One of the foundational concepts in geometry and modeling is
the mesh. Explain its usage with illustration and include a sample code of its
implementation within a graphics API such as OpenGL/WebGL.
A mesh is a representation of a 3D object which contains vertices, edges and
faces that define the shape of an object (Geeks for Geeks, 2021). A polygon
mesh can represent a wide variety of surfaces or solids in the world of
computer graphics.
In rendering and visualization, meshes define the structure of 3D models in
applications. The following code was created using [Link] and
demonstrates how a cube is generated using meshes ([Link], n.d).
const geometry = new [Link](1, 1, 1); // Mesh structure
const material = new [Link]({ color: 0x00ff00 }); //
Surface
const cube = new [Link](geometry, material); // Mesh object
[Link](cube);
It should be noted that the BoxGeometry method is used for create the
structure or the cube whilst the MeshBoxMaterial() method is responsible for
the appearance of the surface. The [Link]() method is used to add the
cube mesh, which makes it visible when rendered to the screen.
In animation, character rigging is used to modify the mesh vertices
dynamically. This enables realistic movements of an object. The following
code can be added to the cube to simulate rotation.
[Link].x += 0.1;
[Link].y += 0.8;
Meshes can also deform dynamically when using techniques such as bone
weights and skinning for character animation and Morph targets for facial
expressions and soft body effects (James and Twigg, n. d).
Procedural generation is a technique used to create dynamic content
algorithmically rather than manually designing every asset. It enables
randomized, scalable, and diverse environments. This making it ideal for
terrain generation, textures, and object variations (Visual Arts, 2024).
Procedural generation is dependent upon algorithms and mathematical
functions to create dynamic models, textures or environments. It uses
various techniques, such as noise functions, which help generate realistic
terrain and textures by introducing controlled randomness. Another widely
used approach involves fractals, which are mathematical structures that
replicate patterns at different scales. This makes them ideal for creating
natural-looking landscapes, clouds, and organic shapes (Tutorialspoint, n. d).
References
Geeks for Geeks. (November 22, 2023). Polygon Mesh in Computer Graphics.
Geeks for Geeks. [Link]
graphics/
James, D., L. and Twigg, C., D. (n. d). Skinning Mesh Animations.
[Link]
[Link]. (n. d). Creating a Scene. [Link].
[Link] -a-scene/
Tutorialspoint. (n. d). Procedural Techniques in Computer Graphics.
Tutorialspoint. [Link]
[Link]/
