 2. Using Poser prt.1 / 3. Using Poser prt.2 / 4. 3D Glossary

3D Glossary
by Dudley Bryan Jr.



 The world of 2-D and 3-D graphics can be a complicated one. Hopefully these definitions can give you a clearer idea of some of the terms being thrown around.

2-D - a 2-Dimensional form or an image created in it
3-D - a 3-Dimensional form or an image created in it.
3-D Space - The Z-axis measures the depth of an object in a 3-D world. Each object is composed of a group of vertices (points) that form a polygon, which in turn combine to form a more complex object. Assuming that the X-axis and the Y-axis define the plane in which the screen (the front of your monitor) is included, the Z-axis measures the distance from a point to the screen. In a 2-D image the polygons would just be flat, but in a 3-D image the polygons actually have depth enabling some polygons to be located either partially or completely behind others. It is this depth that makes a 3-D world come alive.
Anti-Aliasing - A software technique for smoothing the jagged appearance of curved or diagonal lines caused by poor resolution on a display screen. Methods of anti-aliasing include surrounding pixels with intermediate shades, and manipulating the size and horizontal alignment of pixels
Background - the part of a painting representing what lies behind objects in the foreground
Background Picture - 2-D images used as backdrops for your 3-D scene
Definition - what something means (duh)
Dimension - measure in one direction; specifically: one of three coordinates determining a position in space (X, Y, Z)
Edge - the connection between two vertices, or one side of a face
Export - saving things out of a program to the computers hard drive in formats other programs can read
Face - a part of a surface of a 3-D object defined on the computer by three or four vertices. Objects are collections of faces and/or vertices
Figure - the body of a character in your scene

Foreground - the part of a scene or representation that is nearest to and in front of the view
Light - spotlights, directional lights, point/omni lights, and ambient lights are all different ways the computer is told about the light sources in a given scene and how they affect things inside of that scene.
Import - bringing an object created and saved in another program into the one you are currently using.
Interface - the part of a computer program designed to allow a computer user to interact easily with the information being displayed typically by using a mouse to make choices from menus or groups of icons
Object - a grouping of vertices and faces coming together to form a greater, more complex form
Polygon - the same as a face
Prop - In Poser 3, a "prop" is any object for use with a figure. Example: a stick, can, box, hat, etc.
Render - the act of turning a 3-D scene into a 2-D image. This can either happen instantly or as you see it (often referred to as "real-time"), or over an extended period of time determined by the speed of you computer.
RBG - Each color in a computer image is defined by a value (from 0-255) on the Red scale, a value (from 0-255) on the Green scale and a value (from 0-255) on the Blue scale. For example bright Red is 255,0,0, and Yellow is 255, 255, 0. All values are additive, meaning they get brighter the higher all three values rise. White is 255, 255, 255.
Scene - a collection of figures, props, lights, and/or background pictures necessary to compose part of a story
Texture - an image that simulates the appearance of a real surface material (sand, marble, wood)
Translate - to move in 3-D space (to subject to a mathematical translation)
Vertex - a point in 3-D space that helps define an object

  

And that's not all...
I could potentially go on and on about 3D and the many different
facets of working with it, and probably will in the future. But I hope this
gives you a reasonable place to start..

~Fin

1. Introduction to 3D / 2. Using Poser prt.1 / 3. Using Poser prt.2 / 4. 3D Glossary