Java 3D

Sun has developed the Java 3D API to allow Java developers to create 3D virtual worlds. This is the core specialization of our business.

Documentation

Starfire Research's Java3D FAQ
Supplemental Documentation (collection of notes from various people)
Java 3D Installation Page
Java 3D Implementation - OpenGL vs DirectX
Introduction to Java3D Programming Concepts
Orientation and Math
Java3D Interest Group Mailing List Archives
Sun's Java3D FAQ
Current Java 3D 1.3.1 Bugs
Java Bug Parade
Eric Reiss Website

Code Library

Florin Herinean's Euler Angle Transform Analyzer

Sample Java3D Applets

Pulsing Text
Brown University's Applets (demonstrate some 3D concepts)

Java 3D Extensions

Inspector3DS/Loader3DS - a 3DS format loader
AC3D - a loader for AC3D format files
(An AC3D modeler can be found here)

Jet Propulsion Laboratories Patti Koenig's FastScript3D

Resources

Web3D Repository (source for sounds, textures, etc)
J-Cad (a CAD program written in Java 3D)
jrMan - a 3D Renderer

Book Reviews

Java 3D Books

3D User Interfaces with Java 3D by Jon Barrilleaux

Java 3D Programming by Daniel Selman - website link http://www.manning.com/selman/ (source code available for downloading.

Java 3D API Jump-Start by Aaron Walsh & Doug Gehringer - very well written, probably should be a "must read" for new Java 3D programmers.

• 3D Graphics File Formats by Keith Rule (published by Addison Wesley 1996) - this book gives some documentation of the common 3D formats (VRML, RAW, OBJ, TrueSpace, DXF, 3DS, WTK-NFF, POVRay 2.2). This is useful information if you are making your own loader.
• Real-Time Rendering by Tomas Moller and Eric Haines (published by A K Peters 1999) - this book is an excellent source for information on 3D Graphics. This book would be excellent for those working directly with OpenGL or designing an API like Java 3D. There are chapters on: The Graphics Rendering Pipeline; Transforms (tons of Matrix stuff); Visual Appearance (materials, lighting, transparency, fog, etc); Texturing; Special Effects (motion blur, reflections, shadows, etc); Speed-Up Techniques (culling, LOD, triangle strips, etc); Pipeline Optimization; Polygonal Techniques; Intersection Test methods; Collision Detection; Graphics Hardware; and appendices with useful Algebra and Trigonometry.
• 3D Computer Graphics by Alan Watt (published by Addison-Wesley Third Edition 2000) - much like "Real-Time Rendering". Chapters: Fundamental Math; Representation and Modelling of 3D Objects (including Bezier curves, b-spline, etc); Representation and Rendering; Graphics Pipeline; Light; Mapping Techniques; Shadows; Global Illumination; Radiosity; Ray Tracing; Volume Rendering; Anti-Aliasing; Colour; Image-based rendering and photo-modeling; Animation.

Java 3D Community MMORPG Project

MMORPG