[1208] | 1 | <HTML> |
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| 2 | <TITLE>Introduction to Visualization |
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| 3 | </TITLE> |
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| 4 | <!-- Changed by: Katsuya Dosanjh, 15-Jul-2000 --> |
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| 5 | <!-- Changed by: Dennis Wright, 27-Nov-2001 --> |
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| 6 | <!-- Proof read by: Joe Chuma, 5-Jul-1999 --> |
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| 7 | |
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| 8 | <!-- 7.1 Introduction --> |
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| 9 | <!-- *spell, *tag, *contents, *s --> |
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| 10 | <BODY> |
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| 11 | |
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| 12 | <TABLE WIDTH="100%" > |
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| 13 | <TR> |
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| 14 | <TD> |
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| 15 | </A> |
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| 16 | <A HREF="index.html"> |
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| 17 | <IMG SRC="../../../../resources/html/IconsGIF/Contents.gif" ALT="Contents" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=59></A> |
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| 21 | </TD> |
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| 22 | |
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| 23 | <TD ALIGN="Right"><FONT COLOR="#238E23"><FONT SIZE=-1> |
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| 24 | <B>Geant4 User's Guide</B> <BR> |
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| 25 | <B>For Application Developers</B> <BR> |
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| 26 | <B>Visualization</B> </FONT></FONT> </TD> |
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| 27 | </TR> |
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| 28 | </TABLE> |
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| 29 | |
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| 30 | <CENTER><FONT COLOR="#238E23"><FONT SIZE=+3> |
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| 31 | <b>8.1 Introduction to Visualization</b><BR> |
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| 32 | </FONT></FONT></CENTER> |
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| 33 | <BR> |
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| 34 | |
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| 35 | <HR ALIGN="Center" SIZE="7%"><BR> |
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| 36 | |
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| 37 | <!-- ============================================== Section --> |
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| 38 | The Geant4 visualization system was developed in response to a diverse set of requirements: |
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| 39 | <OL> |
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| 40 | <LI>Quick response to study geometries, trajectories and hits |
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| 41 | <LI>High-quality output for publications |
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| 42 | <LI>Flexible camera control to debug complex geometries |
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| 43 | <LI>Tools to show volume overlap errors in detector geometries |
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| 44 | <LI>Interactive picking to get more information on visualized objects |
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| 45 | </OL> |
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| 46 | <P> |
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| 47 | No one graphics system is ideal for all of these requirements, and many of the large |
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| 48 | software frameworks into which Geant4 has been incorporated already have their own |
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| 49 | visualization systems, so Geant4 visualization was designed around an abstract interface that |
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| 50 | supports a diverse family of graphics systems. |
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| 51 | Some of these graphics systems use a graphics library compiled with Geant4, such as OpenGL, |
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| 52 | while others involve a separate application, such as WIRED or DAWN. |
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| 53 | |
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| 54 | |
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| 55 | <h4>8.1.1 What Can be Visualized</h4> |
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| 56 | Simulation data can be visualized: |
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| 57 | <UL> |
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| 58 | <LI>Detector components |
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| 59 | <UL> |
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| 60 | <LI>A hierarchical structure of physical volumes |
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| 61 | <LI>A piece of physical volume, logical volume, and solid |
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| 62 | </UL> |
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| 63 | <LI>Particle trajectories and tracking steps |
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| 64 | <LI>Hits of particles in detector components |
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| 65 | </UL> |
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| 66 | |
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| 67 | Other user defined objects can be visualized: |
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| 68 | <UL> |
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| 69 | <LI>Polylines, such as coordinate axes |
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| 70 | <LI>3D Markers, such as eye guides |
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| 71 | <LI>Text, descriptive character strings, comments or titles |
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| 72 | <LI>Scales |
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| 73 | <LI>Logos |
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| 74 | </UL> |
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| 75 | |
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| 76 | |
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| 77 | <h4><A NAME="choice">8.1.2 You have a Choice of Visualization Drivers</A> </h4> |
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| 78 | The many graphics systems that Geant4 supports are complementary to each other. |
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| 79 | <UL> |
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| 80 | <LI> |
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| 81 | OpenGL |
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| 82 | <UL> |
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| 83 | <LI> |
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| 84 | View directly from Geant4 |
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| 85 | <LI> |
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| 86 | Uses GL libraries that are already included on most Linux systems (plus some Windows availability) |
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| 87 | <LI> |
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| 88 | Rendered, photorealistic image with some interactive features |
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| 89 | <LI> |
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| 90 | zoom, rotate, translate |
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| 91 | <LI> |
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| 92 | Fast response (can usually exploit full potential of graphics hardware) |
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| 93 | <LI> |
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| 94 | Limited printing ability (pixel graphics, not vector graphics) |
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| 95 | </UL> |
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| 96 | |
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| 97 | <LI> |
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| 98 | OpenInventor |
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| 99 | <UL> |
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| 100 | <LI> |
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| 101 | View directly from Geant4 |
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| 102 | <LI> |
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| 103 | Requires addition of OpenInventor libraries (freely available for most Linux systems). |
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| 104 | <LI> |
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| 105 | Rendered, photorealistic image |
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| 106 | <LI> |
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| 107 | Many interactive features |
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| 108 | <LI> |
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| 109 | zoom, rotate, translate |
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| 110 | <LI> |
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| 111 | click to âsee insideâ opaque volumes |
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| 112 | <LI> |
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| 113 | Fast response (can usually exploit full potential of graphics hardware) |
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| 114 | <LI> |
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| 115 | Expanded printing ability (vector and pixel graphics) |
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| 116 | </UL> |
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| 117 | |
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| 118 | <LI> |
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| 119 | HepRep/WIRED |
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| 120 | <UL> |
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| 121 | Create a file to view in the WIRED3 HepRep Browser or the WIRED4 JAS Plugin |
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| 122 | <LI> |
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| 123 | Requires WIRED browser (a Java application easily to install on all operating systems) |
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| 124 | <LI> |
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| 125 | Wireframe or simple area fills (not photorealistic) |
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| 126 | <LI> |
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| 127 | Many interactive features |
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| 128 | <LI> |
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| 129 | zoom, rotate, translate |
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| 130 | <LI> |
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| 131 | click to show attributes (momentum, etc.) |
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| 132 | <LI> |
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| 133 | special projections (FishEye, etc.) |
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| 134 | <LI> |
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| 135 | control visibility from hierarchical (tree) view of data |
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| 136 | <LI> |
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| 137 | Hierarchical view of the geometry |
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| 138 | <LI> |
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| 139 | Export to many vector graphic formats (PostScript, PDF, etc.) |
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| 140 | </UL> |
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| 141 | |
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| 142 | <LI> |
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| 143 | DAWN |
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| 144 | <UL> |
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| 145 | <LI> |
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| 146 | Create a file to view in the DAWN Renderer |
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| 147 | <LI> |
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| 148 | Requires DAWN, available for all Linux and Windows systems. |
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| 149 | <LI> |
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| 150 | Rendered, photorealistic image |
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| 151 | <LI> |
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| 152 | No interactive features |
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| 153 | <LI> |
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| 154 | Highest quality technical rendering - output to vector PostScript |
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| 155 | </UL> |
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| 156 | |
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| 157 | <LI> |
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| 158 | VRML |
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| 159 | <UL> |
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| 160 | <LI> |
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| 161 | Create a file to view in any VRML browser (some as web browser plug-ins). |
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| 162 | <LI> |
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| 163 | Requires VRML browser (many different choices for different operating systems). |
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| 164 | <LI> |
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| 165 | Rendered, photorealistic image with some interactive features |
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| 166 | <LI> |
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| 167 | zoom, rotate, translate |
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| 168 | <LI> |
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| 169 | Limited printing ability (pixel graphics, not vector graphics) |
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| 170 | </UL> |
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| 171 | |
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| 172 | <LI> |
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| 173 | RayTracer |
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| 174 | <UL> |
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| 175 | <LI> |
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| 176 | Create a jpeg file |
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| 177 | <LI> |
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| 178 | Forms image by using Geant4âs own tracking to follow photons through the detector |
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| 179 | <LI> |
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| 180 | Can show geometry but not trajectories |
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| 181 | <LI> |
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| 182 | Can render any geometry that Geant4 can handle (such as Boolean solids) |
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| 183 | <LI> |
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| 184 | Supports shadows, transparency and mirrored surfaces |
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| 185 | </UL> |
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| 186 | |
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| 187 | <LI> |
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| 188 | ASCIITree |
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| 189 | <UL> |
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| 190 | <LI> |
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| 191 | Text dump of the geometry hierarchy |
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| 192 | <LI> |
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| 193 | Not graphical |
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| 194 | <LI> |
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| 195 | Control over level of detail to be dumped |
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| 196 | <LI> |
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| 197 | Can calculate mass and volume of any hierarchy of volumes |
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| 198 | </UL> |
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| 199 | </UL> |
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| 200 | |
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| 201 | <h4>8.1.3 Choose the Driver that Meets Your Needs</h4> |
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| 202 | <UL> |
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| 203 | <LI> |
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| 204 | If you want very responsive photorealistic graphics (and have the OpenGL libraries installed) |
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| 205 | <UL> |
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| 206 | <LI> |
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| 207 | OpenGL is a good solution |
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| 208 | (if you have the Motif extensions, this also gives GUI control) |
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| 209 | </UL> |
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| 210 | <LI> |
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| 211 | If you want very responsive photorealistic graphics plus more interactivity (and have the OpenInventor libraries installed) |
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| 212 | <UL> |
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| 213 | <LI> |
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| 214 | OpenInventor is a good solution |
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| 215 | </UL> |
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| 216 | |
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| 217 | <LI> |
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| 218 | If you want GUI control, want to be able to pick on items to inquire about them (identity, momentum, etc.), perhaps want to render to vector formats, and a wireframe look will do |
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| 219 | <UL> |
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| 220 | <LI> |
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| 221 | HepRep/WIRED will meet your needs |
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| 222 | </UL> |
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| 223 | |
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| 224 | <LI> |
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| 225 | If you want to render highest quality photorealistic images for use in a poster or a technical design report, and you can live without quick rotate and zoom |
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| 226 | <UL> |
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| 227 | <LI> |
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| 228 | DAWN is the way to go |
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| 229 | </UL> |
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| 230 | |
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| 231 | <LI> |
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| 232 | If you want to render to a 3D format that others can view in a variety of commodity browsers (including some web browser plug-ins) |
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| 233 | <UL> |
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| 234 | <LI> |
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| 235 | VRML is the way to go |
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| 236 | </UL> |
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| 237 | |
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| 238 | <LI> |
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| 239 | If you want to visualize a geometry that the other visualization drivers canât handle, or you need transparency or mirrors, and you donât need to visualize trajectories |
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| 240 | <UL> |
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| 241 | <LI> |
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| 242 | RayTracer will do it |
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| 243 | </UL> |
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| 244 | |
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| 245 | <LI> |
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| 246 | If you just want to quickly check the geometry hierarchy, or if you want to calculate the volume or mass of any geometry hierarchy |
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| 247 | <UL> |
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| 248 | <LI> |
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| 249 | ASCIITree will meet your needs |
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| 250 | </UL> |
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| 251 | |
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| 252 | <LI> |
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| 253 | You can also add your own visualization driver. |
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| 254 | <UL> |
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| 255 | <LI> |
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| 256 | Geant4âs visualization system is modular. By creating just three new classes, you can direct Geant4 information to your own visualization system. |
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| 257 | </UL> |
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| 258 | </UL> |
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| 259 | <h4>8.1.4 Controlling Visualization</h4> |
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| 260 | Your Geant4 code stays basically the same no matter which driver you use. |
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| 261 | <P> |
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| 262 | Visualization is performed either with commands or from C++ code. |
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| 263 | <UL> |
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| 264 | <LI> |
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| 265 | Some visualization drivers work directly from Geant4 |
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| 266 | <UL> |
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| 267 | <LI> |
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| 268 | OpenGL |
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| 269 | <LI> |
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| 270 | OpenInventor |
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| 271 | <LI> |
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| 272 | RayTracer |
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| 273 | <LI> |
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| 274 | ASCIITree |
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| 275 | </UL> |
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| 276 | <LI> |
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| 277 | For other visualization drivers, you first have Geant4 produce a file, |
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| 278 | and then you have that file rendered by another application (which may have GUI control) |
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| 279 | <UL> |
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| 280 | <LI> |
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| 281 | HepRep/WIRED |
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| 282 | <LI> |
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| 283 | DAWN |
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| 284 | <LI> |
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| 285 | VRML |
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| 286 | </UL> |
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| 287 | </UL> |
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| 288 | |
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| 289 | <h4>8.1.5 Visualization Details</h4> |
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| 290 | |
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| 291 | The following sections of this guide cover the details of Geant4 visualization: |
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| 292 | <UL> |
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| 293 | <LI> |
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| 294 | <A HREF="visexecutable.html"> |
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| 295 | Adding Visualization to Your Executable</A></LI> |
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| 296 | <LI> |
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| 297 | <A HREF="visdrivers.html"> |
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| 298 | The Visualization Drivers</A></LI> |
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| 299 | <LI> |
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| 300 | <A HREF="commandcontrol.html"> |
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| 301 | Controlling Visualization from Commands</A></LI> |
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| 302 | <LI> |
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| 303 | <A HREF="compiledcontrol.html"> |
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| 304 | Controlling Visualization from Compiled Code</A></LI> |
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| 305 | <LI> |
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| 306 | <A HREF="attributes.html"> |
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| 307 | Visualization Attributes</A></LI> |
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| 308 | <LI> |
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| 309 | <A HREF="enhanceddrawing.html"> |
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| 310 | Enhanced Trajectory Drawing</A></LI> |
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| 311 | <LI> |
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| 312 | <A HREF="markertext.html"> |
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| 313 | Polylines, Markers and Text</A></LI> |
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| 314 | </UL> |
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| 315 | <P> |
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| 316 | Other useful references for Geant4 visualization outside of this user guide: |
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| 317 | <UL> |
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| 318 | <LI> |
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| 319 | Introduction to Geant4 Visualization |
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| 320 | ( |
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| 321 | <A HREF="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisTutorial.pdf">pdf</A> |
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| 322 | , |
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| 323 | <A HREF="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisTutorial.ppt">ppt</A> |
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| 324 | ) |
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| 325 | <LI> |
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| 326 | Status of Geant4 Visualization (giving current status and a summary of what has been improved |
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| 327 | over the last few releases) |
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| 328 | ( |
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| 329 | <A HREF="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisStatus.pdf">pdf</A> |
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| 330 | , |
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| 331 | <A HREF="http://geant4.slac.stanford.edu/Presentations/vis/G4VisStatus.ppt">ppt</A> |
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| 332 | ) |
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| 333 | <LI> |
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| 334 | Macro files distributed in Geant4 source in <tt>examples/novice/N03/visTutor/</tt>. |
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| 335 | </UL> |
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| 336 | <P> |
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| 337 | |
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| 338 | <HR> |
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