3DGrafik

3DGrafik, often written as 3D-Grafik in German-language contexts, denotes the field of computer graphics that creates and manipulates three-dimensional visual representations. It encompasses the entire workflow from digital models to final images, including modeling, texturing, lighting, shading, animation, and rendering.

Core processes in 3DGrafik begin with modeling, where objects are built using polygons, NURBS, voxels, or other representations. Texturing then applies surface details through images or procedural patterns. Shading and lighting simulate material properties and how surfaces interact with light. Rendering converts a 3D scene into a 2D image, employing techniques such as rasterization, ray tracing, or path tracing. Animation and rigging prepare characters and objects for motion, often driven by bones, constraints, and physics simulations.

There are two primary domains: real-time 3DGrafik, used in video games and interactive applications, and offline or pre-rendered graphics, used in film, CGI production, and visualization. Real-time rendering emphasizes speed and efficiency on GPUs, while offline rendering prioritizes photorealism and may use physically based rendering and advanced global illumination.

Common tools and formats associated with 3DGrafik include software such as Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, and Houdini, as well as game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine. File formats frequently used are OBJ, FBX, glTF, and STL. The field finds application across entertainment, architecture visualization, product design, medical imaging, and scientific visualization, as well as in VR and AR environments.

Historically, 3DGrafik emerged in the 1960s–70s and has evolved with advances in modeling, shading, and hardware. Current trends emphasize real-time photorealism, AI-assisted workflows, and increasingly integrated pipelines across disciplines.