S2PLOT:3dPDF
From S2PLOT
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3d-PDF: Embedding S2PLOT Content in PDF Documents
Since version 2.02, S2PLOT has been able to write the displayed geometry to a VRML 97 format file. This format was selected as it can be read in by Adobe Acrobat 3D and embedded in Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Modern versions of Adobe Reader can then render the 3-d model interactively, allowing the reader to view the 3-d scene from any angle or distance. Individual parts of the model can be turned on and off by explicit user control (eg. toggling the display of axis labels) or by implicit programmatic control (eg. toggling the selected set of slices for display as a volume rendering).
The 3-d PDF capabilities of S2PLOT are documented in this paper:
- Barnes, D.G., Fluke, C.J., 2008, Incorporating interactive 3-dimensional graphics in astronomy research papers, New Astronomy, 13, 599. For interactive figures, please download paper from here. (ADS) - arXiv:0709.2734.
Requirements
- S2PLOT version 2.02 or higher
- version 2.4 or higher recommended
- Adobe Acrobat 3D version 8.1.2
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 Extended expected to work but not yet tested and interface may be different to that described below
VRML export from S2PLOT
Most S2PLOT geometry can be written to VRML format. While running an S2PLOT program, simply press Shift-W and a file called "test.wrl" will be written.
When writing an S2PLOT program whose output may be captured to VRML, keep the following points in mind:
- screen-coordinate geometry is not saved to VRML
- line thickness is not properly supported in VRML
- static and dynamic S2PLOT geometry is saved to the VRML file
- correct volume rendering requires special attention (see below)
- frame animation is possible (see below)
- billboards can be used but require special attention (see below)
- Acrobat Reader generally struggles with more than say 5000 pieces of geometry (whether points, lines or facets)
