Interface presentation

Here's the look of the interface:

Description ...

The interface can be divided into five parts:

- a zone where the user choose the kind of object he wants to add to his image:Enter your text and Sphere.

- a zone where he can choose the texture of his object, the background of his image, and the light color: Choose your texture, Choose your light color and Choose your background.

- a zone where he can choose if he wants to move or delete a selected object: Move your object and Delete your object.

- an Add the object button which let him add an object in his image, a Render button to launch his image calculation, a zone where different messages are displayed to help the user, and a progress bar which let him know the state of the image calculation.

- a graphical area in which there are four kinds of zones:

* the X - Y, X - Z and Z - Y area where you can move or delete your objects. The objects represented in those zones are:

. the texts entered by the user ( represented by a white rectangle )

. the spheres added by the user ( represented by a light gray rectangle )

. the camera ( represented by the little black square )

. the light source ( represented by the little yellow square )

. the point where the camera looks( represented by the little red square in the center of each zone ).

* a 3D zone which represents what the camera can see. Once any object get moved in one of the latter zones, the view in this zone change, so the user can have an idea of how his image will look like.

* a Result zone where the final image is displayed

* a zone where the position of a selected object is displayed

The following chapter explains how to use the interface.

Notice ...

Rules to follow ...

Rules are easy to understand. The only thing you have to do is:

- add your object ; don't forget to choose the texture of your object before adding it to your image, because you won't be abble to change it in an other way to get it deleted and create a new one.

- place your elements the way you want it. You can move your objects in the three zones a the top of the display zone.

- launch the image calculation.

How to add text ...

At first, you have to choose "Enter your text". Then, you can enter your text in the text area.
You can now choose your object's texture in the list "Choose your texture". It is not necessary to choose now the background of your image, but don't forget it !
If you want to visualize your object in the different zones, you have to click on the "Add the object" button. Once this is done, you can manipulate your object the way you want, or add more object. Just as a remarq, it is not possible to change the object's texture now that it has been added. If you want to do so, you can delete it and add a new one.

How to add a sphere ...

To add a sphere, choose"Sphere", choose its texture and click on the "Add the object" button to get it displayed. Choose where you want to put it in your image by moving it in the different zones.
If you realise that the texture you have chosen is not the right one, delete it and add a new one.
It is not possible to change the sphere's height.

How to move an object ...

The only thing you have to do is select"Move your object", and move it in the three zones at the top of the display zone.
You can move all the objects which have been added to the image, but you can also move the camera as well as the light source.

How to delete an object ...

It is also easy to delete an object. The only thing you have to do is select the"Delete your object", button and select the object you want to delete in one of the three zone at the top of the display zone.
Remarque: The camera and the light source can't be deleted.

How to change the object's texture ...

It is not possible to get it changed once the object has been added in your image. The only thing to do is to delete it , and add a new object ( text or sphere ).

Render of the image ...

Once all the objects you want to visualize have been added and well placed, click on the "Render" button. A message is displayed near the button, and you can see the state of your image calculation thanks to the progress bar
You can use the applet during the image calculation, but you can't launch an other calculation before the last one is fnished.
Different messages are displayed in the message zone near the Render button to help the user.

For those interested in how our program is structured, let's have a look ...

Laure Ottavj

Sylvain Leterreur

Last modified: Fri Apr 3 17:53:11 DST 1998