Pixie3D - Animation Software


What is Pixie3D?

Pixie3D is a 3D software package for modeling, texturing, animating and rendering 3D scenes. I have written the software from scratch over the last couple of years in my spare time. I use the software to demonstrate my skills for programming and mathematics in various areas. It is written in native C++ and includes support for OpenGL by default. My aim is also to support DirectX in the future.

I have implemented various popular modeling tools for polygonal modeling. Basic features such as move, rotate and scale tools as well as more advanced modeling tools like chamfer, extrusion, cut tool and modifiers. The majority of the modifiers are geometric modifiers. They vary from bend, twist and skew to more advanced modifiers such as ocean simulations, skin simulations, vertex morphing and cloth simulations. The modifiers can be considered as dynamic extensions which can be removed or rearranged at any time. Modifiers save a lot of time for the user. Trivial and tedious modeling can be done in a few seconds and be adjusted easily at any time. However not all modifiers are based on physical properties. Some modifiers are designed to work with a built-in UV editor that allows multiple texture coordinate editions to take place for the same 3D object.

On top of polygonal modeling tools Pixie3D also provides a node system that allows the user to construct a hierarchy of any 3D objects. Great features allow cloning complex hierarchies in just one simple step. The flexibility of the node system creates powerful features for animations such as animating a skeleton system for characters and support of inverse kinematics.

The software also offers a standard particle system as well as meta-balls and a 3D text implementation that supports true type fonts. A layer based material editor allows blending between shaders and advanced surface properties like translucency, reflections and refractions. The built-in ray tracer supports ambient occlusion, color-bleeding and different types of light sources. Rendered images can be stored in popular video/image formats.

All the view ports support real time hardware accelerated shaders in order to achieve a more accurate representation of materials and shadows. Recently an implementation to support anti-aliasing was added. A flexible key frame system has been implemented to allow the user to animate 3D objects.

Søren Klit Lambæk
To watch some of the features
which Pixie3D currently offers
please click here

"Søren is a really good developer who I've been following for a while now.
He has built his own desktop raytracing and rendering system in his spare time,
with a richness of features and functionality that's truly impressive."

David Helgason, CEO
Unity Technologies