source: trunk/documents/UserDoc/DocBookUsersGuides/ForApplicationDeveloper/xml/Visualization/introduction.xml @ 1208

Last change on this file since 1208 was 921, checked in by garnier, 15 years ago

en test de gl2ps. Problemes de libraries
File size: 16.3 KB
Line 
1<!-- ******************************************************** -->
2<!--                                                          -->
3<!--  [History]                                               -->
4<!--    Changed by: Katsuya Amako, 15-Jul-2000                -->
5<!--    Changed by: Dennis Wright, 27-Nov-2001                -->
6<!--    Proof read by: Joe Chuma,  5-Jul-1999                 -->
7<!--    Converted to DocBook: Katsuya Amako, Aug-2006         -->
8<!--    Added Qt Info: Laurent Garnier, Dec-2008              -->
9<!--    Updates for Qt and HepRApp: Joseph Perl, Dec-2008     -->
10<!--                                                          -->
11<!-- ******************************************************** -->
12
13
14<!-- ******************* Section (Level#1) ****************** -->
15<sect1 id="sect.VisIntro">
16<title>
17Introduction to Visualization
18</title>
19
20<para>
21The Geant4 visualization system was developed in response to a
22diverse set of requirements:
23
24<orderedlist spacing="compact">
25  <listitem><para>
26    Quick response to study geometries, trajectories and hits
27  </para></listitem>
28  <listitem><para>
29    High-quality output for publications
30  </para></listitem>
31  <listitem><para>
32    Flexible camera control to debug complex geometries
33  </para></listitem>
34  <listitem><para>
35    Tools to show volume overlap errors in detector geometries
36  </para></listitem>
37  <listitem><para>
38    Interactive picking to get more information on visualized objects
39  </para></listitem>
40</orderedlist>
41</para>
42
43<para>
44No one graphics system is ideal for all of these requirements,
45and many of the large software frameworks into which Geant4 has
46been incorporated already have their own visualization systems, so
47Geant4 visualization was designed around an abstract interface that
48supports a diverse family of graphics systems. Some of these
49graphics systems use a graphics library compiled with Geant4, such
50as OpenGL, Qt, while others involve a separate application, such as
51HepRApp or DAWN.
52</para>
53
54<!-- ******************* Section (Level#2) ****************** -->
55<sect2 id="sect.VisIntro.What">
56<title>
57What Can be Visualized
58</title>
59
60<para>
61Simulation data can be visualized:
62
63<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
64  <listitem><para>
65    Detector components
66    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
67      <listitem><para>
68        A hierarchical structure of physical volumes
69      </para></listitem>
70      <listitem><para>
71        A piece of physical volume, logical volume, and solid
72      </para></listitem>
73    </itemizedlist>
74  </para></listitem>
75  <listitem><para>
76    Particle trajectories and tracking steps
77  </para></listitem>
78  <listitem><para>
79    Hits of particles in detector components
80  </para></listitem>
81</itemizedlist>
82</para>
83
84<para>
85Other user defined objects can be visualized:
86
87<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
88  <listitem><para>
89    Polylines, such as coordinate axes
90  </para></listitem>
91  <listitem><para>
92    3D Markers, such as eye guides
93  </para></listitem>
94  <listitem><para>
95    Text, descriptive character strings, comments or titles
96  </para></listitem>
97  <listitem><para>
98    Scales
99  </para></listitem>
100  <listitem><para>
101    Logos
102  </para></listitem>
103</itemizedlist>
104</para>
105
106</sect2>
107
108
109<!-- ******************* Section (Level#2) ****************** -->
110<sect2 id="sect.VisIntro.Choice">
111<title>
112You have a Choice of Visualization Drivers
113</title>
114
115<para>
116The many graphics systems that Geant4 supports are complementary to
117each other.
118
119<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
120  <listitem><para>
121    OpenGL
122    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
123      <listitem><para>
124        View directly from Geant4
125      </para></listitem>
126      <listitem><para>
127        Requires addition of GL libraries that are freely avialable for all operating systems (and pre-installed on many)
128      </para></listitem>
129      <listitem><para>
130        Rendered, photorealistic image with some interactive features
131      </para></listitem>
132      <listitem><para>
133        zoom, rotate, translate
134      </para></listitem>
135      <listitem><para>
136        Fast response (can usually exploit full potential of graphics
137        hardware)
138      </para></listitem>
139      <listitem><para>
140        Print to EPS (vector and pixel graphics)
141      </para></listitem>
142    </itemizedlist>
143  </para></listitem>
144  <listitem><para>
145    Qt
146    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
147      <listitem><para>
148        View directly from Geant4
149      </para></listitem>
150      <listitem><para>
151        Requies addition of Qt and GL libraries that are freely available on most operating
152        systems
153      </para></listitem>
154      <listitem><para>
155        Rendered, photorealistic image
156      </para></listitem>
157      <listitem><para>
158        Many interactive features
159      </para></listitem>
160      <listitem><para>
161        zoom, rotate, translate
162      </para></listitem>
163      <listitem><para>
164        Fast response (can usually exploit full potential of graphics
165        hardware)
166      </para></listitem>
167      <listitem><para>
168        Expanded printing ability (vector and pixel graphics)
169      </para></listitem>
170      <listitem><para>
171        Easy interface to make movies
172      </para></listitem>
173    </itemizedlist>
174  </para></listitem>
175  <listitem><para>
176    OpenInventor
177    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
178      <listitem><para>
179        View directly from Geant4
180      </para></listitem>
181      <listitem><para>
182        Requires addition of OpenInventor libraries (freely available
183        for most Linux systems).
184      </para></listitem>
185      <listitem><para>
186        Rendered, photorealistic image
187      </para></listitem>
188      <listitem><para>
189        Many interactive features
190      </para></listitem>
191      <listitem><para>
192        zoom, rotate, translate
193      </para></listitem>
194      <listitem><para>
195        click to "see inside" opaque
196        volumes
197      </para></listitem>
198      <listitem><para>
199        Fast response (can usually exploit full potential of graphics
200        hardware)
201      </para></listitem>
202      <listitem><para>
203        Expanded printing ability (vector and pixel graphics)
204      </para></listitem>
205    </itemizedlist>
206  </para></listitem>
207  <listitem><para>
208    HepRep
209    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
210      <listitem><para>
211        Create a file to view in a HepRep browser such as HepRApp,
212        FRED or WIRED4
213      </para></listitem>
214      <listitem><para>
215        Requires a HepRep browser (above options work on any operating system)
216      </para></listitem>
217      <listitem><para>
218        Wireframe or simple area fills (not photorealistic)
219      </para></listitem>
220      <listitem><para>
221        Many interactive features
222      </para></listitem>
223      <listitem><para>
224        zoom, rotate, translate
225      </para></listitem>
226      <listitem><para>
227        click to show attributes (momentum, etc.)
228      </para></listitem>
229      <listitem><para>
230        special projections (FishEye, etc.)
231      </para></listitem>
232      <listitem><para>
233        control visibility from hierarchical (tree) view of data
234      </para></listitem>
235      <listitem><para>
236        Hierarchical view of the geometry
237      </para></listitem>
238      <listitem><para>
239        Export to many vector graphic formats (PostScript, PDF, etc.)
240      </para></listitem>
241    </itemizedlist>
242  </para></listitem>
243  <listitem><para>
244    DAWN
245    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
246      <listitem><para>
247        Create a file to view in the DAWN Renderer
248      </para></listitem>
249      <listitem><para>
250        Requires DAWN, available for all Linux and Windows systems.
251      </para></listitem>
252      <listitem><para>
253        Rendered, photorealistic image
254      </para></listitem>
255      <listitem><para>
256        No interactive features
257      </para></listitem>
258      <listitem><para>
259        Highest quality technical rendering - output to vector PostScript
260      </para></listitem>
261    </itemizedlist>
262  </para></listitem>
263  <listitem><para>
264    VRML
265    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
266      <listitem><para>
267        Create a file to view in any VRML browser (some as web browser
268        plug-ins).
269      </para></listitem>
270      <listitem><para>
271        Requires VRML browser (many different choices for different
272        operating systems).
273      </para></listitem>
274      <listitem><para>
275        Rendered, photorealistic image with some interactive features
276      </para></listitem>
277      <listitem><para>
278        zoom, rotate, translate
279      </para></listitem>
280      <listitem><para>
281        Limited printing ability (pixel graphics, not vector graphics)
282      </para></listitem>
283    </itemizedlist>
284  </para></listitem>
285  <listitem><para>
286    RayTracer
287    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
288      <listitem><para>
289        Create a jpeg file
290      </para></listitem>
291      <listitem><para>
292        Forms image by using Geant4's own tracking
293        to follow photons through the detector
294      </para></listitem>
295      <listitem><para>
296        Can show geometry but not trajectories
297      </para></listitem>
298      <listitem><para>
299        Can render any geometry that Geant4 can handle (such as Boolean
300        solids)
301      </para></listitem>
302      <listitem><para>
303        Supports shadows, transparency and mirrored surfaces
304      </para></listitem>
305    </itemizedlist>
306  </para></listitem>
307  <listitem><para>
308    ASCIITree
309    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
310      <listitem><para>
311        Text dump of the geometry hierarchy
312      </para></listitem>
313      <listitem><para>
314        Not graphical
315      </para></listitem>
316      <listitem><para>
317        Control over level of detail to be dumped
318      </para></listitem>
319      <listitem><para>
320        Can calculate mass and volume of any hierarchy of volumes
321      </para></listitem>
322    </itemizedlist>
323  </para></listitem>
324</itemizedlist>
325</para>
326
327</sect2>
328
329
330<!-- ******************* Section (Level#2) ****************** -->
331<sect2 id="sect.VisIntro.ChoDrv">
332<title>
333Choose the Driver that Meets Your Needs
334</title>
335
336<para>
337<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
338  <listitem><para>
339    If you want very responsive photorealistic graphics (and have
340    the OpenGL libraries installed)
341    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
342      <listitem><para>
343        OpenGL is a good solution (if you have the Motif extensions,
344        this also gives GUI control)
345      </para></listitem>
346    </itemizedlist>
347  </para></listitem>
348  <listitem><para>
349    If you want very responsive photorealistic graphics plus more
350    interactivity (and have the OpenInventor or Qt libraries installed)
351    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
352      <listitem><para>
353        OpenInventor or Qt are good solutions
354      </para></listitem>
355    </itemizedlist>
356  </para></listitem>
357  <listitem><para>
358    If you want GUI control, very responsive photorealistic graphics plus more
359    interactivity (and have the Qt libraries installed).
360    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
361      <listitem><para>
362        Qt is a good solution
363      </para></listitem>
364    </itemizedlist>
365  </para></listitem>
366  <listitem><para>
367    If you want GUI control, want to be able to pick on items to
368    inquire about them (identity, momentum, etc.), perhaps want to
369    render to vector formats, and a wireframe look will do
370    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
371      <listitem><para>
372        HepRep will meet your needs
373      </para></listitem>
374    </itemizedlist>
375  </para></listitem>
376  <listitem><para>
377    If you want to render highest quality photorealistic images for
378    use in a poster or a technical design report, and you can live
379    without quick rotate and zoom
380    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
381      <listitem><para>
382        DAWN is the way to go
383      </para></listitem>
384    </itemizedlist>
385  </para></listitem>
386  <listitem><para>
387    If you want to render to a 3D format that others can view in a
388    variety of commodity browsers (including some web browser plug-ins)
389    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
390      <listitem><para>
391        VRML is the way to go
392      </para></listitem>
393    </itemizedlist>
394  </para></listitem>
395</itemizedlist>
396
397<?soft-pagebreak ?>
398<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
399  <listitem><para>
400    If you want to visualize a geometry that the other
401    visualization drivers can't handle, or you need
402    transparency or mirrors, and you don't need to
403    visualize trajectories
404    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
405      <listitem><para>
406        RayTracer will do it
407      </para></listitem>
408    </itemizedlist>
409  </para></listitem>
410  <listitem><para>
411    If you just want to quickly check the geometry hierarchy, or if
412    you want to calculate the volume or mass of any geometry hierarchy
413    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
414      <listitem><para>
415        ASCIITree will meet your needs
416      </para></listitem>
417    </itemizedlist>
418  </para></listitem>
419  <listitem><para>
420    You can also add your own visualization driver.
421    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
422      <listitem><para>
423        Geant4's visualization system is modular. By
424        creating just three new classes, you can direct Geant4 information
425        to your own visualization system.
426      </para></listitem>
427    </itemizedlist>
428  </para></listitem>
429</itemizedlist>
430</para>
431
432</sect2>
433
434<!-- ******************* Section (Level#2) ****************** -->
435<sect2 id="sect.VisIntro.CntVis">
436<title>
437Controlling Visualization
438</title>
439
440<para>
441Your Geant4 code stays basically the same no matter which driver
442you use.
443</para>
444
445<para>
446Visualization is performed either with commands or from C++ code.
447
448<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
449  <listitem><para>
450    Some visualization drivers work directly from Geant4
451    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
452      <listitem><para>
453        OpenGL
454      </para></listitem>
455      <listitem><para>
456        Qt
457      </para></listitem>
458      <listitem><para>
459        OpenInventor
460      </para></listitem>
461      <listitem><para>
462        RayTracer
463      </para></listitem>
464      <listitem><para>
465        ASCIITree
466      </para></listitem>
467    </itemizedlist>
468  </para></listitem>
469  <listitem><para>
470    For other visualization drivers, you first have Geant4 produce
471    a file, and then you have that file rendered by another application
472    (which may have GUI control)
473    <itemizedlist spacing="compact">
474      <listitem><para>
475        HepRep
476      </para></listitem>
477      <listitem><para>
478        DAWN
479      </para></listitem>
480      <listitem><para>
481        VRML
482      </para></listitem>
483    </itemizedlist>
484  </para></listitem>
485</itemizedlist>
486</para>
487
488</sect2>
489
490
491<!-- ******************* Section (Level#2) ****************** -->
492<sect2 id="sect.VisIntro.Details">
493<title>
494Visualization Details
495</title>
496
497<para>
498The following sections of this guide cover the details of Geant4
499visualization:
500
501<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
502  <listitem><para>
503    <xref linkend="sect.VisAddExe" />
504    Adding Visualization to Your Executable
505  </para></listitem>
506  <listitem><para>
507    <xref linkend="sect.VisDrv" />
508    The Visualization Drivers
509  </para></listitem>
510  <listitem><para>
511    <xref linkend="sect.VisCntCmmd" />
512      Controlling Visualization from Commands
513  </para></listitem>
514  <listitem><para>
515    <xref linkend="sect.VisCntCmpl" />
516      Controlling Visualization from Compiled Code
517  </para></listitem>
518  <listitem><para>
519    <xref linkend="sect.VisAtt" />
520    Visualization Attributes
521  </para></listitem>
522  <listitem><para>
523    <xref linkend="sect.VisEnhTrj" />
524    Enhanced Trajectory Drawing
525  </para></listitem>
526  <listitem><para>
527    <xref linkend="sect.VisPlylMrkTxt" />
528    Polylines, Markers and Text
529  </para></listitem>
530  <listitem><para>
531    <xref linkend="sect.MkMovie" />
532    Making a Movie
533  </para></listitem>
534</itemizedlist>
535</para>
536
537<para>
538Other useful references for Geant4 visualization outside of this
539user guide:
540
541<itemizedlist spacing="compact">
542  <listitem><para>
543    Introduction to Geant4 Visualization (
544    <ulink url="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisTutorial.pdf">
545    pdf</ulink>,
546    <ulink url="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisTutorial.ppt">
547    ppt</ulink> )
548  </para></listitem>
549  <listitem><para>
550    Status of Geant4 Visualization (giving current status and a
551    summary of what has been improved over the last few releases) (
552    <ulink url="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisStatus.pdf">
553    pdf</ulink>,
554    <ulink url="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisStatus.ppt">
555    ppt</ulink> )
556  </para></listitem>
557  <listitem><para>
558    Macro files distributed in Geant4 source in
559    <literal>examples/novice/N03/visTutor/</literal>.
560  </para></listitem>
561</itemizedlist>
562</para>
563
564
565</sect2>
566</sect1>
Note: See TracBrowser for help on using the repository browser.