Creating Set Shapes

Common 3D Shapes

These common shapes cover 2D shapes such as horizontal planes (ground), vertical planes and regular polygons along with 3D shapes such as cuboids, spheres, ellipsoids and toruses.

To create these meshes you use

const mesh = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.Create<MeshType>(name, options, scene);

where the options object properties vary according to the type of mesh. Using an empty object, , the meshes will default to given sizes, usually unit ones. The scene parameter is optional and defaults to the current scene.

Two useful properties are updatable and instance. When a parametric mesh is created with its options property updatable set to true then you can change the values within the shape defining properties and re-render the mesh with these new values by using the instance property as the following line drawing example indicates.

//creates lines using the vector3 myPoints array
const myLines = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.CreateLines("lines", {points: myPoints});
// update some or all values in myPoints array
myPoints[1] = new BABYLON.Vector3(1, 2, 3);
// updates the existing instance of myLines by pointing the instance property to it
myLines = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.CreateLines("lines", {points: myArray, instance: myLines});

Whilst you can change values within a property you cannot the number of elements of the property. All the parametric meshes, except for the Lathe, CreatePolygon and ExtendPolygon can have their shape updated in this way.

It is still possible to use the form

const mesh = BABYLON.Mesh.Create<MeshType>(name, required_param1, required_param2, ..., scene, optional_parameter1, ........);

The scene parameter is compulsory when used with optional parameters. You will still find this method in playgrounds.

Coming next

Creating A Box

Learn how to create a box in Babylon.js.

Creating A Tiled Box

Learn how to create a tiled box in Babylon.js.

Creating A Sphere

Learn how to create a sphere in Babylon.js.

Creating A Cylinder

Learn how to create a cylinder in Babylon.js.

Creating A Capsule

Learn how to create a capsule in Babylon.js.

Creating A Plane

Learn how to create a plane in Babylon.js.

Creating A Tiled Plane

Learn how to create a tiled plane in Babylon.js.

Creating A Disc

Learn how to create a disc in Babylon.js.

Creating A Torus

Learn how to create a torus in Babylon.js.

Creating A Torus Knot

Learn how to create a torus knot in Babylon.js.

Creating A Ground

Learn how to create a ground in Babylon.js.

Creating Ground From a Height Map

Learn how to create ground from a height map in Babylon.js.

More On Height Maps

Learn more about height maps in Babylon.js.

Creating A Tiled Ground

Learn how to create a tiled ground in Babylon.js.

Creating A 3D Text object

Learn how to create a 3d text in Babylon.js.