How to Install Java 3D

Java 3D is a high-level API for 3D graphics, which is implemented on top of low-level API such as OpenGL and DirectX. Java 3D is based on the so-called scene graph, which emphasizes on the scene design and composes of geometries, transformations, lighting, material, transform, textures, etc, instead of low-level rendering.

The mother site for Java 3D is https://java3d.dev.java.net and http://java.sun.com/javase/technologies/desktop/java3d.

Installing Java 3D

Download Java 3D from the Java 3D mother site @ https://java3d.dev.java.net. Choose "Downloads" ⇒ "Binary Downloads".

Take note that Java 3D includes a library called vecmath (vector mathematics) to support vector and matrix operations.

You could optionally download the example source codes, JOALMixer (for interfacing with the JOAL - 3D audio).

Writing your First Java 3D Program

In Eclipse 3.5

  1. Create a new Java project, says "J3DGettingStart".
  2. Configure the project to include the JAR files and native libraries.
    • Right-click on the project ⇒ "Properties" ⇒ "Java Build Path" ⇒ Select the "Libraries" tab ⇒ "Add External JAR..." ⇒ Navigate to $J3D_HOME\lib\ext and select j3dcore.jar, j3dutils.jar and vecmath.jar.
    • Expand the "Referenced Libraries" nodes (under the project) ⇒ Right-click on "j3dcore.jar" ⇒ "Properties":
      In "Java Source Attachment" ⇒ "Location path" ⇒ "External Folder" to select $J3D_HOME\src.
      In "Javadoc Location" ⇒ "Javadoc URL" ⇒ "Browse" and select $J3D_HOME\doc.
      In "Native Library" ⇒ "Location Path" ⇒ "External Folder" to select $J3D\bin (which contains the dll's).
      Repeat the above steps for the other JAR files.
  3. Create a new class under the project, called "HelloUniverse.java". Enter the following codes: 
    import com.sun.j3d.utils.universe.*;
import com.sun.j3d.utils.geometry.ColorCube;
import javax.media.j3d.*;
import javax.vecmath.*;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
   
/**
 * Simple Java 3D example to display a rotating color cube.
 */
public class HelloUniverse extends JFrame {
   
   // Constructor
   public HelloUniverse() {
      // Setup a SimpleUniverse by referencing a Canvas3D
      GraphicsConfiguration config = SimpleUniverse.getPreferredConfiguration();
      Canvas3D canvas = new Canvas3D(config);
      Container cp = this.getContentPane();
      cp.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
      cp.add(canvas, BorderLayout.CENTER);
      SimpleUniverse universe = new SimpleUniverse(canvas);
   
      // Set up the viewer looking into the scene.
      universe.getViewingPlatform().setNominalViewingTransform();
   
      // Create the content branch and add it to the universe
      BranchGroup scene = createSceneGraph();
      universe.addBranchGraph(scene);
   
      // Configure this JFrame
      this.setSize(250, 250);
      this.setTitle("Hello Universe");
      this.setVisible(true);
   }
   
   // Create the content branch
   public BranchGroup createSceneGraph() {
      // Create the root node of the content branch
      BranchGroup nodeRoot = new BranchGroup();
   
      // Create the TransformGroup node, which is writable to support
      // animation, and add it under the root
      TransformGroup nodeTrans = new TransformGroup();
      nodeTrans.setCapability(TransformGroup.ALLOW_TRANSFORM_WRITE);
      nodeRoot.addChild(nodeTrans);
   
      // Create a visual object node (color cube) and add it to the scene.
      nodeTrans.addChild(new ColorCube(0.4));
  
      // Create a Behavior node to rotate the cube add it to the scene.
      Transform3D yAxis = new Transform3D();
      Alpha timing = new Alpha(-1, 4000);
      RotationInterpolator nodeRotator = new RotationInterpolator(timing,
            nodeTrans, yAxis, 0.0f, (float)Math.PI * 2.0f);
      BoundingSphere bounds = new BoundingSphere(new Point3d(0.0, 0.0, 0.0), 100.0);
      nodeRotator.setSchedulingBounds(bounds);
      nodeRoot.addChild(nodeRotator);
   
      // Compile to perform optimizations on this content branch.
      nodeRoot.compile();
  
      return nodeRoot;
   }
   
   // Entry main method to invoke the constructor on the event dispatcher thread.
   public static void main(String args[]) {
      java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
         public void run() {
            new HelloUniverse();
         }
      });
   }
}

    The output is as follows:

NOTE: If you receive an error message "SEVERE: java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no xxx in java.library.path", print out the entries in java.library.path (un-comment the System.out.println() statement) and check if $J3D_HOME\bin is included. By default, java.library.path mirrors the PATH environment variable. You might add $J3D_HOME\bin into the PATH environment, or move the dll's to one of the JDK binary path, as reflected by java.library.path.

In NetBeans 6.7

[TODO]

With JDK/Editor

[TODO]

 

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

Websites:

Tutorials:

Boooks:

Latest version tested: JDK 1.6, Java3D 1.5.2
Last modified: November 10, 2009