Rendering a 3D Scene and Exporting to VRML

using Strata StudioPro 2.5 under Mac OS 8.1

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Project Goals

To complete the 3D portion of our web page we will return to Strata StudioPro to:
  1. Set up the program to resume work on your model.
  2. Choose the rendering attributes for the scene.
  3. Render a thumbnail image of the model, to be used for a hyperlink to the actual 3d scene.
  4. Export the model as a VRML file.
  5. Edit the homepage HTML file to add a link to the VRML file, using SimpleText.


VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is a standard way to describe the contents of a 3D scene. It is used in several web sites to give greater immediacy to the viewers' experience. It's advantages include:

The main disadvantage of VRML is that it requires viewers to have access to fairly powerful computers to properly experience the 3D environment. VRML has also been hampered by spotty support in browser software, and a tortuos and conflicted standardization process.

After completing the VRML file, we will return to our main HTML file to add the necessary link to our new multimedia piece.


Initial setup

  1. Re-open your 3D logo using Strata StudioPro.
  2. As you work, switch to an appropriate view
  3. Render the scene whenever you need to check effects not displayed in the modeling window.

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Apply textures

Create and apply a new solid-color texture

  1. Use the selection tool to select the object you want to texture.
  2. If the Resource palette is not visible, display it using the Windows menu.
  3. Choose 'Simple Color' from the pop-up menu 'New' in the Resources palette.
    'new simple color' command
  4. The 'Simple Color' dialog appears
    simple color dialog
  5. Click 'OK' to exit the dialog and apply the new texture to the selected object.

Create and apply a new glossy texture

  1. Use the selection tool to select the object you want to texture.
  2. Choose 'Surface Texture' from the pop-up menu 'New' in the Resources palette.
  3. The 'Surface Texture' dialog appears
    surface texture dialog
  4. Click 'OK' to exit the dialog and apply the new texture to the selected object.

Apply an existing texture to an object in the scene

  1. Make sure the object to be textured is selected.
  2. If necessary, click the Library button to expand the Resource palette.
    click Library button to expand Resource palette
  3. Find a texture you like:
  4. Click on the texture preview to select it, then click the apply button:
    applying a texture

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Adjust lighting

  1. Lighting settings will be stored in the VRML file, but they are ignored by the Live 3D plug-in.
  2. Change the orientation and settings of the default light
  3. Create and adjust a new light
  4. Again use the camera at the bottom of the toolbox for a test rendering, to better see the effect of your lighting adjustments.

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Choose other environment effects

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Render a Still Image

This picture will be used as a thumbnail for the link from your web page to your VRML file

  1. Change your viewpoint to show the scene at its best
  2. Do a draft-quality test rendering. Close the rendering window (without saving) and make further adjustments if necessary.
  3. Render and save the final image as a JPEG file

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Export the 3D Scene as a VRML File

  1. Use File-->Save As to display the Save dialog
  2. Choose 'VRML 1.0' from the 'File Format' pop-up menu at the bottom of the dialog.
  3. Enter the filename (all lowercase) according to these rules:
  4. Click 'Save'
  5. Strata StudioPro won't be able to open the VRML file if you need to make changes to the scene. Make sure to also use the File-->Save command to update the Strata version of your document, and keep it on your disks.
  6. You are now done with Strata StudioPro, and you might want to quit the program to free up memory.

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Edit the HTML File for Your Web Page

  1. Collect the files exported by Strata StudioPro (the .wrl file, and any .jpeg files for textures) in a folder. Call the folder:
  2. Drag the icon of your current '.html' file and drop it on SimpleText
  3. Click to place the insertion point where you would like to see the thumbnail linking to your VRML logo scene.
  4. Enter the tag to display the thumbnail:
  5. Before the IMG tag, enter the start tag for the link to your VRML file:
  6. After the IMG tag, enter the end tag for the link:
  7. Following all of the above instructions, Sam Sample's HTML file would contain this line:

Before leaving, make sure you transfer your new 3d folder and the edited HTML file to the file server for posting to the web server.

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Additional Info:


Copyright by Sandro Corsi. Last modified 12 Nov 98.