3D Graphics with Py5

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Imagine taking a flat, boring piece of paper and transforming it into a vibrant 3D world where shapes jump out at you, rotate, and even dance to your commands. This isn't magic—it's the power of 3D graphics! Today, we're diving into the fascinating realm of 3D graphics using the Py5 library, a friendly interface to the Processing graphics library for Python enthusiasts.

Let's get started by setting the stage for our 3D masterpiece.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before we create mind-blowing 3D visuals, we need to set up our environment. To do this, you'll need to install Py5. Open your terminal and run:

pip install py5

Once you have Py5 installed, you're ready to start coding!

The Basics of a Py5 Sketch

In Py5, every sketch starts with two essential functions: setup() and draw(). These functions define the initial setup and the continuous drawing loop, respectively.

Let's create a basic Py5 sketch to get the ball rolling:

import py5

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)  # Set up a window with 3D rendering
    py5.background(200)  # Set a light gray background

def draw():
    py5.background(200)  # Refresh the background each frame

py5.run_sketch()

In this example, we're setting up a window with an 800x600 resolution and enabling 3D rendering with py5.P3D. The draw() function continuously refreshes the background to ensure smooth animations.

Drawing 3D Shapes

Now that we have a basic setup, let's move on to drawing some 3D shapes. Py5 allows you to create various 3D primitives such as boxes, spheres, and cylinders.

Drawing a Box

Here's how to draw a rotating 3D box:

import py5

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)
    py5.background(200)

def draw():
    py5.background(200)
    py5.translate(py5.width / 2, py5.height / 2, -200)  # Move to the center
    py5.rotate_x(py5.frame_count * 0.01)  # Rotate around the X-axis
    py5.rotate_y(py5.frame_count * 0.01)  # Rotate around the Y-axis
    py5.box(150)  # Draw a box with a width, height, and depth of 150

py5.run_sketch()

In this code, py5.translate() moves the origin to the center of the window, and py5.rotate_x() and py5.rotate_y() apply rotations around the X and Y axes. As a result, the box appears to rotate continuously.

Drawing a Sphere

Next, let's draw a sphere:

import py5

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)
    py5.background(200)

def draw():
    py5.background(200)
    py5.translate(py5.width / 2, py5.height / 2, -200)
    py5.rotate_x(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.rotate_y(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.sphere(100)  # Draw a sphere with a radius of 100

py5.run_sketch()

Similar to the box, the sphere rotates around the X and Y axes.

Adding Lighting

To make our 3D shapes look more realistic, we need to add some lighting. Py5 provides several functions to create different types of lights, such as ambient_light(), directional_light(), and point_light().

Here's how to add a simple directional light to our rotating box:

import py5

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)
    py5.background(200)
    py5.no_stroke()  # Remove outlines for a smooth appearance

def draw():
    py5.background(200)
    py5.directional_light(255, 255, 255, 1, 1, -1)  # White light from the top-right
    py5.translate(py5.width / 2, py5.height / 2, -200)
    py5.rotate_x(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.rotate_y(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.box(150)

py5.run_sketch()

The py5.directional_light() function adds a white light that shines from the top-right direction, enhancing the 3D effect of our box.

Animating 3D Objects

Animating 3D objects in Py5 is straightforward. By manipulating the py5.frame_count, we can create smooth animations.

Let's create an example where multiple spheres move in a circular pattern:

import py5
import math

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)
    py5.background(0)
    py5.no_stroke()

def draw():
    py5.background(0)
    py5.directional_light(255, 255, 255, 1, 1, -1)
    py5.translate(py5.width / 2, py5.height / 2, -200)
    
    for i in range(10):
        angle = py5.frame_count * 0.02 + i * (2 * math.pi / 10)
        x = 200 * math.cos(angle)
        y = 200 * math.sin(angle)
        py5.push_matrix()
        py5.translate(x, y, 0)
        py5.sphere(30)
        py5.pop_matrix()

py5.run_sketch()

In this code, we use trigonometric functions (math.cos and math.sin) to calculate the positions of the spheres, creating a circular animation.

Combining Shapes and Animations

For the grand finale, let's combine multiple shapes and animations to create a mesmerizing 3D scene. We'll draw a rotating box surrounded by orbiting spheres:

import py5
import math

def setup():
    py5.size(800, 600, py5.P3D)
    py5.background(0)
    py5.no_stroke()

def draw():
    py5.background(0)
    py5.directional_light(255, 255, 255, 1, 1, -1)
    py5.translate(py5.width / 2, py5.height / 2, -200)

    # Draw rotating box
    py5.push_matrix()
    py5.rotate_x(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.rotate_y(py5.frame_count * 0.01)
    py5.box(150)
    py5.pop_matrix()
    
    # Draw orbiting spheres
    for i in range(10):
        angle = py5.frame_count * 0.02 + i * (2 * math.pi / 10)
        x = 200 * math.cos(angle)
        y = 200 * math.sin(angle)
        py5.push_matrix()
        py5.translate(x, y, 0)
        py5.sphere(30)
        py5.pop_matrix()

py5.run_sketch()

This code showcases the power of combining different shapes and animations, creating an engaging and dynamic 3D scene.

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