3D transformation is the process of changing the position, orientation, or size of objects within a three-dimensional space. It's fundamental to computer graphics, animation, and virtual reality.
The Core Operations of 3D Transformation
Based on the reference, 3D transformations are built upon three primary operations:
- Translation
- Rotation
- Scaling
These operations are applied to objects or points to achieve the desired changes in the 3D environment. Let's look at each one.
Understanding the Primary Operations
- Translation: This operation involves moving an object from one location to another in 3D space without changing its orientation or size. Think of sliding an object along the X, Y, or Z axes. For example, to represent a car driving straight down a road, you would apply translation.
- Rotation: Rotation spins an object around a specific axis (X, Y, or Z) or an arbitrary axis. This changes the object's orientation in space. If you need to show a character turning their head or an airplane banking, you use rotation.
- Scaling: Scaling changes the size of an object. You can scale uniformly (making it bigger or smaller proportionally in all dimensions) or non-uniformly (stretching or compressing it along specific axes). Scaling is used to make an object appear closer (larger) or farther away (smaller), or to distort its shape.
Combining Transformations
Objects often undergo a sequence of these transformations. For instance, the reference mentions modeling a robot driving around a scene as a 3D translation and rotation. This means the robot's movement involves changing its position (translation) and potentially changing the direction it's facing (rotation).
In essence, 3D transformation works by applying mathematical operations (often represented by matrices) corresponding to translation, rotation, and scaling to the coordinates of an object's vertices. By combining these basic operations, complex movements and shape changes can be achieved, bringing digital 3D worlds to life.
