If you work long enough in Papervision you will eventually have to deal with loading complex models into Papervision. This is one of the more difficult things to do but not because of the actionscript or Papervision coding. Whenever we have had problems with models in the past; it has always been an issue model's source.
Hopefully you are one of the few blessed enough to have an resource available to modify and create Papervision ready models for you. If not, just know you're not alone.
Issues with 3D models aside, the code for loading a 3D model into Papervision is extremely easy. It is as simple as loading a plane, cube, or cone.
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package
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{
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import flash.events.Event;
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import org.papervision3d.materials.BitmapFileMaterial;
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import org.papervision3d.materials.utils.MaterialsList;
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import org.papervision3d.objects.DisplayObject3D;
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import org.papervision3d.objects.parsers.Collada;
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import org.papervision3d.view.BasicView;
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public class Main extends BasicView
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{
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protected var cow:DisplayObject3D;
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protected var materialList:MaterialsList;
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protected var bitmapFileMaterial:BitmapFileMaterial;
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public function Main()
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{
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super();
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createChildren();
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startRendering();
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}
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public function createChildren():void
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{
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//Setup the materials manually (sometimes the dae handles this without issue)
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materialList = new MaterialsList();
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bitmapFileMaterial = new BitmapFileMaterial("daeModel/Cow.png");
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materialList.addMaterial(bitmapFileMaterial,"all");
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//Create the new Collada Object with materialList
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cow = new Collada("daeModel/cow.dae",materialList);
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//Set some properties
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cow.moveDown(150);
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cow.scale = 3;
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cow.pitch( -10);
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//Add to scene
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scene.addChild(cow);
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}
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override protected function onRenderTick(event:Event = null):void
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{
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super.onRenderTick(event);
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//Rotate
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cow.yaw(1);
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}
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}
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}
Once you have a good model, in papervision all you need for this to work properly is to:
1) Create the model new Collada()
2) Create the model's texture new BitmapFileMaterial()
3) Create and add the bitmap material to a materials list new MaterialsList()
4) Add the model to the scene scene.addChild(cow)
5) Render startRendering()
It's too much to cover all the issues you may run into here but if you're up for it open up the cow.dae file. You'll find it is just a lot of XML. Go through it, see if you can find the texture file.
Can this load .png textures that have transparency?
Hi,
I’ve used my own model instead of the cow, everything seems to load perfectly except it doesn’t rotate. I’ve copied paste the exact same codes. Any ideas why? thanks !!
Hi Wolf,
don’t be afraid, the rotation instruction are only called one time in the constructor (and so, applied one time only). If you wanna see the cow rotating, just copy paste
cow.pitch( -10);
in the rendering part (not because it call the render function, but because this function is called every frame. Any recurring instruction make the job done).
Btw, you can also use cow.yaw(n), cow.rotationX += n, etc.
I change .dae
but
INFO: Viewport autoScaleToStage : Papervision has changed the Stage scale mode.
INFO: BitmapFileMaterial: Loading bitmap from daeModel/guy.jpg
ERROR: BitmapFileMaterial: Unable to load file daeModel/guy.jpg
ERROR: COLLADA file load error
Can you help me?
So can you animate the separate parts of the loaded object? In this example – can you make the bell on the cow’s neck swing, or make her walk etc.?
I am an experienced 3d artist, but new to actionscript in general.
Simple question; I get it to compile without errors, but get a blank window.
Where do I set up the texture + model so that it loads it?
Nevermind, got it!
Hi,
Thanks for the great tutorial. I’m just starting to learn AS3 and Papervision for some projects. I have one question:
The files work just fine, i’ve applied a new texture to the cow and it loads just fine, but when i try to replace the original .dae file with a model i need (also .dae, i just replace yours and keep the same name “cow.dae”), i get an error:
“TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/buildObject()
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/parseGeometry()
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/parseNode()
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/parseScene()
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/buildCollada()
at org.papervision3d.objects.parsers::Collada/onComplete()
at flash.events::EventDispatcher/dispatchEventFunction()
at flash.events::EventDispatcher/dispatchEvent()
at flash.net::URLLoader/onComplete()
”
What’s this about? how can i make it work? Any ideeas?
Thanks a lot :)
Stefan
Hi, thanks for the tutorial.I have one question:
everything is OK when I use your code and you .dae but when I change the .dae with mine, it seems OK, but the 3d model isn’t show up. Can you explain to me why?I already export the 3d model in blender with collada 1.4 but the .dae can’t be opened when I compile it.Thanks.
Chrz
I get the exact same problem as Stefan and Chrz. What can I do?