Release the engine to create a browser-based 3D-applications Blend4Web 17.04
By Prempal Singh
The release of an open framework for creating browser-based 3D-applications blend4web 17.04. Blend4Web is designed to create a three-dimensional interactive content running in the browser without using plug-ins.
The package is tightly integrated with the open package Blender, used as the main tools for editing 3D-scenes. Play content is carried out by means of WebGL, Web Audio, and other browser technologies. Project Developments is licensed under the GPLv3.
The main changes:
• WebAssembly support. More recently, developers of popular Chrome and Firefox web browsers announced WebAssembly support stable versions of the software. This leading-edge technology is designed to eliminate some shortcomings JavaScript, to improve performance and reduce the size of executable modules. Blend4Web developers have prepared WebAssembly-assembly physics engine Uranium.js (fork Bullet). While the assembly is experimental and is activated manually in the engine settings.
• Support for VR-controllers. WebVR – is another promising technology. However, unlike WebAssembly, she is very young and is only available for testing in experimental builds of web browsers. However, developers Blend4Web making efforts to ensure the operation WebVR in his engine. This release added support for HTC Vice controllers and prepared a simple application with a demonstration of the work.
• Support materials Cycles. Work has continued on the integration of materials Cycles Render (photorealistic rendering Blender) in Blend4Web. Users were able to create an environment (the sky) by a node Background. Also supported Environment Texture node and animation material. The latter is available via Value and RGB nodes.
• Compression gzip. Added the ability to perform compression application resources at the assembly stage. Now the framework, users can choose the most convenient way to optimize traffic. Or by the server settings, or compile the application. Compression setting is available in the manager Blend4Web projects.
• Updated LOD system. Levels of Details – a technology that allows you to save system resources by using three-dimensional models of different details depending on the distance from the camera. The main problem is noticeable LOD switching granularity for the end user. The creators of the real-time engines use different algorithms to hide the process. In the new release, the developers added a feature Blend4Web soft transition between levels. Depending on the distance it is performed by gradually removing pixels. The corresponding setting is in the object parameters and called LOD Smooth Transitions.
• It is also normal editor in the Blender, the effect is optimized Bloom has been updated, adding support for the regime of transparency Alpha Anti-Aliasing, there is support for RGBA-shadows.