Linux 3d Modeling

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BricsCAD the first all-in-one CAD design solution in.dwg that answers all your needs; 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mechanical design, and BIM. BricsCAD is a cost-effective, innovative, and familiar CAD solution. 3D Software for Linux - Contains most (if not all) links in this document and then some. 3D Modelling Software for Linux - Links to software packages chiefly related to modelling. 3D Modelling and Rendering using Linux - A comprehensive site with articles and software that explains what this document summarizes.

Hey guys, I have a massive problem on linux. I am not too firm on all the different aspects of compiling my own code. /Photos/3D Modeling/Completed Models.

The community of 3D printing and modeling may have become much larger in the past few years, but most 3D models shared online nowadays are limited to a few file formats. One of these file formats is STL. Despite its ubiquity, STL files are notoriously difficult to edit. Should you find yourself with an STL file format that you'd like to tweak and play around with, what software should you use? What exactly is the STL file format, and why is it so important?

What is the STL file format?

STL stands for 'Stereolithography' and is considered one of the simplest 3D file formats. It's also one of the oldest, developed in the 1980s and was originally meant to simplify the transfer of data from 3D CAD models to a 3D printer.

A characteristic of the STL file format, which makes it one of the simpler options, is that it approximates a 3D surface as a triangular mesh. Thus, instead of a truly smooth surface, an STL object is composed of a high number of very small, non-overlapping triangles. This technique is known as tessellation and is considered one of the oldest methods of simplifying a smooth surface in 3D space.

By increasing the number and decreasing the size of the triangles that form the tessellated pattern, the resolution of a 3D file in the STL format can be enhanced. Naturally, a file that holds a higher resolution model will be larger. However, the accuracy at which an STL file can approximate a surface will always be at a lower fidelity compared to file formats that represent 3D surfaces using smooth splines, such as OBJ.

What are the benefits of STL?

The STL file format has been widely used for sharing of models within the 3D printing community. They may have limitations in terms of resolution and fidelity, but so do 3D printers. Starcraft 2 digital code. In fact, STL has become such a preferred file format that most 3D printers and slicer software used nowadays have been designed to work with STL files.

Since STL files are simple and have small file sizes, they are more easily shared and downloaded than other, high-fidelity alternatives. In most cases, users of 3D printers can just download a finished model off of file-sharing websites and print them at home. Beginners to 3D printing typically start this way before developing the skills to come up with their own models.

What are STL editors, and why use them?

While downloading finished models is certainly a quick and convenient way to get into 3D printing, some people may want to edit the features of a model to suit their needs. There could also be circumstances when you only need to print a part of a model. Not all models are perfect, so you may even find yourself needing to repair that model you just downloaded.

There are two different types of STL editing and modeling software. The first is based on CAD and is made for general 3D modeling. This technology has been the standard for industrial and professional 3D modeling and allows for extremely accurate measurement and modeling in 3D space. Since the resolution of 3D printers is limited, CAD software is considered overpowered for use in modeling for 3D printers. Thus, although CAD-based software platforms do an excellent job, editing STL files do not quite utilize the full potential of this type of software.

3D modeling software specially made for 3D printing are called mesh editing software. Instead of precise software representation, a mesh editing software instead reduces these objects into shells with no internal filling. This simplifies the modeling process, although the model can be quickly converted to solid objects right before printing. Within the 3D printing community, mesh editing software is considered more appropriate for STL editing.

The top 5 best free STL editors

1. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is one of the most feature-rich CAD design software platforms. Best of all, the software is open source and completely free. FreeCAD uses parametric modeling principles and has been widely used by both professionals and beginners.

With FreeCAD, you can add features, make measurements, and separate components of an existing STL file. Since FreeCAD was originally meant for mechanical and engineering design, it allows for extremely fine and precise edits. However, it's very difficult to use FreeCAD for sculpting, so smooth surfaces can be challenging.

Even if you don't already have an existing STL file, you can still use FreeCAD to come up with your own 3D sketches and model them in 3D space. It does take some time to get used to the FreeCAD platform and to learn how to use its functions, but it's not so difficult to be inaccessible for beginners. One major flaw of the open source platform of FreeCAD is that it can be full of bugs, although this could be easily remedied by sticking to the latest stable version.

2. Blender

Blender is another free 3D printing software that is a little more sophisticated than FreeCAD. It has been touted as a software that can support the whole 3D design pipeline and is best suited for individual designers and small design firms. With a wide suite of excellent features, Blender has been used to for modeling, animation, video rendering, film and visual effects, and 3D simulation.

A huge part of why Blender has been able to extend its range of capabilities is that it's completely community-driven. Users can introduce new features, make minor or major changes to the code, or implement bug fixes. Best of all, Blender is completely free, even if you use it for commercial purposes.

Although modeling is just one of the major functions of Blender, it has a very rich set of features. You can build your own models from 2D sketches or edit an existing STL file. Aside from the usual features, including STL repair, removal and addition of components, and partial masking of models, Blender has much more advanced sculpting capabilities. With twenty different brush types and dynamic sculpting, you can pretty much generate any type of smooth surface. You can grab and pinch areas, flatten sections, inflate and deflate a model, or sculpt the model like clay.

We wouldn't classify Blender as beginner-friendly, but its learning curve is pretty friendly. With so many features, it will take some time before you can unlock the full potential of Blender. As far as 3D printing software go, Blender is one of the most comprehensive.

3. SketchUp

The SketchUp software platform, which used to be owned by Google, is now with Trimble but still retains the user-friendly characteristic for which it became famous for. You have the option of downloading the free SketchUp Make version or upgrading to the paid SketchUp Pro version. The good news is that you can use the free version to edit STL files, but you'll need to make sure to download and install the SketchUp STL plugin first.

The simplicity of SketchUp is its strong suit. It's very easy to learn, and its interface will feel familiar to anyone who's ever used a graphic design program. However, this ease-of-use comes at the price of a limited feature set. The STL editing capabilities of SketchUp are pretty much limited to dragging edges and vertices and adding or deleting individual triangles. It has no built-in STL repair function, but you can still do it manually by using the Solid Inspector tool and correcting any hitches yourself.

Despite the limited features of SketchUp, it remains one of the most widely used 3D design software worldwide. It's highly recommended for beginners. Even people with no 3D modeling experience can learn the fundamentals of SketchUp within a few minutes.

4. MeshLab

MeshLab, as its name implies, is a software platform for editing 3D triangular meshes. It's also open source, which helps give it a rich set of functions and features. If you need modeling software specifically for 3D printing, MeshLab is one of the best options for editing, cleaning, rendering, and texturing mesh-based models.

You will need an existing STL file to make the most use out of MeshLab. It can combine different meshes of a 3D scan, remove parts of an existing, and automatically repair a 3D model. However, it cannot be used to build your own models from scratch. You can also simplify the triangular faces of a model, thereby reducing geometry complexity for easier file sharing.

MeshLab isn't exceptionally user-friendly, but their website has several tutorials that can help get you started. They also have a dedicated community of developers that can provide support if you need bug fixes or if you just have any general questions or clarifications.

5. MeshMixer

Girl voice changer. In the field of free mesh editing programs, few can equal the quality of MeshMixer. Aside from having a huge set of the necessary mesh editing features, MeshMixer is also very user-friendly. It even has a built-in slicer tool so you can prepare your model for printing and send it directly to your 3D printer via MeshMixer.

The development team behind MeshMixer calls it the 'Swiss Army knife' of 3D meshes. It does have just about everything you need, so we're inclined to agree. You can combine meshes, drag edges and vertices, make measurements, smooth meshes, and even do free-form sculpting. The software comes with a couple of automated features that can help identify problems with your STL file such as holes, misaligned surface, and paper-thin walls.

By combining ease-of-use and an impressive array of features, MeshMixer is considered by many to be the best free mesh editing software. It's only available for Windows and Mac, though, so Linux users will have to look elsewhere.

Final thoughts

If you've gotten into 3D printing, then you probably have dozens to hundreds of STL files lying around in your computer. While printing them as they were modeled originally is fine, the next logical step you need to take is to learn how to edit existing models. This is best done with an STL editor. If you're still a beginner, then we recommend starting with an STL editor that you can download for free.

As you can see from our list of the best free STL editors, being free for use has not hindered these software platforms from having excellent quality. With impressive features and intelligently designed interfaces, it's almost unbelievable that they are free.

Dave Jarvis

This document will guide you through the steps used to install andconfigure an environment for modelling and rendering three-dimensionalgraphics using Linux. In this section you will also find informationin laymans terms about the required components and how they piecetogether. The installation section is purposely minimal; merely thequick and dirty steps needed to take to get up and running (if itdoesn't work, more information is available). For those that want moreinformation about the software components and what they do (in general),please continue reading.

There are, at the minimum, three software packages you'll need in order toget up and running. These are as follows (in the order they areexplained, not the order they are installed):

• a graphics library;
• a graphics modeller;
• a graphics renderer.

The spelling modelling is Canadian. The spelling modelingis American. The original author of this document is Canadian. ;-)

Copyright © 2000-2001 Dave Jarvis

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part, without fee, subjectto the following restrictions:

• the copyright notice above and this permission notice must bepreserved complete on all complete or partial copies;
• any translation or derived work must be approved by the author inwriting before distribution;
• if you distribute this work in part, instructions for obtainingthe complete version of this manual must be included, and a means forobtaining a complete version provided;
• small portions may be reproduced as illustrations for reviews orquotes in other works without this permission notice if proper citationis given.

The content of this section exists only to describe, in general, thethree main components required for three-dimensional modelling andrendering with a Linux-based system.

A graphics library consists of the most basic tools used for manipulatinggraphical images. Think of all the things needed to build a house: wiring,plumbing, wood, bricks, and such. The graphics library can be thought ofas not these items, but rather the tools used create such items. Afterall, wire, metal tubes, planks, and bricks don't magically appear; ratherthey are created and formed as entities unto themselves. On a similar note,graphics don't magically appear on the screen -- typically they consistof lower-level graphics primatives (lines, rectangles, and individualpixels, for example).

So the graphics library, then, can be thought of as the low-level graphicsprimatives used to build more complex objects (spheres, boxes, complexpolygons, etc.). Those complex objects are then used to build even morecomplicated shapes and figures.

The graphics library installed was the freeware implementation of OpenGLcalled Mesa.

Since the graphics renderer is, ideally, completely hidden from the end-user,we'll deal with that last (besides which, modelling is the next logical stepin keeping with my house-building analogy). However, when it comes to theactual installation, a graphics modeller relies on the renderer already beinginstalled.

If the graphics library is akin to the tools used to build the tools usedto build a house (!), then graphics modellers can be thought of as thetools used to build the blueprints for the house -- sophisticatedblueprints, as modellers let you dictate exactly where the wiring, plumbing,wood panels, bricks, and forth are supposed to go. Furthermore, theylet you pick the style of panelling and the colour of the bricks youdesire.

The graphics modeller installed was the freeware package calledThe Mops, which produces RenderMan-compatible files.

In keeping with the house-building analogy, the graphics renderer is thenthe construction workers. Once you have the blueprints and materials readyto go, you need something to actually build the house so it appears how itwas designed. The graphics renderer is given information (i.e., theblueprints in the form of a RenderMan-compatible file, orequivalent) from the the modeller to produce the final result.

Just as the graphics modeller needs the graphics renderer before it can beinstalled, the renderer relies on the graphics library being installedbeforehand.

The graphics renderer installed was the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkitwhich uses RenderMan files.

When is elder scrolls six coming out. Keep in mind that these are brief instructions; a quick summary of the moreimportant details you'll find listed in README files for the correspondingsoftware packages. It is, by no means, a substitute for actually readingthose files (as they contain copyright information and other instructionsnot necessarily covered by this document).

First, let it be known that this document only covers how to get up andrunning using RedHat v7.0. Whenever given the choice as to which softwarepackage to download, please make sure it is compatible with the flavourof Linux you happen to be running.

Second, please only send E-mail if you have information that would behelpful to other people who might read this document (such as explaininghow to install other tools, pointers to other tutorials, missing stepsgrammar and/or speling mistakes and/or tpyos, etc.). If softwaredoesn't compile, or you can't figure it out, please read its accompanyingdocumentation. Please understand that your system may be completelydifferent, and as such debugging problems via E-mail across the Internet isnot a task anyone enjoys. ;-)

Third, these are software packages that installed without any severehitches (read: severe headaches). In the Related Links section, thereare alternate software packages along side the ones covered below. Notethat just because a given software package is not covered in depth doesnot mean it is any worse (or better) than those chosen to install.

Good luck!

Before you begin, you will need a web browser and Unix shell. If youdon't know how to use a shell [bash, ksh, etc.], you're own your own(although instructions are given in both English and shell commands).

Unless otherwise specified, all instructions are to be carried out asroot.

1. Create a new directory /usr/local/archives for the packages:
2. Download the following packages (in .tar.gz form)into the newly created directory (homepages are given, aswell as links to download pages, and minimum software version):
   • Mesa Graphics Library v3.4.1:www.mesa3d.org/download.html
   • Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit v2.6beta:www.bmrt.org/BMRTdownload/index.html
   • The Mops v0.42d:www.informatik.uni-rostock.de/~rschultz/mops/download.html

Old versions of tar do not support the z argument.For those systems, leave out the z argument and use gunzipon the file before using tar.

1. Change to the /usr/local/archives directory:
2. Extract Mesa (substitute version number where required):
3. Change to the MesaLib subdirectory:
4. Configure, make, and install Mesa with the following sequence ofcommands:
5. Edit /etc/ld.so.conf, and ensure you have a line thatreads:
6. Run the dynamic library configuration program:

1. Return to the /usr/local/archives directory:
2. Extract the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit (substitute versionnumber where required):
3. Change to the BMRT subdirectory:
4. Copy files to appropriate destination directories:
5. Make a directory for the shaders, ensure it is world-writable,then copy the shader files into it:
6. Edit the system login profile (/etc/profile or equivalent),and add the line:
7. Copy the .rendribrc file to each user's home directory.

If anything goes wrong, please consult the README filethat accompanies the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit, or visittheir website.

The Mops may be installed on a per-user basis, or on a system-widebasis by root (or equivalent). In this example, it is installed using anon-administrative account, which should yield positive results. Note thatthe compile failed during the install (missing a C header file), so theprecompiled binaries (compatible with RedHat v6.0, your system may vary)were installed, as follows:

1. Change to one directory above where you'd like The Mops toreside. For example, if /usr/local/mops was desired, then issuethe following command:
2. Extract the mops (substitute number where required), then change intoits directory:
3. Move the following files from /usr/local/mops/srcto /usr/local/mops:
4. Copy the .mopsrc file to the home directory of each userwanting to run The Mops. For example, the user 'jane' would need thefollowing commands run:
5. Create /usr/local/lib/mops and move the buttons and shaders:

If anything goes wrong, please consult the README andSetup.txt files that accompany The Mops, or visittheir website.

Log out from root. Log in as a regular user, and runThe Mops as follows:

You may wish to create a subdirectory within $HOME/mops calledmodels for saving 3D models.

Now that the installation is complete, you can remove from yoursystem all files that you no longer require (substituting versionnumbers where required).

Note: Be cautious when using rm -rf .. make sure you arein the correct directory, and the files and/or directories you wish todelete are present.

Instead of a frequently asked questions section, here is informationabout some of the (almost embarassing) problems faced.

The most frustrating problem, initially, was trying to figure out whyeverything was black -- and then how to actually light objects up. Inthese 'virtual worlds' where you are modelling objects, the worldsare created from scratch. There is no light in the world untilyou actually put a light source in it! The light sources then shinea given direction, illuminating things in their path (according tothe surface properties of the objects). Make certain that your lightsource is:

3D modeling software specially made for 3D printing are called mesh editing software. Instead of precise software representation, a mesh editing software instead reduces these objects into shells with no internal filling. This simplifies the modeling process, although the model can be quickly converted to solid objects right before printing. Within the 3D printing community, mesh editing software is considered more appropriate for STL editing.

The top 5 best free STL editors

1. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is one of the most feature-rich CAD design software platforms. Best of all, the software is open source and completely free. FreeCAD uses parametric modeling principles and has been widely used by both professionals and beginners.

With FreeCAD, you can add features, make measurements, and separate components of an existing STL file. Since FreeCAD was originally meant for mechanical and engineering design, it allows for extremely fine and precise edits. However, it's very difficult to use FreeCAD for sculpting, so smooth surfaces can be challenging.

Even if you don't already have an existing STL file, you can still use FreeCAD to come up with your own 3D sketches and model them in 3D space. It does take some time to get used to the FreeCAD platform and to learn how to use its functions, but it's not so difficult to be inaccessible for beginners. One major flaw of the open source platform of FreeCAD is that it can be full of bugs, although this could be easily remedied by sticking to the latest stable version.

2. Blender

Blender is another free 3D printing software that is a little more sophisticated than FreeCAD. It has been touted as a software that can support the whole 3D design pipeline and is best suited for individual designers and small design firms. With a wide suite of excellent features, Blender has been used to for modeling, animation, video rendering, film and visual effects, and 3D simulation.

A huge part of why Blender has been able to extend its range of capabilities is that it's completely community-driven. Users can introduce new features, make minor or major changes to the code, or implement bug fixes. Best of all, Blender is completely free, even if you use it for commercial purposes.

Although modeling is just one of the major functions of Blender, it has a very rich set of features. You can build your own models from 2D sketches or edit an existing STL file. Aside from the usual features, including STL repair, removal and addition of components, and partial masking of models, Blender has much more advanced sculpting capabilities. With twenty different brush types and dynamic sculpting, you can pretty much generate any type of smooth surface. You can grab and pinch areas, flatten sections, inflate and deflate a model, or sculpt the model like clay.

We wouldn't classify Blender as beginner-friendly, but its learning curve is pretty friendly. With so many features, it will take some time before you can unlock the full potential of Blender. As far as 3D printing software go, Blender is one of the most comprehensive.

3. SketchUp

The SketchUp software platform, which used to be owned by Google, is now with Trimble but still retains the user-friendly characteristic for which it became famous for. You have the option of downloading the free SketchUp Make version or upgrading to the paid SketchUp Pro version. The good news is that you can use the free version to edit STL files, but you'll need to make sure to download and install the SketchUp STL plugin first.

The simplicity of SketchUp is its strong suit. It's very easy to learn, and its interface will feel familiar to anyone who's ever used a graphic design program. However, this ease-of-use comes at the price of a limited feature set. The STL editing capabilities of SketchUp are pretty much limited to dragging edges and vertices and adding or deleting individual triangles. It has no built-in STL repair function, but you can still do it manually by using the Solid Inspector tool and correcting any hitches yourself.

Despite the limited features of SketchUp, it remains one of the most widely used 3D design software worldwide. It's highly recommended for beginners. Even people with no 3D modeling experience can learn the fundamentals of SketchUp within a few minutes.

4. MeshLab

MeshLab, as its name implies, is a software platform for editing 3D triangular meshes. It's also open source, which helps give it a rich set of functions and features. If you need modeling software specifically for 3D printing, MeshLab is one of the best options for editing, cleaning, rendering, and texturing mesh-based models.

You will need an existing STL file to make the most use out of MeshLab. It can combine different meshes of a 3D scan, remove parts of an existing, and automatically repair a 3D model. However, it cannot be used to build your own models from scratch. You can also simplify the triangular faces of a model, thereby reducing geometry complexity for easier file sharing.

MeshLab isn't exceptionally user-friendly, but their website has several tutorials that can help get you started. They also have a dedicated community of developers that can provide support if you need bug fixes or if you just have any general questions or clarifications.

5. MeshMixer

Girl voice changer. In the field of free mesh editing programs, few can equal the quality of MeshMixer. Aside from having a huge set of the necessary mesh editing features, MeshMixer is also very user-friendly. It even has a built-in slicer tool so you can prepare your model for printing and send it directly to your 3D printer via MeshMixer.

The development team behind MeshMixer calls it the 'Swiss Army knife' of 3D meshes. It does have just about everything you need, so we're inclined to agree. You can combine meshes, drag edges and vertices, make measurements, smooth meshes, and even do free-form sculpting. The software comes with a couple of automated features that can help identify problems with your STL file such as holes, misaligned surface, and paper-thin walls.

By combining ease-of-use and an impressive array of features, MeshMixer is considered by many to be the best free mesh editing software. It's only available for Windows and Mac, though, so Linux users will have to look elsewhere.

Final thoughts

If you've gotten into 3D printing, then you probably have dozens to hundreds of STL files lying around in your computer. While printing them as they were modeled originally is fine, the next logical step you need to take is to learn how to edit existing models. This is best done with an STL editor. If you're still a beginner, then we recommend starting with an STL editor that you can download for free.

As you can see from our list of the best free STL editors, being free for use has not hindered these software platforms from having excellent quality. With impressive features and intelligently designed interfaces, it's almost unbelievable that they are free.

Dave Jarvis

This document will guide you through the steps used to install andconfigure an environment for modelling and rendering three-dimensionalgraphics using Linux. In this section you will also find informationin laymans terms about the required components and how they piecetogether. The installation section is purposely minimal; merely thequick and dirty steps needed to take to get up and running (if itdoesn't work, more information is available). For those that want moreinformation about the software components and what they do (in general),please continue reading.

There are, at the minimum, three software packages you'll need in order toget up and running. These are as follows (in the order they areexplained, not the order they are installed):

• a graphics library;
• a graphics modeller;
• a graphics renderer.

The spelling modelling is Canadian. The spelling modelingis American. The original author of this document is Canadian. ;-)

Copyright © 2000-2001 Dave Jarvis

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part, without fee, subjectto the following restrictions:

• the copyright notice above and this permission notice must bepreserved complete on all complete or partial copies;
• any translation or derived work must be approved by the author inwriting before distribution;
• if you distribute this work in part, instructions for obtainingthe complete version of this manual must be included, and a means forobtaining a complete version provided;
• small portions may be reproduced as illustrations for reviews orquotes in other works without this permission notice if proper citationis given.

The content of this section exists only to describe, in general, thethree main components required for three-dimensional modelling andrendering with a Linux-based system.

A graphics library consists of the most basic tools used for manipulatinggraphical images. Think of all the things needed to build a house: wiring,plumbing, wood, bricks, and such. The graphics library can be thought ofas not these items, but rather the tools used create such items. Afterall, wire, metal tubes, planks, and bricks don't magically appear; ratherthey are created and formed as entities unto themselves. On a similar note,graphics don't magically appear on the screen -- typically they consistof lower-level graphics primatives (lines, rectangles, and individualpixels, for example).

So the graphics library, then, can be thought of as the low-level graphicsprimatives used to build more complex objects (spheres, boxes, complexpolygons, etc.). Those complex objects are then used to build even morecomplicated shapes and figures.

The graphics library installed was the freeware implementation of OpenGLcalled Mesa.

Since the graphics renderer is, ideally, completely hidden from the end-user,we'll deal with that last (besides which, modelling is the next logical stepin keeping with my house-building analogy). However, when it comes to theactual installation, a graphics modeller relies on the renderer already beinginstalled.

If the graphics library is akin to the tools used to build the tools usedto build a house (!), then graphics modellers can be thought of as thetools used to build the blueprints for the house -- sophisticatedblueprints, as modellers let you dictate exactly where the wiring, plumbing,wood panels, bricks, and forth are supposed to go. Furthermore, theylet you pick the style of panelling and the colour of the bricks youdesire.

The graphics modeller installed was the freeware package calledThe Mops, which produces RenderMan-compatible files.

In keeping with the house-building analogy, the graphics renderer is thenthe construction workers. Once you have the blueprints and materials readyto go, you need something to actually build the house so it appears how itwas designed. The graphics renderer is given information (i.e., theblueprints in the form of a RenderMan-compatible file, orequivalent) from the the modeller to produce the final result.

Just as the graphics modeller needs the graphics renderer before it can beinstalled, the renderer relies on the graphics library being installedbeforehand.

The graphics renderer installed was the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkitwhich uses RenderMan files.

When is elder scrolls six coming out. Keep in mind that these are brief instructions; a quick summary of the moreimportant details you'll find listed in README files for the correspondingsoftware packages. It is, by no means, a substitute for actually readingthose files (as they contain copyright information and other instructionsnot necessarily covered by this document).

First, let it be known that this document only covers how to get up andrunning using RedHat v7.0. Whenever given the choice as to which softwarepackage to download, please make sure it is compatible with the flavourof Linux you happen to be running.

Second, please only send E-mail if you have information that would behelpful to other people who might read this document (such as explaininghow to install other tools, pointers to other tutorials, missing stepsgrammar and/or speling mistakes and/or tpyos, etc.). If softwaredoesn't compile, or you can't figure it out, please read its accompanyingdocumentation. Please understand that your system may be completelydifferent, and as such debugging problems via E-mail across the Internet isnot a task anyone enjoys. ;-)

Third, these are software packages that installed without any severehitches (read: severe headaches). In the Related Links section, thereare alternate software packages along side the ones covered below. Notethat just because a given software package is not covered in depth doesnot mean it is any worse (or better) than those chosen to install.

Good luck!

Before you begin, you will need a web browser and Unix shell. If youdon't know how to use a shell [bash, ksh, etc.], you're own your own(although instructions are given in both English and shell commands).

Unless otherwise specified, all instructions are to be carried out asroot.

1. Create a new directory /usr/local/archives for the packages:
2. Download the following packages (in .tar.gz form)into the newly created directory (homepages are given, aswell as links to download pages, and minimum software version):
   • Mesa Graphics Library v3.4.1:www.mesa3d.org/download.html
   • Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit v2.6beta:www.bmrt.org/BMRTdownload/index.html
   • The Mops v0.42d:www.informatik.uni-rostock.de/~rschultz/mops/download.html

Old versions of tar do not support the z argument.For those systems, leave out the z argument and use gunzipon the file before using tar.

1. Change to the /usr/local/archives directory:
2. Extract Mesa (substitute version number where required):
3. Change to the MesaLib subdirectory:
4. Configure, make, and install Mesa with the following sequence ofcommands:
5. Edit /etc/ld.so.conf, and ensure you have a line thatreads:
6. Run the dynamic library configuration program:

1. Return to the /usr/local/archives directory:
2. Extract the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit (substitute versionnumber where required):
3. Change to the BMRT subdirectory:
4. Copy files to appropriate destination directories:
5. Make a directory for the shaders, ensure it is world-writable,then copy the shader files into it:
6. Edit the system login profile (/etc/profile or equivalent),and add the line:
7. Copy the .rendribrc file to each user's home directory.

If anything goes wrong, please consult the README filethat accompanies the Blue Moon Rendering Toolkit, or visittheir website.

The Mops may be installed on a per-user basis, or on a system-widebasis by root (or equivalent). In this example, it is installed using anon-administrative account, which should yield positive results. Note thatthe compile failed during the install (missing a C header file), so theprecompiled binaries (compatible with RedHat v6.0, your system may vary)were installed, as follows:

1. Change to one directory above where you'd like The Mops toreside. For example, if /usr/local/mops was desired, then issuethe following command:
2. Extract the mops (substitute number where required), then change intoits directory:
3. Move the following files from /usr/local/mops/srcto /usr/local/mops:
4. Copy the .mopsrc file to the home directory of each userwanting to run The Mops. For example, the user 'jane' would need thefollowing commands run:
5. Create /usr/local/lib/mops and move the buttons and shaders:

If anything goes wrong, please consult the README andSetup.txt files that accompany The Mops, or visittheir website.

Log out from root. Log in as a regular user, and runThe Mops as follows:

You may wish to create a subdirectory within $HOME/mops calledmodels for saving 3D models.

Now that the installation is complete, you can remove from yoursystem all files that you no longer require (substituting versionnumbers where required).

Note: Be cautious when using rm -rf .. make sure you arein the correct directory, and the files and/or directories you wish todelete are present.

Instead of a frequently asked questions section, here is informationabout some of the (almost embarassing) problems faced.

The most frustrating problem, initially, was trying to figure out whyeverything was black -- and then how to actually light objects up. Inthese 'virtual worlds' where you are modelling objects, the worldsare created from scratch. There is no light in the world untilyou actually put a light source in it! The light sources then shinea given direction, illuminating things in their path (according tothe surface properties of the objects). Make certain that your lightsource is:

1. pointing (rotated and translated) in the correct direction;
2. intense enough to actually cast discernable lighting.

The most basic thing a person would want to do with modelling/renderingpackages is position a sphere on a surface, give it some lighting, andsee the result. A decent tutorial should describe that first.

3d Modeling Software Free Online

That said, The Mops has a wonderfulfirst tutorial.

Mesa - An OpenGL-compliantGraphics Library.

BMRT - The Blue Moon RenderingToolkit.

POV-Ray - The Persistence ofVision Raytracer.

The Mops - A 3D modelling package that uses BMRT.

Blender - Freeware modellingand rendering suite of tools.

Here are some links that don't really fit into any other category, yetare still worthwhile checking out if you are seriously consideringusing your Linux computer as a 3D modelling and rendering machine.

3D Software for Linux - Contains most (if not all) links inthis document and then some.

3D Modelling Software for Linux - Links to software packageschiefly related to modelling.

3D Modelling and Rendering using Linux - A comprehensive sitewith articles and software that explains what this document summarizes.

3d Modeling Free

I would like to extend a heart-felt thanks to the developers of thesoftware packages detailed in this document. The quality of theirproducts is of a commercial level, yet they keep the spirit of freesoftware alive. Well done!