Painless way to do 3D visualization

[Peter Beattie]

Hey folks,

I need to do the following relatively simple 3D programming:

I want to convert data from four-item tuples into 3D co-ordinates in a
regular tetrahedron. Co-ordinates come in sequences of 10 to 20, and the
individual dots in the tetrahedron need to be connected into
discontinuous lines. A single tetrahedron should contain at least two,
possibly more, such lines. I would like to show certain similarities in
the sequences/lines, eg by changing color, thickness, or maybe attaching
indeces to certain points in a particular sequence.

I'd welcome suggestions as to what might be the most painless way to
achieve this in Python. So far, I've only tinkered a little with
VPython, but the lack of any decent documentation has proved to be a
major turn-off.

TIA!

--
Peter

[faulkner]

Re: Painless way to do 3D visualization

http://www.vpython.org/

Peter Beattie wrote:

Hey folks,
>
I need to do the following relatively simple 3D programming:
>
I want to convert data from four-item tuples into 3D co-ordinates in a
regular tetrahedron. Co-ordinates come in sequences of 10 to 20, and the
individual dots in the tetrahedron need to be connected into
discontinuous lines. A single tetrahedron should contain at least two,
possibly more, such lines. I would like to show certain similarities in
the sequences/lines, eg by changing color, thickness, or maybe attaching
indeces to certain points in a particular sequence.
>
I'd welcome suggestions as to what might be the most painless way to
achieve this in Python. So far, I've only tinkered a little with
VPython, but the lack of any decent documentation has proved to be a
major turn-off.
>
TIA!
>
--
Peter

[Peter Beattie]

Re: Painless way to do 3D visualization

faulkner wrote:

http://www.vpython.org/

Oh, thanks, but let me quote myself:

>So far, I've only tinkered a little with VPython, but the lack
>of any decent documentation has proved to be a major turn-off.

So, I'd really appreciate any hints as to where to look for anything a
little more usable.

--
Peter

[Ron Adam]

Re: Painless way to do 3D visualization

Peter Beattie wrote:

Hey folks,
>
I need to do the following relatively simple 3D programming:
>
I want to convert data from four-item tuples into 3D co-ordinates in a
regular tetrahedron. Co-ordinates come in sequences of 10 to 20, and the
individual dots in the tetrahedron need to be connected into
discontinuous lines. A single tetrahedron should contain at least two,
possibly more, such lines. I would like to show certain similarities in
the sequences/lines, eg by changing color, thickness, or maybe attaching
indeces to certain points in a particular sequence.
>
I'd welcome suggestions as to what might be the most painless way to
achieve this in Python. So far, I've only tinkered a little with
VPython, but the lack of any decent documentation has proved to be a
major turn-off.
>
TIA!

What exactly are the four-items in the tuples?


I think this is what you need along with an example...

http://www.vpython.org/webdoc/visual/curve.html

from visual import *

# a simple polygon

points = [(0,0,0),(0,1,0) ,(1,1,0),(1,0,0 ),(0,0,0)]
curve(pos=point s, color=color.red )


# a polygon as separate segments grouped together in a frame.

square2 = frame()
points = [(0,0,1),(0,1,1) ,(1,1,1),(1,0,1 ),(0,0,1)]
for i in xrange(len(poin ts)-1):
curve(frame=squ are2, pos=[points[i],points[i+1]], color=color.blu e)
square2.objects[2].color = color.green # change a line segments color
square2.objects[2].radius = .02 # change a line segments thickness


# looking at objects after they are made.
print square2
print dir(square2)
print square2.objects
print dir(square2.obj ects[0])

[Erik Max Francis]

Re: Painless way to do 3D visualization

Peter Beattie wrote:

faulkner wrote:

>http://www.vpython.org/

>
Oh, thanks, but let me quote myself:
>

>>So far, I've only tinkered a little with VPython, but the lack
>>of any decent documentation has proved to be a major turn-off.

>
So, I'd really appreciate any hints as to where to look for anything a
little more usable.

There's also ZOE:

http://www.alcyone.com/software/zoe/

but if a lack of documentation turned you off to VPython then ZOE is
probably not for you either.

--
Erik Max Francis && max@alcyone.com && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && AIM, Y!M erikmaxfrancis
No need to tell her there's a world out there / She knows / She just
doesn't seem worried at all -- Nik Kershaw