3D shapes

Getting Started

This lesson draws simple shapes in 3D.

Setup

First create a new project using the instructions from the earlier lessons: Using DeviceResources and Adding the DirectX Tool Kit which we will use for this lesson.

Background

In the previous lesson, we generated geometry with code using PrimitiveBatch to draw simple shapes. Here we make use of GeometricPrimitive which procedurally generates shapes like spheres, cubes, etc. These 3D shapes are more efficient to render because they make use of indexed primitives, and because they make use of a static rather than dynamic vertex buffer and index buffer.

Drawing a sphere

In the Game.h file, add the following variables to the bottom of the Game class's private declarations:

DirectX::SimpleMath::Matrix m_world;
DirectX::SimpleMath::Matrix m_view;
DirectX::SimpleMath::Matrix m_proj;

std::unique_ptr<DirectX::GeometricPrimitive> m_shape;

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of CreateDeviceDependentResources:

auto context = m_deviceResources->GetD3DDeviceContext();
m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateSphere(context);

m_world = Matrix::Identity;

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of CreateWindowSizeDependentResources:

auto size = m_deviceResources->GetOutputSize();
m_view = Matrix::CreateLookAt(Vector3(2.f, 2.f, 2.f),
    Vector3::Zero, Vector3::UnitY);
m_proj = Matrix::CreatePerspectiveFieldOfView(XM_PI / 4.f,
    float(size.right) / float(size.bottom), 0.1f, 10.f);

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of OnDeviceLost:

m_shape.reset();

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of Render:

m_shape->Draw(m_world, m_view, m_proj);

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of Update:

auto time = static_cast<float>(timer.GetTotalSeconds());

m_world = Matrix::CreateRotationZ(cosf(time) * 2.f);

Build and run, and you'll see a white lit sphere.

Screenshot Sphere

Drawing other built-in shapes

In Game.cpp modify the TODO of CreateDeviceDependentResources:

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateTorus(context);

Build and run to see a torus instead of a sphere.

Screenshot Torus

You can try out other shapes like a cube, cone, cylinder, dodecahedron, or the classic Utah teapot.

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateCube(context);

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateCone(context);

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateCylinder(context);

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateDodecahedron(context);

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateTeapot(context);

Adding textures to 3D shapes

Start by saving earth.bmp into your new project's directory, and then from the top menu select Project / Add Existing Item.... Select "earth.bmp" and click "OK".

In the Game.h file, add the following variable to the bottom of the Game class's private declarations:

Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<ID3D11ShaderResourceView> m_texture;

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of CreateDeviceDependentResources:

DX::ThrowIfFailed(
    CreateWICTextureFromFile(device, L"earth.bmp", nullptr,
    m_texture.ReleaseAndGetAddressOf()));

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of OnDeviceLost:

m_texture.Reset();

In Game.cpp modify the TODO of CreateDeviceDependentResources:

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateSphere(context);

In Game.cpp, modify to the TODO of Render:

m_shape->Draw(m_world, m_view, m_proj, Colors::White, m_texture.Get());

In Game.cpp, modify to the TODO of Update:

auto time = static_cast<float>(timer.GetTotalSeconds());

m_world = Matrix::CreateRotationY(time);

Build and you'll see planet earth spinning.

Screenshot Earth

Using custom lighting and effects

By default the geometric primitive renderer uses a simple BasicEffect with default lighting settings. To get more control over the rendering, you can use your own effect.

In the Game.h file, add the following variables to the bottom of the Game class's private declarations:

std::unique_ptr<DirectX::BasicEffect> m_effect;
Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<ID3D11InputLayout> m_inputLayout;

In Game.cpp modify the TODO of CreateDeviceDependentResources:

m_effect = std::make_unique<BasicEffect>(device);
m_effect->SetTextureEnabled(true);
m_effect->SetPerPixelLighting(true);
m_effect->SetLightingEnabled(true);
m_effect->SetLightEnabled(0, true);
m_effect->SetLightDiffuseColor(0, Colors::White);
m_effect->SetLightDirection(0, -Vector3::UnitZ);

m_shape = GeometricPrimitive::CreateSphere(context);
m_shape->CreateInputLayout(m_effect.get(),
    m_inputLayout.ReleaseAndGetAddressOf());

DX::ThrowIfFailed(
   CreateWICTextureFromFile(device, L"earth.bmp", nullptr,
        m_texture.ReleaseAndGetAddressOf()));

m_effect->SetTexture(m_texture.Get());

m_world = Matrix::Identity;

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of CreateWindowSizeDependentResources:

m_effect->SetView(m_view);
m_effect->SetProjection(m_proj);

In Game.cpp, add to the TODO of OnDeviceLost:

m_effect.reset();
m_inputLayout.Reset();

In Game.cpp, modify to the TODO of Render:

m_effect->SetWorld(m_world);
m_shape->Draw(m_effect.get(), m_inputLayout.Get());

Build and run to see earth with more 'space-like' lighting.

Screenshot Earth

More to explore

The GeometricPrimitive class is designed for simple rendering, so it always uses the VertexPositionNormalTexture vertex format. For details on how to utilize the built-in shape generation for other vertex formats, see Custom vertex format.
Using a custom shader, you can use the basic box or sphere primitive as a "skybox". See Authoring an Effect.
Methods are provided to get access to the shape data as std::vectors of VertexType and uint16_t, and GeometricPrimitive also allows you to create drawable instances from such data. See Custom geometry