ThreePipe

A new way to work with three.js, 3D models and rendering on the web.

ThreePipe — Github — Examples — API Reference — WebGi

ThreePipe is a modern 3D framework built on top of three.js, written in TypeScript, designed to make creating high-quality, modular, and extensible 3D experiences on the web simple and enjoyable.

Key features include:

• Simple, intuitive API for creating 3D model viewers/configurators/editors on web pages, with many built-in presets for common workflows and use-cases.
• Companion editor to create, edit and configure 3D scenes in the browser.
• Modular architecture that allows you to easily extend the viewer, scene objects, materials, shaders, rendering, post-processing and serialization with custom functionality.
• Plugin system along with a rich library of built-in plugins that allows you to easily add new features to the viewer.
• uiconfig compatibility to automatically generate configuration UIs in the browser.
• Modular rendering pipeline with built-in deferred rendering, post-processing, RGBM HDR rendering, etc.
• Material extension framework to modify/inject/build custom shader code into existing materials at runtime from plugins.
• Extendable asset import, export and management pipeline with built-in support for gltf, glb, obj+mtl, fbx, materials(pmat/bmat), json, zip, png, jpeg, svg, webp, ktx2, ply, 3dm and many more.
• Automatic serialization of all viewer and plugin settings in GLB(with custom extensions) and JSON formats.
• Automatic disposal of all three.js resources with built-in reference management.
• Realtime Realistic Rendering with screen-space post-processing effects from webgi.

Checkout the documentation and guides on the threepipe website for more details.

Examples

Code samples and demos covering various usecases and test are present in the examples folder.

Try them: https://threepipe.org/examples/

View the source code by pressing the code button on the top left of the example page.

To make changes and run the example, click on the CodePen button on the top right of the source code.

Getting Started

Checkout the full Getting Started Guide on threepipe.org

Local Setup

To create a new project locally

And follow the instructions to create a new project.

### HTML/JS Quickstart (CDN)

```html

<canvas id="three-canvas" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></canvas>
<script type="module">
  import {ThreeViewer, DepthBufferPlugin} from 'https://unpkg.com/threepipe@latest/dist/index.mjs'

  const viewer = new ThreeViewer({canvas: document.getElementById('three-canvas')})

  // Add some plugins 
  viewer.addPluginSync(new DepthBufferPlugin())
  
  // Load an environment map
  const envPromise = viewer.setEnvironmentMap('https://threejs.org/examples/textures/equirectangular/venice_sunset_1k.hdr')
  const modelPromise = viewer.load('https://threejs.org/examples/models/gltf/DamagedHelmet/glTF/DamagedHelmet.gltf', {
    autoCenter: true,
    autoScale: true,
  })

  Promise.all([envPromise, modelPromise]).then(([env, model]) => {
    console.log('Loaded', model, env, viewer)
  })
</script>

Check it in action: https://threepipe.org/examples/#html-js-sample/

Check out the details about the ThreeViewer API and more plugins.

React

The best way to use the viewer in react is to wrap it in a custom component.

Here is a sample react component in tsx to render a model with an environment map.

import React from 'react'
function ThreeViewerComponent({src, env}: {src: string, env: string}) {
  const canvasRef = React.useRef(null)
  React.useEffect(() => {
    const viewer = new ThreeViewer({canvas: canvasRef.current})

    const envPromise = viewer.setEnvironmentMap(env)
    const modelPromise = viewer.load(src)
    Promise.all([envPromise, modelPromise]).then(([env, model]) => {
      console.log('Loaded', model, env, viewer)
    })
    
    return () => {
      viewer.dispose()
    }
  }, [])
  return (
     <canvas id="three-canvas" style={{width: 800, height: 600}} ref={canvasRef} />
  )
}

Check it in action: https://threepipe.org/examples/#react-tsx-sample/

Other examples in js: https://threepipe.org/examples/#react-js-sample/ and jsx: https://threepipe.org/examples/#react-jsx-sample/

Vue.js

A sample vue.js component in js to render a model with an environment map.

const ThreeViewerComponent = {
  setup() {
    const canvasRef = ref(null);

    onMounted(() => {
      const viewer = new ThreeViewer({ canvas: canvasRef.value });

      const envPromise = viewer.setEnvironmentMap('https://threejs.org/examples/textures/equirectangular/venice_sunset_1k.hdr');
      const modelPromise = viewer.load('https://threejs.org/examples/models/gltf/DamagedHelmet/glTF/DamagedHelmet.gltf');

      Promise.all([envPromise, modelPromise]).then(([env, model]) => {
        console.log('Loaded', model, env, viewer)
      })

      onBeforeUnmount(() => {
        viewer.dispose();
      });
    });

    return { canvasRef };
  },
};

Check it in action: https://threepipe.org/examples/#vue-html-sample/

Another example with Vue SFC(Single file component): https://threepipe.org/examples/#vue-sfc-sample/

Svelte (4)

A sample svelte component in js to render a model with an environment map.

<script>
    import {onDestroy, onMount} from 'svelte';
    import {ThreeViewer} from 'threepipe'; 

    let canvasRef;
    let viewer;
    onMount(() => {
        viewer = new ThreeViewer({canvas: canvasRef});

        const envPromise = viewer.setEnvironmentMap('https://threejs.org/examples/textures/equirectangular/venice_sunset_1k.hdr');
        const modelPromise = viewer.load('https://threejs.org/examples/models/gltf/DamagedHelmet/glTF/DamagedHelmet.gltf');

        Promise.all([envPromise, modelPromise]).then(([env, model]) => {
          console.log('Loaded', model, env, viewer)
        })
    });
    onDestroy(() => viewer.dispose())
</script>

<canvas bind:this={canvasRef} id="three-canvas" style="width: 800px; height: 600px"></canvas>

Check it in action: https://threepipe.org/examples/#svelte-sample/

NPM/YARN

Installation

npm install threepipe

Loading a 3D Model

First, create a canvas element in your HTML page:

<canvas id="three-canvas" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;"></canvas>

Then, import the viewer and create a new instance:

import {ThreeViewer, IObject3D} from 'threepipe'

// Create a viewer
const viewer = new ThreeViewer({canvas: document.getElementById('three-canvas') as HTMLCanvasElement})

// Load an environment map
await viewer.setEnvironmentMap('https://threejs.org/examples/textures/equirectangular/venice_sunset_1k.hdr')

// Load a model
const result = await viewer.load<IObject3D>('https://threejs.org/examples/models/gltf/DamagedHelmet/glTF/DamagedHelmet.gltf', {
    autoCenter: true,
    autoScale: true,
})

That’s it! You should now see a 3D model on your page.

The 3D model can be opened in the editor to view and edit the scene settings, objects, materials, lights, cameras, post-processing, etc. and exported as a GLB file. All settings are automatically serialized and saved in the GLB file, which can be loaded into the viewer. Any plugins used in the editor can be added to the viewer to add the same functionality. The plugin data is automatically loaded(if the plugin is added) when the model is added to the scene.

The viewer initializes with a Scene, Camera, Camera controls(Orbit Controls), several importers, exporters and a default rendering pipeline. Additional functionality can be added with plugins.

Check out the glTF Load example to see it in action or to check the JS equivalent code: https://threepipe.org/examples/#gltf-load/

Check out the Plugins section to learn how to add additional functionality to the viewer.

License

The core framework(src, dist, examples folders) and any plugins without a separate license are under the Free Apache 2.0 license.

Some plugins(in the plugins folder) might have different licenses. Check the individual plugin documentation and the source folder/files for more details.

Status

The project is in beta stage and under active development. Many features will be added but the core API will not change significantly in future releases.

Table of Contents

• ThreePipe
  • Examples
  • Table of Contents
  • Getting Started
  • HTML/JS Quickstart (CDN)
  • React
  • Vue.js
  • Svelte
  • NPM/YARN Package
    • Installation
    • Loading a 3D Model
  • License
  • Status
  • Documentation (API Reference)
  • Contributing
• Features
  • File Formats
  • Loading files
  • Exporting files
  • Render Pipeline
  • Material Extension
  • UI Configuration
  • Serialization
  • Plugin System
• Viewer API
  • ThreeViewer
  • RenderManager
  • RootScene
  • ICamera
  • AssetManager
  • AssetImporter
  • AssetExporter
  • MaterialManager
  • Other classes and interfaces
• Plugins
  • TonemapPlugin - Add tonemap to the final screen pass
  • DropzonePlugin - Drag and drop local files to import and load
  • ProgressivePlugin - Post-render pass to blend the last frame with the current frame
  • SSAAPlugin - Add Super Sample Anti-Aliasing by applying jitter to the camera.
  • DepthBufferPlugin - Pre-rendering of depth buffer
  • NormalBufferPlugin - Pre-rendering of normal buffer (deferred shading)
  • GBufferPlugin - Pre-rendering of depth-normal and flags buffers in a single pass (deferred shading)
  • SSAOPlugin - Add SSAO(Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) for physical materials.
  • CanvasSnapshotPlugin - Add support for taking snapshots of the canvas with anti-aliasing and other options
  • PickingPlugin - Adds support for selecting objects in the viewer with user interactions and selection widgets
  • AssetExporterPlugin - Provides options and methods to export the scene/object GLB or Viewer Configuration JSON
  • LoadingScreenPlugin - Shows a configurable loading screen overlay over the canvas
  • FullScreenPlugin - Adds support for moving the canvas or the container fullscreen mode in browsers
  • InteractionPromptPlugin - Adds an animated hand icon over canvas to prompt the user to interact
  • TransformControlsPlugin - Adds support for moving, rotating and scaling objects in the viewer with interactive widgets
  • ContactShadowGroundPlugin - Adds a ground plane at runtime with contact shadows
  • GLTFAnimationPlugin - Add support for playing and seeking glTF animations
  • PopmotionPlugin - Integrates with popmotion.io library for animation/tweening
  • CameraViewPlugin - Add support for saving, loading, animating, looping between camera views
  • TransformAnimationPlugin - Add support for saving, loading, animating, between object transforms
  • RenderTargetPreviewPlugin - Preview any render target in a UI panel over the canvas
  • GeometryUVPreviewPlugin - Preview UVs of any geometry in a UI panel over the canvas
  • FrameFadePlugin - Post-render pass to smoothly fade to a new rendered frame over time
  • VignettePlugin - Add Vignette effect by patching the final screen pass
  • ChromaticAberrationPlugin - Add Chromatic Aberration effect by patching the final screen pass
  • FilmicGrainPlugin - Add Filmic Grain effect by patching the final screen pass
  • NoiseBumpMaterialPlugin - Sparkle Bump/Noise Bump material extension for PhysicalMaterial
  • CustomBumpMapPlugin - Adds multiple bump map support and bicubic filtering material extension for PhysicalMaterial
  • ClearcoatTintPlugin - Clearcoat Tint material extension for PhysicalMaterial
  • FragmentClippingExtensionPlugin - Fragment/SDF Clipping material extension for PhysicalMaterial
  • ParallaxMappingPlugin - Relief Parallax Bump Mapping extension for PhysicalMaterial
  • HDRiGroundPlugin - Add support for ground projected hdri/skybox to the webgl background shader.
  • VirtualCamerasPlugin - Add support for rendering virtual cameras before the main one every frame.
  • EditorViewWidgetPlugin - Adds an interactive ViewHelper/AxisHelper that syncs with the main camera.
  • Object3DWidgetsPlugin - Automatically create light and camera helpers/gizmos when they are added to the scene.
  • Object3DGeneratorPlugin - Provides an API and UI to create scene objects like lights, cameras, meshes, etc.
  • DeviceOrientationControlsPlugin - Adds a controlsMode to the mainCamera for device orientation controls(gyroscope rotation control).
  • PointerLockControlsPlugin - Adds a controlsMode to the mainCamera for pointer lock controls.
  • ThreeFirstPersonControlsPlugin - Adds a controlsMode to the mainCamera for first person controls from threejs.
  • GLTFKHRMaterialVariantsPlugin - Support using for variants from KHR_materials_variants extension in glTF models.
  • Rhino3dmLoadPlugin - Add support for loading .3dm files (Rhino 3D)
  • PLYLoadPlugin - Add support for loading .ply files
  • STLLoadPlugin - Add support for loading .stl files (STL)
  • KTX2LoadPlugin - Add support for loading .ktx2 files (KTX2 - GPU Compressed Textures)
  • KTXLoadPlugin - Add support for loading .ktx files (Note - use ktx2)
  • USDZLoadPlugin - Add partial support for loading .usdz, .usda files (USDZ)
  • GLTFMeshOptDecodePlugin - Decode glTF files with EXT_meshopt_compression extension.
  • SimplifyModifierPlugin - Boilerplate for plugin to simplify geometries
  • MeshOptSimplifyModifierPlugin - Simplify geometries using meshoptimizer library
• Packages
  • @threepipe/webgi-plugins - Web Global Illumination - Realistic rendering plugin pack (SSR, SSRTAO, HDR Bloom, TAA, Depth of Field, SSGI, etc.)
  • @threepipe/plugin-tweakpane Tweakpane UI Plugin
  • @threepipe/plugin-blueprintjs BlueprintJs UI Plugin
  • @threepipe/plugin-tweakpane-editor - Editor Plugin using Tweakpane for plugin UI
  • @threepipe/plugin-configurator - Provides MaterialConfiguratorPlugin and SwitchNodePlugin to allow users to select variations
  • @threepipe/plugin-gltf-transform - Plugin to transform glTF models (draco compression)
  • @threepipe/plugins-extra-importers - Plugin for loading more file types supported by loaders in three.js
  • @threepipe/plugin-blend-importer - Add support for loading .blend file. (Partial/WIP) (Blender)
  • @threepipe/plugin-geometry-generator - Generate parametric geometry types that can be re-generated from UI/API.
  • @threepipe/plugin-gaussian-splatting - 3D Gaussian Splatting plugin for loading and rendering splat files
  • @threepipe/plugin-network - Network/Cloud related plugin implementations for Threepipe
  • @threepipe/plugin-svg-renderer - Add support for exporting a 3d scene as SVG using three-svg-renderer
  • @threepipe/plugin-3d-tiles-renderer - Plugins for 3d-tiles-renderer, b3dm, i3dm, cmpt, pnts, dzi, slippy maps importers.
  • @threepipe/plugin-path-tracing - Plugins for path-tracing. Using three-gpu-pathtracer
  • @threepipe/plugin-assimpjs - Plugin and helpers to load and use assimpjs (with fbx, other exporters) in the browser.

Documentation

Check the list of all functions, classes and types in the API Reference Docs.

Contributing

Contributions to ThreePipe are welcome and encouraged! Feel free to open issues and pull requests on the GitHub repository.