| Platform SDK: DirectX |
This topic pertains only to application development in Visual Basic. See Direct3D Immediate Mode C++ Samples.
This sample illustrates the billboarding technique. Billboarding is a way of making 2-D sprites appear to be 3-D. It can also be used for smoke, clouds, vapor trails, energy blasts, and other effects. For more information, see Common Techniques and Special Effects.
Source: (SDK root)\Samples\Multimedia\VBSamples\D3dim\Src\Billboard
Executable: (SDK root)\Samples\Multimedia\VBSamples\D3dim\Bin\VB_Billboard.exe
Press F5 to change the device or display mode.
The sample displays a grassy field with trees in it. The trees look like 3-D objects. However, they are actually 2-D texture bitmaps that are blended onto invisible rectangular polygons.
As the sample program executes, the viewpoint changes. Each time it does, all of the billboard polygons that the trees are painted onto are rotated so they face the viewer. The program then blends the images of the trees onto the billboard polygons. The trees appear to be 3-D because they can be viewed from all angles. However, close inspection reveals that the trees have exactly the same appearance from all angles. For many applications, users will not notice this minor drawback.
The shadows are also 2-D textures.