Contents


Introduction User Interfaces of Voxel3D File operations Create 3D canvas Navigate the 3D canvas Edit the 3D canvas Choose color Effects Reference model Others Help

Introduction


What is Voxel? Voxel is the abbreviation of Volume Element. It is analog to a pixel in a 2D image.

Voxel3D is a voxel based modeling software, 3D model is created by adding, removing, and painting voxels in the 3D canvas. If you know how to paint, u know how to make a 3D model. It is a new experience in building 3D models.

the Voxel3D screen shot.


Register your Voxel3D

To register your evaluation version of Voxel3D, please go to our registration page. If you have received your registration key, please enter your name and registration key to unlock the evaluation version of Voxel3D. To enter the registration information, On the Help menu, select Register....




User Interfaces of Voxel3D


Voxel3D provides easy to use user interfaces to navigate the 3D canvas, and to edit the voxel model. They include a menu bar, a toolbar, a 3D View, three 2D View, and a statusbar.

Menu bar

The menu bar provides access to all operations of Voxel3D (except the navigating operations).

the menu.


Toolbar

The toolbar provides access to the mostly used operations of Voxel3D.

the toolbar.


3D View

The 3D canvas is displayed in the 3D View. You can rotate, pan, zoom in, and zoom out your view. The 3D canvas is represented by a box in the 3D View, all the voxels must live inside the 3D canvas. To navigate the 3D View, see Navigate the 3D canvas.

the 3D View.


2D View

There are three 2D Views in Voxel3D, they are the Front View, the Right View, and the Top View. In a 2D View, the 3D canvas is displayed as layers. To navigate the 2D View, see Navigate the 3D canvas.

the 2D View.


Color panel

The color panel shows the current color. It is located on the right hand side of the main window.

the color panel.


Statusbar

The statusbar provides information of an operation. It consits of two fields, they are the voxel index field, and the layer index field. The voxel index field displays the index of the current selected voxel. The layer index field displays the index of the current working layer.

the statusbar.


File operations


Create a new file

To create a new file. On the File menu, select New.

Open an existing file

To open an existing file.
  1. On the File menu, select Open.... The file open dialog appears.
  2. Select the ASCII Voxel3D file (.v3a), or the binary Voxel3D file (.v3b) you want.
Close a file

To close a file. On the File menu, select Close.

Save a file

To save a file. On the File menu, select Save.

To save a file as different name.
  1. On the File menu, select Save As.... The file save as dialog appears.
  2. Enter a new filename to save as.
Export to other format

The voxel model created with Voxel3D can be export to other file format. Therefore your works can be viewed by other software.

Export to LDraw (.dat) format

You can export your voxel model to the LDraw (.dat) format. To export to LDraw (.dat) format, On the File menu, select Export and then Dat.... The Export Dat Dialog appears,

  1. Press the Browse... button to choose a filename.
  2. Check the brick radiobutton to replace a voxel as a brick.
  3. Check the plate radiobutton to replace a voxel as a plate.
original model LDraw model viewed in other viewer.


Export to Alias WavefrontR (.obj) format

The polygons of the voxel model can be exported to the Alias WavefrontR (.obj) format. To export to Alias WavefrontR (.obj) format, On the File menu, select Export and then Obj....

original model polygonal model viewed in other viewer.


Create 3D canvas


To paint an image, you need a 2D canvas; to paint a voxel model, you need a 3D canvas. An image has a demension and resolution; a voxel model also has a dimension and resolution. To create a 3D canvas, you specify the dimension and the resolution of it.

Empty Cubic 3D canvas

A empty cubic 3D canvas contains no voxel. The shape of the voxel is determined by the dimension and the resolution of the 3D canvas. To add a new voxel to the 3D canvas, see how to add voxel.

To create a empty cubic 3D canvas. On the Create menu, select Empty Cubic 3D Canvas.... The Create Empty Voxel Dialog appears.

the Create Empty Voxel Dialog.         the empty 3D canvas.


Therefore the width of a cubic voxel equals Dimension X / Size X. The depth of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Y / Size Y. The height of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Z / Size Z.

Full Cubic 3D canvas

A full cubic 3D canvas fill with voxels. The shape of the voxel is determined by the dimension and the resolution of the 3D canvas. To remove a voxel from the 3D canvas, see how to remove voxel.

To create a full cubic 3D canvas. On the Create menu, select Full Cubic 3D Canvas.... The Create Full Voxel Dialog appears.

the Create Full Voxel Dialog.         the full 3D canvas.


Therefore the width of a cubic voxel equals Dimension X / Size X. The depth of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Y / Size Y. The height of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Z / Size Z.

Voxelizied Cubic 3D canvas

Sometimes you may like to transform an existing 3D polygonal model into a voxel model. It can be easily achieved by voxelizing your 3D polygonal model in Voxel3D. The process is called voxelization, and your 3D canvas will contain a voxel model that approximates to your reference model.

To create a voxelizied cubic 3D canvas, you must have a imported 3D polygonal model (See how to import a 3D reference model). And then on the Create menu, select Voxelized Cubic 3D Canvas.... The Voxelizing Dialog appears. The initial value of the dimension fields equal the dimension of the reference model. The reference model will be centered before the voxelization process takes place.

the Voxelizing Dialog.         the voxelizied 3D canvas.


Therefore the width of a cubic voxel equals Dimension X / Size X. The depth of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Y / Size Y. The height of a cubic voxel equals Dimension Z / Size Z. Besides, the dimension of the reference model will be changed to the new dimension.

Empty LDraw 3D canvas

A empty LDraw 3D canvas contains no voxel. The shape of the voxel is the same as the brick or plate using in LDraw. To add a new voxel to the 3D canvas, see how to add voxel.

To create a empty LDraw 3D canvas. On the Create menu, select Empty LDraw 3D Canvas.... The Create Empty LDraw Voxel Dialog appears.

the Create Empty LDraw Voxel Dialog.         the empty 3D canvas.



Full LDraw 3D canvas

A full LDraw 3D canvas fill with voxels. The shape of the voxel is the same as the brick or plate using in LDraw. To remove a voxel from the 3D canvas, see how to remove voxel.

To create a full LDraw 3D canvas. On the Create menu, select Full LDraw 3D Canvas.... The Create Full LDraw Voxel Dialog appears.

the Create Full LDraw Voxel Dialog.         the full brick 3D canvas.
               
        the full plate 3D canvas.



Voxelizied LDraw 3D canvas

Sometimes you may like to transform an existing 3D polygonal model into a voxel model. It can be easily achieved by voxelizing your 3D polygonal model in Voxel3D. The process is called voxelization, and your 3D canvas will contain a voxel model that approximates to your reference model.

To create a voxelizied cubic 3D canvas, you must have a imported 3D polygonal model (See how to import a 3D reference model). And then on the Create menu, select Voxelized LDraw 3D Canvas.... The Voxelizing LDraw Dialog appears. Just change the Size X field, the other two sizes will be calculated for you automatically. Or you can change the Size Y and the Size Z fields individually.

the Voxelizing LDraw Dialog.         the voxelizied LDraw 3D canvas.



LDraw Mosaic XY

You can create a mosaic easily by just importing your favourite image file.

To create a LDraw mosaic in the XY plane.
  1. On the Create menu, select LDraw Mosaic XY.... The Create LDraw Mosaic Dialog appears.
  2. Select the image file you want.



LDraw Mosaic XZ

You can create a mosaic easily by just importing your favourite image file.

To create a LDraw mosaic in the XZ plane.
  1. On the Create menu, select LDraw Mosaic XZ.... The Create LDraw Mosaic Dialog appears.
  2. Select the image file you want.



Navigate the 3D canvas


In order to work in 3D space, you need to manipulate your view to the 3D canvas. You can view your voxel model in a 3D perspective view, or in a 2D layer view. If you do not have the Middel Mouse Button, use the Right Mouse Button instead.

Rotate the view

Pan the view

Zoom the view

Zoom Extents the view

2D view of the 3D canvas

There are three 2D Views in Voxel3D. They are the Front View, the Right View, and the Top View. All of them provides 2D viewing to the 3D canvas.


Edit the 3D canvas


Several types of voxel operations are supported in Voxel3D, they are the add operation, the remove operation, the move operation, and the paint operation.

Add neighbor voxel

In the 3D View, a new voxel can be added by clicking on a face of its neighbor. Since a voxel consists of six faces, you can add a new voxel in six different directions by clicking on different face. (This operation works on the 3D View only). See also Add Voxel.

  1. To add a neighbor voxel, select Edit and check the Add Neighbor Voxel.
  2. Click on a face of a voxel.
original model. a yellow voxel is added on the top of the blue voxel.
a red voxel is added on the right of the blue voxel. a green voxel is added on the left of the blue voxel.


Add voxel

In the 2D view, a new voxel can be added on arbitrary position on this layer. (This operation works on the 2D View only). See also Add Neighbor Voxel.

  1. To add a voxel, select Edit and check the Add Voxel.
  2. Click on any position on the layer.
a new voxel is added in a 2D View. the new voxel in the 3D View.


Remove voxel

(This operation works on the 3D View and the 2D View).

  1. To remove a voxel, select Edit and check the Remove Voxel.
  2. Click on any voxel to remove it.
original model. a column of voxels are removed.
a row of voxels are removed. another row of voxels are removed.


Move voxel

You can move a voxel direcly in the 3D View. Similar to the Add Neighbor Voxel operation, you can move the voxel in six different directions. (This operation works on the 3D View only).

  1. To move a voxel, select Edit and check the Move Voxel.
  2. Click on a face of a voxel.
original model. the yellow voxel is moved up.
the red voxel is moved to the right. the green voxel is moved to the left.


Paint voxel

The paint operation changes the voxel color. (This operation works on the 3D View and the 2D View). See also Choose color.

  1. To paint a voxel, select Edit and check the Paint Voxel.
  2. Click on any voxel to paint it.
original model. the voxel is painted in blue color.


Choose color


You can choose color in three different ways in Voxel3D. You can choose from a truecolor palette, a LDraw color palette, or directly from a voxel.

Pick from 3D canvas

  1. To choose color from a voxel, select Colors and check the Pick Voxel Color.
  2. Click on a voxel to select its color.
Truecolor

To choose a truecolor, select Colors and then Select True Color... to open the Voxel3D color dialog.



LDraw color

To choose a color from the LDraw palette, select Colors and then Select LDraw Color... to open the LDraw color dialog.



Effects


Hollow

The Hollow effect hollows the voxel model by removing the interior voxel according to the filter size.

3x3x3 hollow filter

This filter remove a particular voxel if its surrounding 26 (3 x 3 x 3 - 1) neighbor voxels exist. To apply the 3x3x3 hollow filter, select Effects and then Hollow 3x3x3.

original model. the model after applying the hollow 3x3x3 filter.


5x5x5 hollow filter

This filter remove a particular voxel if its surrounding 124 (5 x 5 x 5 - 1) neighbor voxels exist. To apply the 5x5x5 hollow filter, select Effects and then Hollow 5x5x5.

original model. the model after applying the hollow 5x5x5 filter.


Reference model


A 3D polygonal model and a texture can be imported into the 3D canvas as a reference. You can then edit and paint the 3D canvas by following this reference. You can also create a new 3D canvas by voxelizing this reference, all you need to do is to specify the size and dimension of the 3D canvas. The process is called voxelization, to know more about this feature, please go to voxelize a reference model and create voxelized 3d canvas.

Import a polygonal 3D model

To import a reference polygonal 3D model.
  1. On the File menu, select Import and then Reference Model.... The file import dialog appears.
  2. Select the polygonal 3D file (.3ds, .obj, .lwo, etc.) you want.
an imported polygonal model.


Import reference texture

To import a texture for the reference polygonal 3D model, you must have a reference polygonal 3D model before. Beside your polygonal 3D model must have texture coordinates associated with it. To import a texture.
  1. On the File menu, select Import and then Reference Texture.... The file import dialog appears.
  2. Select the texture image file (.png, .jpg, .bmp, etc.) you want.
Voxelize reference model

To voxelize a reference model, you must have a imported 3D polygonal model and a 3D Canvas (See how to import a 3D reference model and create 3D canvas). And then on the RefModel menu, select Voxelize.

an imported reference model is voxelized at a corner in the 3D Canvas.


Rotate reference model

To rotate the reference polygonal 3D model about a fix axis. To rotate the reference polygonal 3D model about an arbitrary axis.
  1. On the RefModel menu, select Rotate and then Custom.... The Rotation Dialog appears.
  2. Specify the rotation axis and degree you want.
Translate reference model

To translate the reference polygonal 3D model.
  1. On the RefModel menu, select Translate.... The Translation Dialog appears.
  2. Specify the translation offset you want.
Scale reference model

To scale the reference polygonal 3D model.
  1. On the RefModel menu, select Scale.... The Scaling Dialog appears.
  2. Specify the scaling factor you want.
Center reference model

To center the reference polygonal 3D model about the origin. On the RefModel menu, select Center.

Empty reference model

To remove the reference model. On the RefModel menu, select Empty Reference Model.

View / Hide shaded model

To view the reference model. On the View menu, check Reference Model. To hide the reference model. On the View menu, uncheck Reference Model.

View / Hide wireframe model

To view the wireframe reference model. On the View menu, check Wireframe Reference Model. To hide the wireframe reference model. On the View menu, uncheck Wireframe Reference Model.


Others


Clear Command History

To clear all command history. On the Edit menu, select Clear History.

View / Hide 3D Axes

To view the 3D Axes. On the View menu, check 3D Axes. To hide the 3D Axes. On the View menu, uncheck 3D Axes.

View / Hide 3D Canvas

To view the 3D Canvas. On the View menu, check 3D Canvas. To hide the 3D Canvas. On the View menu, uncheck 3D Canvas.

View statistics

The statistics page gives information of the 3D canvas and the reference model. To open the statistics page. On the View menu, check Statistics....


Help


Voxel3D User's Guide

To open the Voxel3D User's Guide. On the Help menu, select Contents....

Voxel3D Tutorial

To open the Voxel3D Tutorial. On the Help menu, select Tutorial.... Or browse online at the tutorial page

Check for Updates

To check if there is an upgrade available. On the Help menu, select Check for Updates....


Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Everygraph. All rights reserved.