public static void LookAt(
            PerspectiveCamera camera, Point3D target, Vector3D newLookDirection, double animationTime)
        {
            Point3D newPosition = target - newLookDirection;

            // prevent zooming in until camera gets wobbly due to precision loss
            if (Math.Abs(newPosition.Z) > 0.01)
            {
                AnimateTo(camera, newPosition, newLookDirection, camera.UpDirection, animationTime);
            }
        }

EDIT: This fix is definately not correct

        static private Model3DGroup DrawLayers(int noOfLayers)
        {
            Material materialFiber = new DiffuseMaterial(new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Lime));
            Material materialCopper = new DiffuseMaterial(new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Orange));
          
            HelixToolkit.Wpf.MeshBuilder builder = new HelixToolkit.Wpf.MeshBuilder();
            Model3DGroup group = new Model3DGroup();

            for (int i = 0; i < noOfLayers; i++)
            {
                if (i == 0)
                {
                    builder.AddBox(new Point3D(0, 0, 0), 15, 15, 1);
                }
                else
                {
                    builder.AddBox(new Point3D(0, 0, 2*i), 15, 15, 1);
                }

                MeshGeometry3D layer = builder.ToMesh();

                if (i % 2 == 0)
                {
                    GeometryModel3D model = new GeometryModel3D() { Geometry = layer, Material = materialFiber, BackMaterial = materialFiber };
                    group.Children.Add(model);
                }
                else
                {
                    GeometryModel3D model = new GeometryModel3D() { Geometry = layer, Material = materialCopper, BackMaterial = materialCopper };
                    group.Children.Add(model);
                }
            }
            return group;
        }

Hi,

how can i enable transparency from image for textures ??

In WPF3D, all i need to do is to create the diffuse material with image brush and use it. In SharpDX fork, I had created PhongMaterial and set its DiffuseMap to the same image i used in WPF3D, but here the transparent region are rendered as Black.

Thanks

I used PNG textures. Also read this about how you need to order transparent parts :

http://www.ericsink.com/wpf3d/2_Transparency.html


I still have problems with layered transparency though, when one part of the model overlaps the other it does not look right.

Thank you Rogad for your reply.

I would like to know have you used PNG textures to attained transparency in "SharpDX fork of Helix Toolkit" ?? because the link you have provided is about transparency in WPF3D but I need transparency in SharpDX.

P.S. I already got the transparency using image texture in WPF3D but I require same functionality in SharpDX fork using that same image.

Sorry I did not realise you were asking about SharpDX. I have not tried it, because I couldn't see how to get support, so gave up on it.

After debugging the code, I had resolved this issue. Following are the changes I needed to make in Helix SharpDx.


In the pixel shader "PShaderPhong" method, alpha value is taken explicitly from the diffuse material.

Current Code "Default.fx"

/// set diffuse alpha
I.a = vMaterialDiffuse.a;

Fix "Default.fx"

I.a = vMaterialDiffuse.a * vMaterialTexture[3];

Also the conversion of texture map is done through BMP encoder, however apparantly it looks like BMP encoder doesn't support alpha in texture map. Changing bmp encoder to png encoder will resolve this issue.

Current Code "RenderUtil.cs"

public static byte[] ToByteArray(this System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapSource bitmapSource)
        {
            using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
            {
                var encoder = new System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BmpBitmapEncoder();
                encoder.Frames.Add(System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapFrame.Create(bitmapSource));
                encoder.Save(ms);
                return ms.ToArray();
            }
        }

Fix "RenderUtil.cs"

public static byte[] ToByteArray(this System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapSource bitmapSource)
        {
            using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
            {
                var encoder = new System.Windows.Media.Imaging.PngBitmapEncoder();
                encoder.Frames.Add(System.Windows.Media.Imaging.BitmapFrame.Create(bitmapSource));
                encoder.Save(ms);
                return ms.ToArray();
            }
        }

I have forwarded this to the guys working on the sharpdx fork.

Is there a similar fix for Helix ?

For my project this is the main area where Helix does not seem to work right.

Despite following various tutorials/guides on transparency, such as putting the transparent textures last I still end up with this :



Some of the transparency is working, but as you can see not all.

Would really like to fix this :)

Anyone ? Objo ? Are you still with us ? :)

hi Rogad, yes I am following the discussion, but don´t know how to solve this. How are you rendering the hair? Are you using SharpDX or WPF? Can you create a demo application we can include with the library?

Hi :)

I'm using WPF and Helix. I have not used SharpDX for anything yet, I was trying to find some documentation for it or support, but haven't found much yet.

Unfortunately I cannot turn this into something distributable. The models I had to buy from Daz3D and I cannot redistribute them like that.

Experts,

I'm still getting using the FlightsDemo to create a proof for a project I want to do. The objective is a rotating globe with the flights on them, just like they are in the demo files included with the product today.

I am running into an issue/situation whereby I can't figure out how to translate the mouse click to the proper coordinates on the Sphere... The biggest demonstration of this issue is this:

-As the Sphere is rotating:

 <Grid.Triggers>
            <EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Canvas.Loaded">
                <BeginStoryboard>
                    <Storyboard>
                        <DoubleAnimation x:Name="Rotate360"  From="0" To="360" Duration="0:2:00" AutoReverse="False" 
                                         RepeatBehavior="Forever" Storyboard.TargetName="rotation" 
                                         Storyboard.TargetProperty="Angle" />
                    </Storyboard>
                </BeginStoryboard>
            </EventTrigger>
        </Grid.Triggers>
[...]
<t:SphereVisual3D x:Name="TheEarthSphere" 
                              Material="{StaticResource EarthJPG}"
                              Radius="1" 
                              ThetaDiv="25" 
                              PhiDiv="25" >
                <t:SphereVisual3D.Transform>
                    <Transform3DGroup>
                        <RotateTransform3D>
                            <RotateTransform3D.Rotation>
                                <AxisAngleRotation3D Axis="0,0,1" Angle="0" x:Name="rotation" />
                            </RotateTransform3D.Rotation>
                        </RotateTransform3D>
                    </Transform3DGroup>
                </t:SphereVisual3D.Transform>
            </t:SphereVisual3D>

...the lat & lon at the top left of the WPF Window do NOT update. They are tied to the non-animating coordinate system of the Viewport, which is illustrated by the little cube on the bottom right:



-As the cube is rotating, when I do click on it, based on the current coordinates of the Viewport (little cube, lat & lon at top left of display), that is where the tube will be placed. This means:

-No matter what the rotating sphere is doing, the lines will be placed on the sphere at THOSE coordinates, NOT where he mouse was over when clicked.
-Imagine you are clicking on a rotating sphere in the same (relative) position, say, dead center. The tube (flight) is placed on the rotating sphere, but always in the same place.

I know this is just a matter of finding a way in Helix 3D to rotate the little cube at the bottom right as the sphere is rotating, but there are virtually no docs, and I can't figure out how to tie them together.

Q: In other words, how to make the little navigation cube at the bottom right reflect the position of the sphere as it rotates? Or can I just get the Sphere coordinates from a click somehow?

An example might help.

Here is the window as it starts. Note the nav cube (we'll call it) position at bottom right, and where the sphere (earth) is in it's rotation, as well as the lat & lon at the top left:





You should notice a few things from the above 2 screenshots:

1. The position of the mouse is (almost) the same, and so is the lat & lon at top left.
2. The sphere, however, has rotated between these 2 images, and the mouse is obviously over a different lat & lon on the 2nd shot as it was in the 1st.
3. The nav cube at bottom right stays still.
   

Analysis:

It appears that the nav cube is for the viewport coordinate system by default (would love to change that to the Sphere).
The Shpere, and it's child material) are rotating fine.
The click/hit point(s), though do NOT reflect the 3D point on the sphere clicked, but rather the 3D point in the viewport coordinate system.
I have even tried to rotate the camera around the Sphere, but I can't find documentation on how to accomplish this (leave Sphere static, rotate the camera in an orbit around sphere, looking at 0,0,0)...

My Request:

Please tell me how to tie the place the mouse is clicked on the sphere with the sphere coordinates of that click/hit.

Any hints, guidance, example greatly appreciated!

P.S. Is there an example of AnimateOpacity?

Can anyone help on this? Is there a bug? Transform of the model/visual not being included?

Still no thoughts on the question above:

P.S. Is there an example of AnimateOpacity?

MyVisual = new SphereVisual3D() { ThetaDiv = 60, PhiDiv = 30 };
var textureBrush = new ImageBrush(new BitmapImage(TEXTURE_URI));
MyVisual.Fill = textureBrush;
Children.Add(MyVisual);

MyVisual = new SphereVisual3D() { ThetaDiv = 60, PhiDiv = 30 };
var textureBrush = new ImageBrush(new BitmapImage(TEXTURE_URI));
MyVisual.Fill = textureBrush;
HelixToolkit.Wpf.CuttingPlaneGroup cutPlane = new CuttingPlaneGroup();
cutPlane.CuttingPlanes.Add(new Plane3D(new Point3D(0, 0, 0), new Vector3D(0, 0, -1)));
cutPlane.Children.Add(MyVisual);
Children.Add(cutPlane);

Hello,

i have some problem with a deployed application. Here my XAML for helix3d toolkit:

            <helix:HelixViewport3D x:Name="viewport" Grid.Column="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Margin="5,0,0,0">
                <helix:HelixViewport3D.DefaultCamera>
                    <PerspectiveCamera x:Name="camera" 
                        Position="0,0,100" 
                        LookDirection="0,0,-100" 
                        UpDirection="0,1,0.5">
                    </PerspectiveCamera>
                </helix:HelixViewport3D.DefaultCamera>
                <helix:SunLight/>
                <helix:ArrowVisual3D Point1="0,0,0" Point2="10 0 0" Fill="Red" Diameter="0.5" />
                <helix:ArrowVisual3D Point1="0,0,0" Point2="0 10 0" Fill="Green" Diameter="0.5"/>
                <helix:ArrowVisual3D Point1="0,0,0" Point2="0 0 10" Fill="Blue" Diameter="0.5"/>
                <helix:PipeVisual3D x:Name="Tool3D" Diameter="1" Point1="0,0,0" Point2="0,0,5" Visible="False" >
                    <helix:PipeVisual3D.Fill>
                        <SolidColorBrush Color="#FFFF8B00" Opacity="0.5"/>
                    </helix:PipeVisual3D.Fill>
                </helix:PipeVisual3D>
                <helix:GridLinesVisual3D Thickness="0.1" Center="0,0,0" Fill="#FFDADADA" Width="1000" Length="1000" />
            </helix:HelixViewport3D>

The Application works perfect in VS 2013, the camera position is on top and scroll whel work. But if i deploy/publish this application and open it from published directory then the camerposition are strange (close to null and a perspective view) and the zoom function with the mouse scroll wheel don't work.

It's a bug or Feature? May i can make a video to demonstrate this effect?