3d picture anti-alias

[Jester_v01]

Ok - I'm prepared to believe I'm being stupid but I can't get objects in a 3D picture control to be drawn with anti-aliasing.

Here is the code:

And here is the output (after moving the camera a bit):

Which isn't antialiased (but does have flat shading)

Any ideas?  I need to produce something that looks good for a demo and jaggies aren't cutting it.

Thanks!

[Jester_v01]

Bump - or should I just give up on 3D picture controls?

[Ben]

Hi Jester,

I do not know the 3d picture very well but I am curious (I submitted a request for an AE to reply).

What exactly is "anti-aliasing" and "flat shading"?

Ben

[Jester_v01]

Hi Ben,

'Flat shading' - this selects how the shading for the object is done.  Simple shading in 3D is done by looking at the normal vector for each pixel on the object.  For flat shading this normal vector is simply the normal vector of the face so faces appear flat (In the picture you can clearly see each face that makes up the curved side of the cylinder).  For smooth shading the normal is calculated by interpolating the vertex normals across the face so you can't see the face edges.  This is normally what you want for complex curved or organic shapes as it hides the polgons. 

Anti-aliasing is a way of smoothing the edges so that you don't see the pixels.  See picture

It makes the image much better - and *should* work in a 3D picture control!

[Ben]

Your attached image is broken but I think I understand.

Q:

Do those setting apply even when we have a small object like the default cylinder?

After all, it is just a collection of polygons.

Forgive the distraction please.

Ben

[elset191]

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@Ben wrote:

Your attached image is broken but I think I understand.

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I can see it.

[Jester_v01]

Definately - setting the shading does work (as it should) so should anti-aliasing.  I've also tried it on meshes, without success.  Here's the picture again.

Hopefully it works now.  Anti-Aliasing is very important for using the 3D picture display to show presentation quality graphics - just like the anti-aliasing setting in the plot controls (which still isn't settable programmably!!!)

[Jester_v01]

And for interest here's the difference between smooth and flat shading - same mesh, different look.

Anybody any ideas about the anti-aliasing?  Work rounds?

Thanks

[elset191]

Not anything that would fix it.  But have you checked what it looks like with anti aliasing on and off.  My guess is it's working (compared to when it's off), just not to your satisfaction.

[Jester_v01]

Nope - see picture. - no AA there (top is x3)