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Show a 3D model

This guide explains how to visualize 3D models. There are multiple ways to achieve this:

  1. From geometry elements from the viktor.geometry module
  2. From a glTF/GLB file (>= v12.12.0)
  3. From a 3DM file (>= v14.4.0)
  4. From an IFC file (>= v14.6.0)

Depending on the method above, either a GeometryView or an IFCView needs to be used. Both views can be combined with data using a GeometryAndDataView and IFCAndDataView.

GeometryView​

Geometry elements​

New in v13.5.0

Arc, Line, and Polyline can be visualized in the GeometryView

A GeometryResult can be constructed using geometry elements (TransformableObject) from the viktor.geometry module. The created 3D visualization uses a right-handed axis system with Z pointing upwards by default (see view settings to overwrite this).

Groups​

A visualization group (Group) can be used to combine multiple visualization elements. A Group can contain two types of objects: Group, TransformableObject. This enables a hierarchical construction of visualization elements.

Example:

from viktor import Color
from viktor.geometry import Group, LinearPattern, SquareBeam, Material
from viktor.views import GeometryResult, GeometryView

class Controller(ViktorController):
    ...

    @GeometryView("Geometry", duration_guess=1)
    def get_geometry_view(self, params, **kwargs):

        # Define Materials
        glass = Material("Glass", color=Color(150, 150, 255))
        facade = Material("Facade", color=Color.white())

        # Create one floor
        width = 30
        length = 30
        number_of_floors = 20
        floor_glass = SquareBeam(width, length, 2, material=glass)
        floor_facade = SquareBeam(width + 1, length + 1, 1, material=facade)
        floor_facade.translate([0, 0, 1.5])
    
        # Pattern (duplicate) the floor to create a building
        floor = Group([floor_glass, floor_facade])
        building = LinearPattern(floor, direction=[0, 0, 1], number_of_elements=number_of_floors, spacing=3)
    
        return GeometryResult(building)

Specifying color​

Every TransformableObject has an assigned default material. This material can be overwritten with your own, specifying, for example, the color:

from viktor.geometry import Material
from viktor import Color
...
glass = SquareBeam(..., material=Material("Glass", color=Color(150, 150, 255)))
# or
glass = SquareBeam(...)
glass.material = Material("Glass", color=Color(150, 150, 255))

Transformations​

Transformation methods can be called on a TransformableObject, to position and orientate the object. The Vector object can come in handy if your visualization requires vector transformations. The following methods are available on all geometric objects (through inheritance of TransformableObject):

For each type of transformation an example is provided below. Chaining of transformations is possible, however be careful with the specified order.

translate​
from viktor.geometry import Point, Sphere

sphere = Sphere(Point(0, 0, 0), radius=10)
# sphere is now centered around (0, 0, 0)

sphere.translate([10, 0, 0])
# sphere is now centered around (10, 0, 0)
rotate​
import math

from viktor.geometry import Line, Point, RectangularExtrusion

box = RectangularExtrusion(1, 1, line=Line(Point(0, 0, -0.5), Point(0, 0, 0.5)))
# box is now centered around (0, 0, 0)

box.rotate(math.pi / 4, direction=[0, 0, 1])
# box is now rotated 45 degrees around the z-axis according to the right-hand-rule
mirror​
from viktor.geometry import Point, Sphere

sphere = Sphere(Point(0, 0, 1), radius=10)
# sphere is now centered around (0, 0, 1)

sphere.mirror(Point(0, 0, 0), [0, 0, 1])
# sphere is a now mirrored in the x-y plane (normal vector in z-direction), centered around (0, 0, -1)
scale​
from viktor.geometry import Point, Sphere

sphere = Sphere(Point(0, 0, 1), radius=10)
# sphere is now centered around (0, 0, 1)

sphere.scale([2, 2, 1])
# sphere is stretched in x- and y-direction, centered around (0, 0, 1)

glTF/GLB file​

New in v12.12.0

A GeometryResult can also be constructed from a glTF/GLB (v2.0) file. This can be an existing local model:

from viktor.views import GeometryView, GeometryResult


class Controller(ViktorController):
    ...

    @GeometryView('Geometry view', duration_guess=1)
    def get_geometry_view(self, params, **kwargs):
        geometry = File.from_path(Path(__file__).parent / "my_model.gltf")  # or .glb
        return GeometryResult(geometry)

Or one available on the internet:

geometry = File.from_url("https://github.com/KhronosGroup/glTF-Sample-Models/raw/master/2.0/CesiumMilkTruck/glTF-Binary/CesiumMilkTruck.glb")
return GeometryResult(geometry)

Or can be generated by means of trimesh (or any other Python geometry package that allows for exporting to glTF/GLB):

import trimesh
...

sphere = trimesh.creation.uv_sphere(10)
scene = trimesh.Scene(geometry={'sphere': sphere})

geometry = File()  # create a writable file
with geometry.open_binary() as w:
    w.write(trimesh.exchange.gltf.export_glb(scene))

return GeometryResult(geometry)
note

glTF/GLB models are defined with the Y-axis up. In VIKTOR the default up-axis is the Z-axis, resulting in the model to be shown on its side. In order to overwrite this, you can set the up_axis manually in the view settings:

@GeometryView("My glTF View", up_axis='Y')
...

Rhinoceros 3DM file​

New in v14.4.0

Similar to a glTF/GLB file, a 3DM file can be visualized by specifying the geometry_type argument (default: "gltf"): 

geometry = File.from_url("https://github.com/mrdoob/three.js/raw/master/examples/models/3dm/Rhino_Logo.3dm")
return GeometryResult(geometry, geometry_type="3dm")

Labels​

Regardless of how the geometry is defined (geometry elements, glTF/GLB, or 3DM), additional labels can be added to the visualization:

from viktor.views import Label
from viktor.geometry import Point

...

labels = [
    Label(Point(0, 0, 0), "Origin"),
    Label(Point(1, 0, 0), "x=1")
]

return GeometryResult(solar_system, labels=labels)

View settings​

The following settings can be applied to a GeometryView:

  • view_mode: str value to switch between '3D' (default) and '2D'. The created 2D visualization shows the xy-plane.
  • default_shadow: bool value to define whether shadow is turned off (default) or on when entering the editor. User can still overrule.
  • up_axis (>= v12.12.0): str value ('Y' or 'Z') to define the upwards pointing axis (view_mode = '3D' only, default: 'Z').

Example:

@GeometryView("Top view", duration_guess=1, view_mode='2D', default_shadow=False)
...

IFCView​

New in v14.6.0

An IFC file can be visualized by using the IFCView. This can be an existing local model:

from viktor.views import IFCView, IFCResult


class Controller(ViktorController):
    ...

    @IFCView('IFC view', duration_guess=1)
    def get_ifc_view(self, params, **kwargs):
        ifc = File.from_path(Path(__file__).parent / 'sample.ifc')
        return IFCResult(ifc)

Or one available on the internet:

ifc = File.from_url("https://github.com/IFCjs/test-ifc-files/raw/main/Others/haus.ifc")
return IFCResult(ifc)

Testing​

New in v13.3.0

mock_View decorator for easier testing of view methods

Methods decorated with @GeometryView, @GeometryAndDataView, @IFCView, or @IFCAndDataView need to be mocked within the context of (automated) testing.

import unittest

from viktor.testing import mock_View

from app.my_entity_type.controller import MyEntityTypeController

class TestMyEntityTypeController(unittest.TestCase):

    @mock_View(MyEntityTypeController)
    def test_geometry_view(self):
        params = ...
        result = MyEntityTypeController().geometry_view(params=params)
        self.assertEqual(result.geometry, ...)
        self.assertEqual(result.labels, ...)