In the realm of web development for worldwide users, Three.js stands at the forefront of innovation, enabling creators to fashion immersive 3D experiences directly within the browser. In this article, we delve deep into the pivotal role of materials—the bedrock upon which 3D scenes are built.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the world of 3D, learn Three.js materials with us as we decode the complexities and unveil the essentials of materials in this dynamic landscape of web-based 3D design.
Advantages of Integrating Three.js
In Three.js, you have the capability to apply textures and materials to your objects. Additionally, the platform provides an array of customizable shaders, advanced post-processing effects, and lighting options to enhance your visual compositions.
Once your work is complete, seamlessly import your assets from the 3D modeling software into your project. Need guidance? Let’s delve deeper into understanding materials and their creation within Three.js.
Understanding Texture
A texture serves as a 2D image that envelops or adheres to a raw 3D model. Various projection options are available, including cubic, spherical, cylindrical, and planar, along with their derivatives. It’s important to avoid automatic projections as they can result in artifacts, such as texture distortion at poles or on faces and polygons.
Moreover, depending on the technical requirements of your project, textures can be layered to create a composite material. Typically, such a material requires a minimum of three textures:
- A base color texture, also referred to as diffuse
- A normal map
- Metallic and roughness textures
While some studios advocate for a specular texture over a roughness texture in their workflows, it’s important to note that a specular texture is essentially an inverted roughness texture.
Distinguishing Images from Textures
In computer graphics, ‘texture’ and ‘picture’ are frequently intertwined terms, but it’s crucial to differentiate between them due to common confusion. Despite sharing identical file extensions like JPG or PNG, they serve different purposes.
A 2D image primarily caters to human visual perception, whereas a texture holds data for graphic editors, lacking aesthetic appeal when viewed directly. While an image is easily comprehensible in a viewer, a texture contributes material information when applied to a 3D model, enriching the scene in platforms like Three.js.
Transition from Texture to Material
A material comprises textures, numerical data, graphs, and additional elements to construct a shader, influencing the visual perception of volumes, curves, and meshes in a 3D model. It dictates attributes such as color, texture, and how the object interacts with light, including directional effects.
Materials aren’t restricted to wrapping around 3D models; they can also be employed as camera effects during post-processing, adding features like pixelation or aberration. The potential combinations of effects are vast.
Materials in Blender
Blender emerges as the top choice for web-based 3D graphics, especially for seamless integration with the Gltf/Glb format. Its strengths lie in handling simple materials, morphing animations, keyframes, and skeletal systems efficiently.
In contrast, while 3ds Max sees rapid improvements, its lack of compatibility with web animations remains a drawback. This positions Blender as the preferred option for the foreseeable future.
Flexibility of Shaders
Blender offers a wide array of shaders tailored to different formats. For instance, shader materials can be employed individually. Take the Glass BSDF, for instance, which is ideal for handling separate glass elements. This option proves more user-friendly compared to the intricate Principled BSDF material. With Glass BSDF, you can easily adjust the material’s color, matte or glossy properties, refraction level, and apply a normal map.
Standard Materials in Blender
When materials are downloaded for web use, they’re automatically converted to default materials because most parameters in these shaders are part of the complex Principled BSDF material. Unlike Blender’s 25-input Principled BSDF, Three.js defaults to a simpler material. Typically, only Base Color, Metallic, Roughness, Emission, Alpha, and Normal inputs are necessary for web materials.
An Introduction to the Three.js Editor
Now that we’ve explored various materials and textures, let’s dive into implementing them in Three.js.
At this stage, you’ve prepared your models, whether created in Blender or obtained from a marketplace. Once materials are set up and ambient occlusion is baked, it’s time to integrate Three.js into the scene.
While Three.js may seem limited and somewhat outdated compared to its web counterpart Babylon.js, it remains the most flexible and powerful 3D engine for web browsers today. With a skilled 3D artist and developer working together, the possibilities are endless, ranging from basic models to realistic, photorealistic environments. However, there are essential tips to consider before diving into your project.
Presently, Three.js provides a total of 12 materials, but the most frequently utilized ones are just four:
- MeshBasicMaterial
- MeshStandardMaterial
- MeshPhysicalMaterial
- MeshPhongMaterial
Final Thoughts
Today’s article explores Three.js materials, covering the workflow in Blender and Three.js. Proper preparation significantly impacts your 3D scenery.
We’ve discussed popular materials like MeshBasicMaterial for its simplicity, allowing creativity with attributes like color and opacity. MeshStandardMaterial offers versatility with features like roughness and emissive effects, enhancing realism.
Understanding these materials empowers creators to craft visually stunning experiences. Whether you’re an artist, developer, or hobbyist, mastering them enriches your 3D projects with realism and creativity.
