Creating 3D Objects from 3D Data

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on creating smooth 3D objects from a set of 3D data points, specifically when the data does not represent simple surfaces. Users suggest utilizing interpolation techniques and averaging schemes to achieve smoother representations of complex shapes. Recommendations include using VPython for initial data visualization and exploring triangulation algorithms for surface approximation. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective methods to handle and visualize non-spherical 3D data.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of 3D data representation and spatial coordinates
  • Familiarity with interpolation techniques in computer graphics
  • Knowledge of triangulation algorithms for surface fitting
  • Basic skills in using VPython for 3D plotting
NEXT STEPS
  • Research advanced interpolation methods for 3D data visualization
  • Explore triangulation algorithms for creating surfaces from point clouds
  • Learn about averaging schemes for smoothing complex 3D shapes
  • Experiment with VPython for plotting and visualizing 3D datasets
USEFUL FOR

3D data analysts, computer graphics developers, and researchers looking to visualize complex 3D datasets effectively.

r4nd0m
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I have a set of 3D data (i.e. a large file where each row contains three spatial coordinates) and I'd like to get a nice, smooth 3D object out of it. The objects are not surfaces, so it's not just plotting a function (i.e. to every (x,y) there exists more than one z).

Does anyone have an idea which (freeware) application can deal with this kind of stuff? Thanks in advance.
 
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Are you merely looking to effectively plot "pixels" or "voxels"?
To get something "smooth" out of a collection of points, you probably have to provide some kind of interpolation scheme.
 
Well, let's say I have some 1000 points which form (or should form) a ball, for example. What I want to get is a nice, smooth 3D ball. Is that possible?
 
You can try to run it through some kind of averaging scheme.
You could do a surface fit to a sphere to determine the center and radius.
 
yeah, but those objects are pretty crazy and really far away from spheres.
what kind of averaging schemes do you mean?
 
r4nd0m said:
Well, let's say I have some 1000 points which form (or should form) a ball, for example. What I want to get is a nice, smooth 3D ball. Is that possible?

r4nd0m said:
yeah, but those objects are pretty crazy and really far away from spheres.
what kind of averaging schemes do you mean?

What "objects" are you talking about?
Didn't you just ask about a ball (whose surface is a sphere)?

Here are some examples of interpolation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpolation
 
:rolleyes:
The ball was just an example. The objects that I'm working with are much complicated.

I'm not really sure if interpolation is what I'm searching for.
 
How many points are you talking about?
For a simple platform to get a first look at the data,
try http://www.vpython.org
to plot pixels (as boxes) in 3-D.
 
It's about 30x30x30 points, more or less.
 
  • #10
First try my suggestion above.
If your points describe a surface, you could try some algorithm that triangulates it [which guesses how the sampled-points are possibly connected], then another algorithm that tries to find a smooth approximation of it... to be rendered on a finer grid.
 
  • #11
hi,
i want to plot a set of 3-D data.
i have 3 spatial co-ordinates (x, y, z) and then a physical quantity i have measured.
Is there a straight forward free plotting package i could use to plot this data?

thanks!
 

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