HexaGreat-3D Help Contents

Super Easy Polygon Modeler

HexaGreat - 3D

What is HexaGreat-3D?

Toolbar Buttons

Keyboard Interfaces

Menu Commands

How to Model (1)

How to Model (2)

Tips

Exporting to DXF File

Frequently Asked Questions

About Distribution

Technical Information


What is HexaGreat-3D?

HexaGreat-3D is super-easy 3D graphics modeler.  You can make 3D polygon models full-automatically and very quickly from your 2D drawings.  Try it!

This program has one restriction under which you can make only mirror symmetric model.  But, if you draw the perspective view of model in 2D drawing, this program calculates Z-axis depth, and makes 3D model automatically.

You can make various symmetric models such as cars, planes, humans, animals, or anything with this program.

HexaGreat-3D is English porting version of Rokkaku-Daioh for Windows, which is Japanese most famous free 3D graphics software.


Toolbar

Create a new model data.

Open a model file.

Save the active model.

Cut the selected model and put it on the clipboard.

Basically, this command deletes lines or points.  If you delete point that is connected to two lines, two lines are jointed and become single line.  You can delete faces using [Face]-[Face]-[Delete Selected Faces]command.

Copy the selected model and put it on the clipboard.

Following clipboard formats are copied to clipboard.

�EOLE2 Object

�EWindows BMP

In the case of OLE2 object, whole model data is copied to clipboard always.

Insert clipboard contents.

You cannot insert other application clipboard data into this program.

Undo the last action.

Select/Move tool.  Selects or moves points, lines, or faces.  You can divide line by clicking line with [ALT] key.

[SHIFT] + Click	Toggle selection

[ALT] + Click	Divide line

[CTRL] + Click	Select hidden lines

Mouse cursor shape indicates whether points/lines/faces are selected.

 points are selected.

 lines are selected.

 faces are selected.

Drawing tool.  Draws polylines.

You can put points by single click, and terminate polyline by double click.

You can also erase polyline point by point by right click or [BS] key.

[ALT] + Click	Joint point to another line.

[SPACE] or [ENTER]	Terminates polyline.

[BS]	Erase polyline point by point

Change face color.

Select color from color palette and click faces.  You can change face color like paint brush tool.

Before you use this tool, you must put faces to model using [Face]-[Put Faces to All Polygons] command.

Turn around model.  Unfixed points are fixed and converted to 3D.

[SHIFT] + Click	Turn to left.

[ALT] + Click	Turn to right.

Rotate model.  Unfixed points are fixed and converted to 3D.

You can rotate model with dragging mouse on the model.

You can also rotate model with arrow keys.

Fix points manually when automatic point fixing (2D-3D conversion) has been failed.

First, click unfixed point.  Next, click another unfixed point correspond to first point.  Two points are fixed and converted to 3D.

Move model.

You can move model with dragging mouse on the model.

You can also move model with [CTRL] + arrow keys.

Zoom in/out model.

When mouse moves down, model closes up to screen.  When mouse moves up, model zooms out.

Change lens thickness (depth).

When mouse moves down, lens thickness increases.  When mouse moves up, lens thickness decreases and closes to orthogonal view.

Lens thickness also can be changed using command [Render]-[Lens Property].

Show only lines of model.

Show only faces of model.

Show both lines and faces.

Show/hide background picture.  You can make your favorite model with tracing outline of background picture.

If background picture is not selected, Background Picture Property Sheet will be displayed automatically.  Select background picture file name.

Show/hide grid.

Show/hide angle palette.

Show/hide color palette.

Unfixed point.  Unfixed points are just input points.  They have only 2D (x,y) information, and not have correspond symmetric point.

Fixed point.  Fixed points have 3D (x, y, z) information, and have correspond symmetric point.

Angle palette.

Cross and box are angle indicator and position indicator, respectively.

Click or drag any position on the angle palette.  Cross indicator moves and model rotates.

You can change the size of angle palette.

Angle palette has property menu (right click angle palette).  You can customize angle palette behavior with property menu.

Color palette.

Select color from color palette and select command [Face]-[Put Faces to All Polygons] or [Face]-[Put Faces to Selected Polygons].  You can put faces to model with the specified color.

You can also change color of existing faces.  Select model and select color from color palette.

Color palette has property menu (right click color palette).  If you select property menu or double click color palette.  The Change Color Dialog will appear.  You can customize color (Customized color is saved to model data file).


Keyboard Interfaces

�EArrow keys

Rotate model.

�E[SHIFT] + Arrow keys

Rotate model fast.

�E[CTRL] + Arrow keys

Move model.

�E[SHIFT] + [CTRL] + Arrow keys

Move model fast.

�E[HOME]

View model in front angle.

�E[SPACE] or [ENTER] while drawing polyline

Terminates polyline.  Double clicking causes same behavior.

�E[BS] while drawing polyline

Erase polyline point by point.  Right button clicking causes same behavior.


Command menu
Menu Commands

[File] menu

[Edit] menu

[View] menu

[Model] menu

[Face] menu

[Render] menu

[Tools] menu

[Window] menu

[Help] menu

See also [Toolbar] to toolbar usage.


[File] menu

[New]	Create a new model.
[Open...]	Open an existing model.
[Close]	Close the active model.
[Save]	Save the active model.
[Save As...]	Save the active model with a new name. Default filename extension is *.ROK.
[Save As DXF File...]	Save the active model as the DXF file. Default filename extension is *.DXF.
[Exit]	Quit the application.  Prompts to save models.


[Edit] menu

[Undo]	Undo the last action.
[Cut]	Cut the selection and put it on the Clipboard.
[Copy]	Copy the selection and put it on the Clipboard.
[Paste]	Insert Clipboard contents.
[Paste Double]	Insert Clipboard contents to both left and right side.
[Delete]	Erase the selection.
[Select All]	Select the entire model (includes hidden lines).
[Select Lines]	Select lines made by three faces, or find sharp edges.
[Mark View]	Mark current angle and position settings.
[Jump to Marked View]	Jump to marked angle and position.
[Object Properties]	Change properties of selected object.


[View] menu

[Draw Mode]	Change to draw mode.  You can draw or edit model.
[View Mode]	Change to view mode.  Hidden lines and points are not displayed.
[Show Lines Only]	Show only lines of model.
[Show Faces Only]	Show only faces of model.
[Show Lines and Faces]	Show both lines and faces.
[Toolbar]	Show or hide the toolbar.
[Status Bar]	Show or hide the status bar.
[Background Picture]	Show or hide the background picture.
[Grid]	Show or hide the grid lines.
[Angle Palette]	Show or hide the angle palette.
[Color Palette]	Show or hide the color palette.


[Model] menu

[Magnify]	Magnify selected model.
[Stretch]	Stretch selected model.
[Rotate]	Rotate selected model.
[Duplicate]	Duplicate selected model.
[Extend]	Extend selected model.
[Hide]	Hide selected lines.  When draw mode, hidden lines are displayed in gray color.  When view mode, hidden lines are not displayed.
[Show]	Show selected hidden lines.  You can select hidden lines with [CTRL] + left click.
[Group]	Group selected model.
[Ungroup]	Ungroup selected model.
[Align to Grid]	Align selected points to grid.  Grid width is specified in Grid Properties.
[Grid Properties]	Determine grid width and whether points is aligned to grid or not.

See also:

Grid Properties


[Face] menu

[Put Faces to All Polygons]	Put faces to all triangles and squares in model.
[Put Faces to Selected Polygons]	Put faces to selected triangles and squares in model.
[Delete Selected Faces]	Delete selected face.
[Face Properties]	View or modify face operation settings.

See also:

Face Properties


[Render] menu

[Orthogonal]	Show model as orthogonal view.
[Perspective]	Show model as perspective view.  Models in the distance look small.
[Fit Model to Window]	Fit model size with window automatically. You would be better clear this check box when you trace background picture.
[Model Properties]	View or modify model properties.
[Light Properties]	View or modify light position.
[Background Properties]	View or modify background picture and background color settings.
[Lens Properties]	View or modify lens thickness.

See also:

Face Properties

Line Properties

Drawing Settings

Light Properties

Background Picture Settings

Background Color Settings

Lens Properties


[Options] menu
[Tools] menu

[Color Palette Properties]	View or modify color palette properties.  You can make custom color or set DXF color number for each color entry.
[Angle Palette Properties]	View or modify angle palette properties.
[Options...]	View or modify various options.

See also:

Color Palette Properties

Angle Palette Properties

Drawing Settings

Face Operation Settings


[Window] menu

[New Window]	Open another window for the active model.
[Cascade]	Arrange windows so they overlap
[Tile]	Arrange windows as non-overlapping tiles.
[Arrange Icons]	Arrange icons at the bottom of the window.
[Close All]	Close all windows.
[window name 1, 2, ...]	Activate specified window.


[Help] menu

[Contents]	List help topics.
[About HexaGreat-3D]	Display program information, version number and copyright.


Grid Properties

View or modify grid properties.

These settings affect to whole of this program (not to current document).

[Show Grid] check box

Show or hide grid lines.

[Align Points to Grid] check box

Decides whether points align to grid or not when points are moved.  This setting only affects to Select/Move tool, and not to Drawing tool.  Because the drawing tool inputs 2D (x, y) data, points cannot be aligned to 3D (x, y, z) grid.  You can align these points to grid after converting to 3D points.

[Grid Unit] drop down list

Decides grid unit.

You can choice 1/8, 1/12, 1/16, 1/24 or 1/32 of grid square size.


Face Operation Settings

These settings are applied to whole of application, not to each model data.

[Face Changes] group box

Decides whether face making occurs symmetrically or not.

[Color Changes] group box

Decides whether face color changing occurs symmetrically or not.


Face Properties

View or modify face properties.

This setting is applied to selected faces.

[Color] drop down list

Decides face color.  You can paint faces with any color you have made using color palette.


Line Properties

View or modify line properties.

This setting is applied to selected lines.

[Style] drop down list

Selects line style.  You can choose following line styles.

- Normal line

- Dashed line

- Dotted line

- Dot and dashed line

- Two Dots and dashed line

[Color] drop down list

Selects line color.  You can select color from color palette.

[Width] drop down list

Selects line width.


Drawing Options

These settings are applied to each model data separately.

[Render Faces while Rotating] check box

The faces are rendered while model is rotating.  This check box is on by default.  If you uncheck this check box, model is displayed in wire-frame and you can rotate model more quickly.

[Suppress Flickering] check box

Suppress flickering while model is rotating.  This check box is on by default.  If you are modeling wire frame model (faces not included), you can uncheck this option to rotate model very quickly.

[Start at View mode] check box

You can start this program in view mode always.  The grid lines are also suppressed.  If you use this program mainly for viewing model data, check this option.


Light Properties

This setting is applied to each model data separately.

[Light Position] group box

Selects light position.


Background Picture Properties

These settings are applied to each model data separately.

[Show Background Picture] check box

Show or hide background picture.

[Mirror Background Picture] check box

Mirrors background picture.

[File Name] edit box

Selects background picture file name.  You can select Windows BMP (*.bmp) file as background picture.


Background Color Properties

This setting is applied to each model data separately.

[Background Color] drop down list

Selects background color.


Color Palette Properties

Color settings are applied to each model data separately.

DXF color number setting is applied to all model data simultaneously.

[R],[G],[B] scroll bars

Selects RGB ratio of the color.

[Select] button

Selects color in detail.

[Select Dark Color Manually] check box

If you uncheck this option, the dark side of color is decided automatically from bright side of color.  If you check this option, you can make dark side of color completely different from bright side of color.  For example, you can make special effect by choosing yellow as bright side of color, and blue as dark side of color.

[DXF Color no.] Edit box

Decides DXF color number.  You can alter this value if another 3D application shows unexpected color when you opens DXF file which is exported from this program.

[Set Default] button

Restores default-settings of this program.


Angle Palette Properties

Select which direction the model rotates when the mouse moves using angle palette or rotation tool.  These settings are applied to whole application, not to each model data.

[When Mouse Moves Right] group box

Selects right or left direction when the mouse moves to right.  The default is right direction.

[When Mouse Moves Up] group box

Selects up or down direction when the mouse moves up.  The default is down direction.


Lens Properties

There are cases that the perspective ratio of background picture doesnt match to grid lines.  In this case, you can alter perspective ratio of grid lines.  This setting is applied to each model data separately.

[Lens Depth] edit box

Changes perspective ratio of model data.  The default value is 1.0.


How to model (1)

- Draw mirror symmetric things along to green grid lines.  The unsymmetrical 2D drawings doesnt become to 3D models.

- The V shaped green line specifies the center of the mirror and the front direction of the grid lines.


How to model (2)


Tips

- Convert to 3D frequently

You would be fail to make 3D model with very complicated 2D drawings.  And it is difficult to draw complicated 2D drawings exactly mirror symmetrically.  So, it is recommended to convert to 3D using turn around tool or rotation tool frequently, before the number of unfixed points exceeds about 20.

- Make wire frame model in detail

After converting to 3D, modify model from various angles.  You can divide line into two lines using ALT key.

- Hide unnecessary lines while editing

It is difficult to modify very complicated 3D model.  Using command [Model]-[Hide], you can hide lines that you are not currently editing.  You can select hidden lines by clicking with CTRL key.

- Put faces at last

Add lines to model and make all mesh holes to triangles or rectangles.  Then, put faces at last.

- View your model, and export to another applications

Select command [View]-[View Mode] to hide grid lines, and view your model.  It is convenient for you to viewing data to check option [Start at View mode].

You can add various effects using Show only faces or Light Properties.

You can also copy model to clipboard, and insert to another application as the OLE object.

Furthermore, you can export model to DXF file, open it by another 3D graphics application, and render in real detail.


DXF file export
Exporting to DXF file

You can export your model data to DXF file, open it by another 3D graphics application, and render in real detail.

Quick output

Select command [File]-[Save As DXF File].

This command exports only face information. So, execute this command after putting faces to model.

More beautiful output

If two faces make sharp edge, or there are lines connected to 3 or more faces, then you cannot get smooth surface with another 3D graphics applications.  Check these lines before exporting to DXF file.  You can use following commands.

- [Edit]-[Select Lines]-[Select Lines Made by 3 Faces].  Lines connected to 3 or more faces are selected.  Delete selected faces with command [Faces]-[Delete Selected Faces].

- [Edit]-[Select Lines]-[Select Sharp Edges (<60[deg])].  Lines at sharp edges are selected.  If there are edges that you would like to make more smooth, then make smaller faces around that lines.

Importing with another 3D graphics applications

We have confirmed that following applications can load DXF file exported by HexaGreat-3D.

- CALIGARI trueSpace

- MacroModel for Windows

Each color is loaded as separate object.


Frequently Asked Questions
Frequentry Asked Questions

Q. I cant possibly put faces to certain mesh hole of model.  Isnt it a bug?

A. Confirm that the faces are triangles or rectangles without fail.  This program can put faces to only triangles or rectangles.

In addition, you cannot make two rectangles that share two or more sides.  Is this case, you can put faces after dividing rectangle into two triangles.  Sorry, this is restriction.

Q. Sometimes, the face behind another face appears in front.

A. Yes, there are cases that the face Z-order reverses.  The reason is that this program does not calculate face Z-order very precisely (but this program renders faces speedy!).  You can prevent this phenomenon by dividing faces into smaller pieces.

Q. The drawing lines cannot be shown at all.

A. Confirm [View]-[Show Faces Only] is not checked.  If this option is checked, lines are not shown at all.  Select [View]-[Show Lines and Faces] and draw your model.

Q. The drawing is quite slow.

A. If the window size is very large, the drawings becomes slow.  Resize window to appropriate size.  In addition, you can make face drawing suppressed while rotating 3D object.  Select [Tools]-[Options], select Draw Tab, and clear [Render Faces while Rotating] check box.

Q. When I exported my model to DXF file and opened it by another 3D graphics application, the color of model is not correct.

A. As We have investigated, DXF color number is different between various applications.  So, this program can customize outputting DXF color number.  Open Color Palette Properties and change DXF color number to appropriate value.

Q. The color palette is not displayed correctly.

A. We have confirmed that the color palette display becomes funny with some 256-color windows environment.  Is this case, you can take one of following.

- Use 16bit or 24bit-color mode.

- Right click color palette and select Dither menu.


About Distribution

HexaGreat-3D is freeware.  Freeware is copyrighted software and freely distributed.  Be careful to following if you distribute this program.

1.Distribute all files in archive at the same time.

2.Do not modify any files in archive.

There's no guarantee about troubles caused by the existence of this program or by using this program.

The authors will not have any obligations for modifying this program, if there happens some trouble.

You have copyright of pictures and data which you have made using this program.

Special Thanks to

Dr. Kanai and Tokyo Institute of Technology

Shusaku Co.,Ltd.

Mr.T

Hot Spice CReative Inc.

K-ko-chan

Contacting the authors

Send bug report, suggestion of new features or other to:

Shusaku Furushima

Toshihiro Morita

Copyright (C) 1994-1998 S.Furushima & TomoNAK


Technical Information
Technical Infomation

HexaGreat-3D data file (*.rok) format

- Data file overview

---------------------------------------------

ROKU4

    Display angle, zoom information

POINT

    Point information

LINE0

    Line information

FACE0

    Face information

END00

PALC0

    Color palette information

BAKC0

    Background information

LIT00

    Light information

VIEW0

    View setting information

----------------------------------------------

Point information and face information has sequential number in data, but line information doesnt have sequential number.

For compatibility with Macintosh version of HexaGreat-3D (Rokkaku-Daioh for Macintosh), return code is '\r' (0x0d).

- Data file example (return code is 0x0d)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ROKU4               // Beginning of HexaGread-3D data file

    -0.785398163    // Rmatobj pp  (Converting matrix. See 2d_3d.cpp in archive)

    -0.314159265    // Rmatobj pq

     0.000000000    // Rmatobj pr

     0.000000000    // Rmatobj dx

     0.000000000    // Rmatobj dy

     1.500000000    // Rmatobj dz

     1.000000000    // Rmatobj bx

     1.000000000    // Rmatobj by

    1               // Rmatobj pers

    0               // 0 : angled view  1 : YZ-plane view

                    // 2 : ZX-plane view  3 : XY-plane view

   368.750000000    // X magnifier

   368.750000000    // Y magnifier

   217.000000000    // X offset

   147.000000000    // Y offset

POINT               // Beginning of the point data

    1               // Point sequential number (beginning of the first point)

    0               // Group number when grouped lines

    0               // 0 : shown  1 : hidden

    0               // Dummy

    2               // 0 : unfixed point  other : correspond point number

    -0.354941037    // X position of point

     0.270283061    // Y position of point

     0.095652076    // Z position of point

    2               // Point sequential number (beginning of the second point)

    0

    0

    0

    1

     0.354941037

     0.270283061

     0.095652076

    3               // Point sequential number (beginning of the third point)

    0

    0

    0

    3

     0.000000000

     0.093385224

     0.008753194

    4               // Point sequential number (beginning of the fourth point)

    0

    0

    0

    4

     0.000000000

     0.456865304

    -0.173682413

LINE0               // Beginning of the line data

    3               // Sequential number of the start point of the first line

    1               // Sequential number of the end point of the first line

    0               // Group number (0 specifies ungrouped)

    0               // 0 : shown  1 : hidden

    1               // Beginning of the second line

    4

    0

    0

    4               // Beginning of the third line

    2

    0

    0

    2               // Beginning of the fourth line

    3

    0

    0

    3               // Beginning of the fifth line

    4

    0

    0

FACE0               // Beginning of the first face

    3               // Number of lines

    2               // Color index of the color palette

    1               // Face sequential number

    5               // Sequential number of the first line of the face

    3               // Sequential number of the second line of the face

    4               // Sequential number of the third line of the face

    3               // Beginning of the second face

    2

    2

    5

    2

    1               // End of the second face

END00               // End of the data

PALC0               // Beginning of the color palette information

13                  // Number of colors (always 13)

0                   // Selected color (dummy)

255                 // Bright side of red color (0-255) (beginning of the first color entry)

255                 // Bright side of green color

255                 // Bright side of blue color

128                 // Dark side of red color

128                 // Dark side of green color

128                 // Dark side of blue color

0                   // Reserved

255                 // Beginning of the second color entry

0

0

128

0

0

0

....

ENDP0               // End of the color palette information

BAKC0               // Beginning of the background color information

7                   // Number of color (always 7)

0                   // Selected color (0-6)

255                 // Red color (0-255) (beginning of the first background color)

255                 // Green color

255                 // Blue color

0                   // Reserved

255                 // Beginning of the second background color

0

0

....

ENDB0               // End of the background color information

LIT00               // Beginning of the light information

3                   // Number of positions (always 3)

0                   // Selected position (0-2)

0.574988908         // X position of the light (beginning of the first position)

0.511101252         // Y position of the light

0.638876565         // Z position of the light

0                   // Reserved

-0.574988908        // X position of the light (beginning of the second position)

0.511101252         // Y position of the light

0.638876565         // Z position of the light

0                   // Reserved

0.000000000         // X position of the light (beginning of the third position)

-0.668964732        // Y position of the light

0.743294146         // Z position of the light

0                   // Reserved

ENDL0               // End of the light information

VIEW0               // Beginning of the view information

0                   // 1 : show lines  0 : hide lines

1                   // 1 : show faces  0 : hide faces

0                   // Reserved

0                   // Reserved

ENDV0               // End of the view information

LINE2               // Beginning of the line properties

1                   // Sequential number of the line (beginning of the first line)

0                   // Line style (0=solid/1=dashed/2=dotted/3=dot and dashed/4=two dots and dashed)

5                   // Line color (index of the color palette)

1                   // Line width (dots)

2                   // Beginning of the second line

0

5

1

2                   // Beginning of the third line

0

5

1

....

ENDL2               // End of the line properties

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HexaGreat-3D DXF file format

Each triangle is saved as separate layer as follows.

---------------------------------------------

0                   // Beginning of the header

SECTION             //

2                   //

ENTITIES            //

999                 //

Created using Rokkaku-Daioh for Windows V5.0    // End of the header

0                   // Beginning of the first triangle

3DFACE              // Beginning of the first triangle

8                   // Beginning of the first triangle

body1               // Layer name (body + DXF color number)

62                  // Specifies that next value is the DXF color number

1                   // DXF color number value

10                  // Specifies that next value is the X position of the first point

0.000000000         // X position of the first point

20                  // Specifies that next value is the Y position of the first point

-2.874890541        // Y position of the first point

30                  // Specifies that next value is the Z position of the first point

-4.670675113        // Z position of the first point

11                  // Specifies that next value is the X position of the second point

4.487162470         // X position of the second point

21                  // Specifies that next value is the Y position of the second point

0.062865638         // Y position of the second point

31                  // Specifies that next value is the Z position of the second point

-2.712550701        // Z position of the second point

12                  // Specifies that next value is the X position of the third point

0.000000000         // X position of the third point

22                  // Specifies that next value is the Y position of the third point

-0.397385849        // Y position of the third point

32                  // Specifies that next value is the Z position of the third point

0.086746552         // Z position of the third point

13                  // Specifies that next value is the X position of the fourth point

0.000000000         // X position of the first point (repeat the first point)

23                  // Specifies that next value is the Y position of the fourth point

-0.397385849        // Y position of the first point (repeat the first point)

33                  // Specifies that next value is the Z position of the fourth point

0.086746552         // Z position of the first point (repeat the first point)

0                   // Beginning of the second face

3DFACE

8

body9

62

9

10

0.000000000

20

-0.397385849

30

0.086746552

11

-4.487162470

21

0.062865638

31

-2.712550701

12

0.000000000

22

-2.874890541

32

-4.670675113

13

0.000000000

23

-2.874890541

33

-4.670675113        // End of the second face

0                   // Specifies that the end of data

ENDSEC              //

0                   //

EOF                 //

---------------------------------------------


tomonak@aqu.bekkoame.ne.jp

Toshihiro Morita

4-10-10 Utsukushigaoka Aoba-ku Yokohama Japan 225


shusaku@ba.mbn.or.jp

Shusaku Furushima

14-14 Higashisumiyoshi Tokorozawa Saitama Japan 359


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