Hi, Zhichu: $n$ years ago ($n\geq 2$), some user had successfully embed a u3d format file into pdf using ConTeXt with the instruction from Hans. I think the module is still there. Maybe you can have a look. In fact u3d and prc are similar, maybe you can try the same way. But I have no idea how to create a asy-tex interface like tex-mp [Moreover, I prefer to extend mp to 3-dimension, I look at the c code, it is not impossible:)]. Yue Wang On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 1:17 PM, Zhichu Chen wrote:

Hi, Alan

Thank you for your attention, but I don't need the psedu-3D effect. Asymptote could create real 3D file which pdf has supported since, maybe, version 1.5.

On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 10:19 PM, Alan BRASLAU wrote:

...

On 2008-09-28 04:35 Zhichu Chen wrote:

...

It is said that Asymptote has supported PRC format 3D file: http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/gallery/3D%20graphs/

I really wanna give it a try, but once I was building from the svn source, I was told that I don't have LaTeX in my $PATH. I haven't really been using LaTeX for a long time, and I prefer I don't need to install a bunch of LaTeX programs and packages just for a drawing program which, IMHO, only use LaTeX to make nice labels.

Is there any workarounds? And how to embed .prc files into the .pdf document? -- Best Regards Chen

This doesn't really answer your question but may be of some related interest to the mailing list.

I am quite fond of pfg/tikz as a drawing package that works rather well with plain tex, latex and context. Asymptote is a similar tool, but it seems to be less portable. However, it appears on the other hand to be much more powerful for 3D. Neverless, I am sharing with this context list an impressive tikz example

-- Alan Braslau CEA DSM-IRAMIS-SPEC CNRS URA 2464 Orme des Merisiers 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex FRANCE tel: +33 1 69 08 73 15 fax: +33 1 69 08 87 86 mailto:alan.braslau@cea.fr

http://www-dna2006.cea.fr/

.''`. : :' : `. `'` `- that I have adapted to context. (I have put the author on copy.)

Basically, the only changes to the latex source are \usepackage{preview} -> \startTEXpage \stopTEXpage \begin{tikzpicture} -> \starttikzpicture and a few other minor syntax adaptations...)

Alan

% What is it % ========== % % Examples inspired by the thread at comp.text.tex about how to convert some hand % drawn pictures into programmatic 3D sketches: % http://groups.google.com/group/comp.text.tex/browse_thread/thread/a03baf5d6f... % The sketches present stereographic and cylindrical map projections and they % pose some interesting challenges for doing them with a 2D drawing package PGF/TikZ. % % The main idea is to draw in selected 3D planes and then project onto the canvas % coordinate system with an appriopriate transformation. Some highlights: % [*] usage of pgf math engine for calculation of projection transformations and % transitions points from visible (solid lines) to invisible (dashed lines) on % meridians and latitude circles % [*] definition of 3D plane transformation with expanded styles so that they are robust % against redefinition of macros used in their construction % [*] usage of named coordinates (nodes) for definition of characteristic points in % local coordinate systems so that they are accessible outside of their plane of % definition % [*] calculation of intersections points with TikZ intersection coordinate system % [*] usage of 'to' path operation instead of 'arc' for marking angles to allow for % easy positioning of text labels on the curve % [*] 3D lighting effects with shading % % % Who's done it % ============= % % Tomasz M. Trzeciak % % % Distribution and use % ==================== % % Use as you see fit. Consider giving a proper attribution to the author. % % % Change log % ========== % % 2008/08/07 posted to latex-community.org % 2008/08/08 fixed some typos, added note about 'to' path operation to the description, % fixed positioning issue of nodes and 'to' path operation as suggested % by Kjell, removed some dead code from KART picture % 2008/09/28 adapted as an example to ConTeXt

\usemodule[tikz] \usetikzlibrary[calc,fadings,decorations.pathreplacing]

%% helper macros

\def\pgfmathsinandcos#1#2#3{% \pgfmathsetmacro#1{sin(#3)}% \pgfmathsetmacro#2{cos(#3)}% } \def\LongitudePlane#1#2#3{% \pgfmathsinandcos\sinEl\cosEl{#2} % elevation \pgfmathsinandcos\sint\cost{#3} % azimuth \tikzset{#1/.estyle={cm={\cost,\sint*\sinEl,0,\cosEl,(0,0)}}} } \def\LatitudePlane#1#2#3{% \pgfmathsinandcos\sinEl\cosEl{#2} % elevation \pgfmathsinandcos\sint\cost{#3} % latitude \pgfmathsetmacro\yshift{\cosEl*\sint} \tikzset{#1/.estyle={cm={\cost,0,0,\cost*\sinEl,(0,\yshift)}}} % } \def\DrawLongitudeCircle#1#2{ \LongitudePlane{current plane}{\angEl}{#2} \tikzset{current plane/.prefix style={scale=#1}} % angle of "visibility" \pgfmathsetmacro\angVis{atan(sin(#2)*cos(\angEl)/sin(\angEl))} % \draw[current plane] (\angVis:1) arc (\angVis:\angVis+180:1); \draw[current plane,dashed] (\angVis-180:1) arc (\angVis-180:\angVis:1); } \def\DrawLatitudeCircle#1#2{ \LatitudePlane{current plane}{\angEl}{#2} \tikzset{current plane/.prefix style={scale=#1}} \pgfmathsetmacro\sinVis{sin(#2)/cos(#2)*sin(\angEl)/cos(\angEl)} % angle of "visibility" \pgfmathsetmacro\angVis{asin(min(1,max(\sinVis,-1)))} \draw[current plane] (\angVis:1) arc (\angVis:-\angVis-180:1); \draw[current plane,dashed] (180-\angVis:1) arc (180-\angVis:\angVis:1); }

%% document-wide tikz options and styles

\tikzset{%

...

=latex, % option for nice arrows inner sep=0pt,% outer sep=2pt,% mark coordinate/.style={inner sep=0pt,outer sep=0pt,minimum size=3pt,fill=black,circle}% }

\starttext

\startTEXpage \starttikzpicture % "THE GLOBE" showcase

\def\R{2.5} % sphere radius \def\angEl{35} % elevation angle \filldraw[ball color=white] (0,0) circle (\R); \foreach \t in {-80,-60,...,80} { \DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{\t} } \foreach \t in {-5,-35,...,-175} { \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\t} } % some fancy transparent shading % \tikzfading[name=fade inside,inner color=transparent!80,outer color=transparent!30] % \shadedraw[ball color=white,path fading=fade inside] (0,0) circle (\R);

\stoptikzpicture \stopTEXpage

\startTEXpage \starttikzpicture % CENT

%% some definitions

\def\R{2.5} % sphere radius \def\angEl{35} % elevation angle \def\angAz{-105} % azimuth angle \def\angPhi{-40} % longitude of point P \def\angBeta{19} % latitude of point P

%% working planes

\pgfmathsetmacro\H{\R*cos(\angEl)} % distance to north pole \tikzset{xyplane/.estyle={cm={cos(\angAz),sin(\angAz)*sin(\angEl),- sin(\angAz),cos(\angAz)*sin(\angEl),(0,-\H)}}} \LongitudePlane{xzplane}{\angEl}{\angAz} \LongitudePlane{pzplane}{\angEl}{\angPhi} \LatitudePlane{equator}{\angEl}{0}

%% draw xyplane and sphere

\draw[xyplane] (-2*\R,-2*\R) rectangle (2.2*\R,2.8*\R); \fill[ball color=white] (0,0) circle (\R); % 3D lighting effect %\fill[white] (0,0) circle (\R); % just a white circle \draw (0,0) circle (\R);

%% characteristic points

\coordinate (O) at (0,0); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (N) at (0,\H); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (S) at (0,-\H); \path[pzplane] (\angBeta:\R) coordinate[mark coordinate] (P); \path[pzplane] (\R,0) coordinate (PE); \path[xzplane] (\R,0) coordinate (XE); \path (PE) ++(0,-\H) coordinate (Paux); % to aid Phat calculation \coordinate[mark coordinate] (Phat) at (intersection cs: first line={(N)--(P)}, second line={(S)--(Paux)});

%% draw meridians and latitude circles

\DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{0} % equator %\DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{\angBeta} \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angAz} % xzplane \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angAz+90} % yzplane \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angPhi} % pzplane

%% draw xyz coordinate system

\draw[xyplane,<->] (1.8*\R,0) node[below] {$x,\xi$} -- (0,0) -- (0,2.4*\R) node[right] {$y,\eta$}; \draw[->] (0,-\H) -- (0,1.6*\R) node[above] {$z,\zeta$};

%% draw lines and put labels

\draw[dashed] (P) -- (N) +(0.3ex,0.6ex) node[above left] {\bf $N$}; \draw (P) -- (Phat) node[above right] {\bf $\hat{P}$}; \path (S) +(0.4ex,-0.4ex) node[below] {\bf $S$}; \draw[->] (O) -- (P) node[above right] {\bf $P$}; \draw[dashed] (XE) -- (O) -- (PE); \draw[pzplane,->,thin] (0:0.5*\R) to[bend right=15] node[pos=0.4,right] {$\beta$} (\angBeta:0.5*\R); \draw[equator,->,thin] (\angAz:0.4*\R) to[bend right=30] node[pos=0.4,below] {$\phi$} (\angPhi:0.4*\R); \draw[thin,decorate,decoration={brace,raise=0.5pt,amplitude=1ex}] (N) -- (O) node[midway,right=1ex] {$a$};

\stoptikzpicture \stopTEXpage

\startTEXpage \starttikzpicture % MERC

%% some definitions

\def\R{3} % sphere radius \def\angEl{25} % elevation angle \def\angAz{-100} % azimuth angle \def\angPhiOne{-50} % longitude of point P \def\angPhiTwo{-35} % longitude of point Q \def\angBeta{33} % latitude of point P and Q

%% working planes

\pgfmathsetmacro\H{\R*cos(\angEl)} % distance to north pole \LongitudePlane{xzplane}{\angEl}{\angAz} \LongitudePlane{pzplane}{\angEl}{\angPhiOne} \LongitudePlane{qzplane}{\angEl}{\angPhiTwo} \LatitudePlane{equator}{\angEl}{0}

%% draw background sphere

\fill[ball color=white] (0,0) circle (\R); % 3D lighting effect %\fill[white] (0,0) circle (\R); % just a white circle \draw (0,0) circle (\R);

%% characteristic points

\coordinate (O) at (0,0); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (N) at (0,\H); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (S) at (0,-\H); \path[xzplane] (\R,0) coordinate (XE); \path[pzplane] (\angBeta:\R) coordinate (P); \path[pzplane] (\R,0) coordinate (PE); \path[qzplane] (\angBeta:\R) coordinate (Q); \path[qzplane] (\R,0) coordinate (QE);

%% meridians and latitude circles

% \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angAz} % xzplane % \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angAz+90} % yzplane \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angPhiOne} % pzplane \DrawLongitudeCircle{\R}{\angPhiTwo} % qzplane \DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{\angBeta} \DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{0} % equator % shifted equator in node with nested call to tikz (I didn't know it's possible) \node at (0,1.6*\R) { \tikz{\DrawLatitudeCircle{\R}{0}} };

%% draw lines and put labels

\draw (-\R,-\H) -- (-\R,2*\R) (\R,-\H) -- (\R,2*\R); \draw[->] (XE) -- +(0,2*\R) node[above] {$y$}; \node[above=8pt] at (N) {\bf $N$}; \node[below=8pt] at (S) {\bf $S$}; \draw[->] (O) -- (P); \draw[dashed] (XE) -- (O) -- (PE); \draw[dashed] (O) -- (QE); \draw[pzplane,->,thin] (0:0.5*\R) to[bend right=15] node[midway,right] {$\beta$} (\angBeta:0.5*\R); \path[pzplane] (0.5*\angBeta:\R) node[right] {$\hat{1}$}; \path[qzplane] (0.5*\angBeta:\R) node[right] {$\hat{2}$}; \draw[equator,->,thin] (\angAz:0.5*\R) to[bend right=30] node[pos=0.4,above] {$\phi_1$} (\angPhiOne:0.5*\R); \draw[equator,->,thin] (\angAz:0.6*\R) to[bend right=35] node[midway,below] {$\phi_2$} (\angPhiTwo:0.6*\R); \draw[equator,->] (-90:\R) arc (-90:-70:\R) node[below=0.3ex] {$x = a\phi$}; \path[xzplane] (0:\R) node[below] {$\beta=0$}; \path[xzplane] (\angBeta:\R) node[below left] {$\beta=\beta_0$};

\stoptikzpicture \stopTEXpage

\startTEXpage \starttikzpicture % KART

\def\R{2.5}

\node[draw,minimum size=2cm*\R,inner sep=0,outer sep=0,circle] (C) at (0,0) {}; \coordinate (O) at (0,0); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (Phat) at (20:2.5*\R); \coordinate (T1) at (tangent cs: node=C, point={(Phat)}, solution=1); \coordinate (T2) at (tangent cs: node=C, point={(Phat)}, solution=2); \coordinate[mark coordinate] (P) at ($(T1)!0.5!(T2)$);

\draw[dashed] (T1) -- (O) -- (T2) -- (Phat) -- (T1) -- (T2); \draw[->] (-1.5*\R,0) -- (2.5*\R,0) node[right] {$x$}; \draw[->] (0,-1.5*\R) -- (0,1.5*\R) node[above] {$y$}; \draw (O) node[below left] {\bf $O$} -- (P) +(1ex,0) node[above=1ex] {\bf $P$}; \draw (P) -- (Phat) node[above=1ex] {\bf $\hat{P}$};

\stoptikzpicture \stopTEXpage

\stoptext

___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : https://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________

-- Best Regards Chen ----------------------------------------------------------------

Zhi-chu Chen | Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility No. 2019 | Jialuo Rd. | Jiading | Shanghai | P.R. China tel: 086 21 5955 3405 | zhichu.chen.googlepages.com | www.sinap.ac.cn ---------------------------------------------------------------- ___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : https://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________

Dear All,

...

...

...

And how to embed .prc files into the .pdf document?

I have made a standalone embedder some time ago, reproducing capabilities of movie15 LeTeX package and somewhat extending them. If anybody is interested it can be put in "shipable" state. Sincerely, Michail

Hi, all, It's me again. Since Asymptote 1.44 has been released, I don't have to compile it myself. So I played a little bit and find out that if I don't want labels nor produce a pdf format of that image, I can live without LaTeX. That's kind of a good news. If I want to embed the .prc file into a pdf document, all I need to do is specify the correct /Subtype and mime type. That's very easy. I think creating 3D presentations without any commercial or mouse- clicking-GUI interface becomes realistic now. -- Best Regards Chen ---------------------------------------------------------------- Zhi-chu Chen | Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility No. 2019 | Jialuo Rd. | Jiading | Shanghai | P.R. China tel: 086 21 5955 3405 | zhichu.chen.googlepages.com | www.sinap.ac.cn ----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, On Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 1:25 PM, Michail Vidiassov wrote:

Dear All,

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008, Zhichu Chen wrote:

...

If I want to embed the .prc file into a pdf document, all I need to do is specify the correct /Subtype and mime type. That's very easy. I think creating 3D presentations without any commercial or mouse- clicking-GUI interface becomes realistic now.

No, there is more - you have to set appearance (may be empty). And many nice things can be done via properties of the 3D object embedded into PDF. Consult latest PDF reference.

Oh, yea, I don't know that, no wonder my output doesn't look good.

You may look at libharu U3D code (it handles PRC too) and my embedder (it needs libconfig from http://www.hyperrealm.com/libconfig/ and libharu from libharu.org) from http://www.iaas.msu.ru/tmp/u3dembedder.tgz Thanks, I'll study on that.

Sincerely, Michail

___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : https://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________

-- Best Regards Chen ---------------------------------------------------------------- Zhi-chu Chen | Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility No. 2019 | Jialuo Rd. | Jiading | Shanghai | P.R. China tel: 086 21 5955 3405 | zhichu.chen.googlepages.com | www.sinap.ac.cn ----------------------------------------------------------------