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