3D graphing is using a computer program to plot equations in virtual 3D space. It has numerous uses in science, engineering, multimedia, and entertainment. 3D graphing programs accept traditional graphing equations and can be used to apply special effects in multimedia and image editors. In entertainment, 3D graphics can simulate intelligent movement and natural terrain.
Three-dimensional (3D) graphing is the act of using a computer program to plot the solution of an equation in virtual 3D space so that the results can be analyzed visually. There are numerous uses for 3D graphics in science and engineering, as well as applications in computer programming in general, particularly in multimedia and entertainment programs. Some functions and equations are plotted in 3D simply to procedurally create elegant and interesting 3D shapes or models, while others are representative of data gathered from one source, such as weather information. Many computer applications are capable of creating 3D graphics, with some allowing the user to customize every aspect of the view to create legible graphics or colorful images.
One of the most convenient aspects of using a 3D graphing program is that most 3D computer libraries are designed to accept the same type of variables and functions used in traditional graphing equations. Functions such as sine, cosine and tangent are supported, as are real numbers and exponents. Additionally, many graphics cards use the same type of 3D coordinate system used in scientific graphing, often with the ability to easily switch the system from right-handed to left-handed. This means that very little interpretation is required between the input of an equation and the program that ultimately solves it and plots the results.
Multimedia programs and image editors regularly use 3D graphics to apply special effects. This can be seen in a number of filters that rely on graphics to simulate textures, manipulate paths or warp images. It can also be used, especially with fractal equations, to generate seemingly random results that can be scaled, duplicated, or otherwise manipulated within a scene. This type of 3D graphical representation can be seen in professional film special effects software that simulates the surface of water or large groups of objects moving through a 3D scene, where the motion appears natural and random but is actually the result of graphing functions.
In entertainment applications such as video games, 3D graphics can be used to simulate intelligent movement with computer-controlled objects, making them follow non-random paths. It is also used in online multiplayer games to compute predictive behavior for moving objects, allowing a player to see smoothly rendered sequences without requiring the program to connect to a server for every frame of the animation. This type of graphing can also be used to simulate natural terrain, such as mountains, by drawing and interpolating special equations, sometimes recursively, to add detail.
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