3D Compositing with Action > Action: 3D Geometry >
Working with 3D Geometry

You can change and animate parameters such as the colour, specular highlight, shine, and transparency of 3D models. You set these parameters using the Geometry menu. To access this menu, double-click a Geometry node in the schematic, or follow the tab population rules for the Object menu (see Populating Menu Tabs of Selected Objects).

The Geometry controls are described as follows.

Specular fields
  Set the colour of light reflected by the 3D model's surface. To enable the specular highlight, the Shine value must be larger than zero. Enter values in the Specular red, green, and blue channel fields or use the colour picker.
Ambient fields
  Set colour to the area of the 3D model that is not illuminated by a direct light source. The edge of the ambient area mixes with the specular highlight colour and the diffuse colour. Enter values in the Ambient red, green, and blue channel fields or use the colour picker.
Diffuse fields
  Modify the colour and illumination of the entire 3D model. Diffuse light mixes with the colour of the light sources used to illuminate the 3D model. The diffuse colour may also mix with the ambient colour and the colour of the specular highlight.

Change the colour of the 3D model by entering values in the Diffuse red, green, and blue channel fields or by using the colour picker.

Blend Type box
  Select whether to use Flame or Photoshop blend modes.
Blend Mode box
  Select how the 3D model and the scene are combined. The available list of modes depends on the selection in the Blend Type box. See Surface Blending Modes.
Transparency field
  Increases or decreases the transparency of the 3D model.
Shine field
  Displays the intensity of the specular highlight. When this value is zero, the specular highlight is disabled. Shine affects both size and intensity. See Creating a Specular Highlight on a Model.
Sort Order box
  Select the drawing priority of the 3D model normals.

  Select: | To draw the polygons:
  --- | ---
  Shade Both | That are both facing and opposite the camera.
  Shade Front | Facing the camera last.
  Shade Back | Opposite the camera last. This option is especially useful for semi-transparent models

Shadow Casting box
  Select how the geometry object is affected by a Shadow Cast object in the scene. See Surface and Geometry Shadow Casters .
Polygons field
  This locked field displays the number of polygons in the 3D model.
Subdivide button
  Enable to create high-quality shading for polygon models.
Resolution field
  Displays the geometry resolution of the 3D model. Active when Subdivide is enabled.
Wireframe box
  Select a wireframe option for the 3D model. When you render the 3D model with Wireframe or Original Wire selected, it retains its light, shading, and texture attributes.

  Select: | To:
  --- | ---
  Solid | Disable wireframe for the 3D model (filled polygons are drawn).
  Wireframe | Display the model as a wireframe outline (triangular polygons only).
  Original Wire | Display the model as a wireframe outline (original mesh; any polygon type). May be useful for imported geometries.

Sort button
  Enable to determine how the 3D model is drawn according to its normals.

#### Topics in this section

- Using Materials
- Using UV Mapping
- Creating a Specular Highlight on a Model
- Adjusting Normals
- Subdividing a Model