A 3D photo cube is a computer application that displays six images on a rotating cube, commonly used as a screen saver or special effect. It can hold different photographs, and some programs allow cycling of images. The cube’s square shape can cause complications, but some programs automatically crop or scale images. Advanced versions may include interactivity and full-screen view mode.
A three-dimensional (3D) photo cube is a computer application or script that displays a six-sided cube on the screen, and each of the cube’s faces contains an image or photograph, usually defined by the user. The relatively simple elements of a 3D photo cube allow the effect to be used in almost any context, including computer screen savers, multimedia applications, websites and embedded devices, and as a special effects filter in some graphic image editors. In most implementations, the cube is not static but constantly rotates on an axis and sometimes even moves slowly across the screen. More complex versions of a 3D photo cube can have additional effects applied to the cube, including reflections, animations, and interactive elements that allow the user to move or control the cube.
Many people use a 3D photo cube because it’s a simple, interesting and compact method of displaying a number of photographs at once. Each of the cube’s faces can hold a different photograph, and the cube rotates slowly, so each of the six photographs will be shown over time while hinting at the other photographs, which may not be in full view. Some programs even allow cycling of different photographs over time so that the images on the sides of the cube change automatically at certain intervals.
One complication that a 3D photo cube might have is the fact that each face of the cube is a square, whereas the shape of most photographs is rectangular. The default behavior of some 3D photocube applications in this regard varies, but may include automatically cropping an image to a smaller size, centering the image larger so that the center appears in the square, or scaling the image so that there is a top-bottom gutter inside the face of the cube. A better result would require the user to edit the digital photographs to be used, making them square before loading them into the 3D application.
A more advanced version of a 3D photo cube program might include interactivity as one of its features. This can be especially fun when the program runs on a handheld device where the angle and pitch of the device can be tied to the cube’s movements. Some cubes are programmed to follow the mouse cursor or change orientation based on keyboard input. A common feature is the ability to switch between the 3D photo cube and a full screen view mode for photography that is in front of the screen.
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