Exporting 3D surfaces to Microsoft or PDF

tbraun84 · July 29, 2020, 12:52

Has anyone on this forum found a way to embed interactive 3d plots to Microsoft Word/PowerPoint or LaTeX (via Movie15 and/or Media9 pacakges) recognized formats?
I am aware that I can export a surface as STL, but I am wondering about being able to export the geometry wireframe and then maybe either colored contour plot slices or monochrome streamlines/vectors.
This would greatly enhance the value of plots in reports that go to management or other non-CFD users. The option doesn't appear to be available right out of Ensight, but the possibilities with Python libraries and various other software - open source and commercial - is limitless.

The Microsoft 3D model formats are: .fbx, .obj, .3mf, .ply, .stl, and .glb. The LaTeX 3D model formats are: .prc and .u3d.

ali_b124 · July 11, 2023, 10:15

Hi,

Could you get any solution? Thanks.

Ali

tbraun84 · July 11, 2023, 11:55

No, I haven't received any guidance.

I think it's a little more straightforward to do with ParaView. In that case, you can export vrml or x3d (which are basically the same with x3d being a later version of the protocol). From there, you can embed the file into a webpage that could be viewed on any browser. In this way, you could generate a report as an html file (doesn't have to be actually on the internet) and have the 3d functionality.

I haven't messed around with it too much, because I resorted to recording animations and embedding .mp4 files.

You've inspired me to try this again and see if I can post a fundamental example. I don't know what is required to make the x3d interactive (zoom, pan, and rotate).

ali_b124 · July 12, 2023, 01:59

Thank you.

Actually i want to use it with LaTeX. In the past i did the following way:

Take post process from paraview as wrml,
Put them in Meshlab,
Export from meshLab as u3d,
.u3d can be embedded in LaTeX as you mentioned.

But that time the size of the pdf was too much and it was very slow. Also i could not arrange the lightings in the embedded figure. And the process was too indirect.

I will also try it again. There may be more efficient way now.

I totally agree about your this thought: "This would greatly enhance the value of plots in reports that go to management or other non-CFD users.".

Best regards.

July 29, 2020, 12:52	Exporting 3D surfaces to Microsoft or PDF	#1
tbraun84 New Member Tim Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 8	Has anyone on this forum found a way to embed interactive 3d plots to Microsoft Word/PowerPoint or LaTeX (via Movie15 and/or Media9 pacakges) recognized formats? I am aware that I can export a surface as STL, but I am wondering about being able to export the geometry wireframe and then maybe either colored contour plot slices or monochrome streamlines/vectors. This would greatly enhance the value of plots in reports that go to management or other non-CFD users. The option doesn't appear to be available right out of Ensight, but the possibilities with Python libraries and various other software - open source and commercial - is limitless. The Microsoft 3D model formats are: .fbx, .obj, .3mf, .ply, .stl, and .glb. The LaTeX 3D model formats are: .prc and .u3d. ali_b124 likes this. Last edited by tbraun84; July 29, 2020 at 12:54. Reason: Adding clarity to title and correcting spelling.

July 12, 2023, 01:59		#4
ali_b124 New Member Ali Burhan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: İstanbul Posts: 13 Rep Power: 9	Thank you. Actually i want to use it with LaTeX. In the past i did the following way: Take post process from paraview as wrml, Put them in Meshlab, Export from meshLab as u3d, .u3d can be embedded in LaTeX as you mentioned. But that time the size of the pdf was too much and it was very slow. Also i could not arrange the lightings in the embedded figure. And the process was too indirect. I will also try it again. There may be more efficient way now. I totally agree about your this thought: "This would greatly enhance the value of plots in reports that go to management or other non-CFD users.". Best regards.

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July 11, 2023, 10:15		#2
ali_b124 New Member Ali Burhan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: İstanbul Posts: 13 Rep Power: 9	Hi, Could you get any solution? Thanks. Ali

July 11, 2023, 11:55		#3
tbraun84 New Member Tim Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 8	No, I haven't received any guidance. I think it's a little more straightforward to do with ParaView. In that case, you can export vrml or x3d (which are basically the same with x3d being a later version of the protocol). From there, you can embed the file into a webpage that could be viewed on any browser. In this way, you could generate a report as an html file (doesn't have to be actually on the internet) and have the 3d functionality. I haven't messed around with it too much, because I resorted to recording animations and embedding .mp4 files. You've inspired me to try this again and see if I can post a fundamental example. I don't know what is required to make the x3d interactive (zoom, pan, and rotate).