Adobe Director Basics

ADOBE DIRECTOR BASICS
3D basics
Nodes
Only models are visible. The appearance of a model depends on the shaders and textures that are attached to it. You
cannot see a camera, a light, or a group.
Models, lights, cameras and groups all have a specific position in space. The term node is used to describe any 3D
object that has a position in space. Models, lights, cameras and groups are all nodes. You can link nodes together in
parent-child relationships. The two nodes will then move together as if an invisible bar linked them. For example,
might have a model called "Head" and a model called "Hat". You can make the hat model the child of a head model.
When the head moves, the hat will move with it.
A model that is not a child of group("World") will not be visible to a camera that is a child of group("World"). If you
want a model to disappear, you can remove it from the World. A 3D cast member can contain lights, models, groups,
and cameras that have no parent. These nodes and their children will not be displayed in the sprite.
Optional 3D objects
A 3D cast member can also contain other optional objects:
Overlays and backdrops are two-dimensional areas. An overlay will appear in front of all the 3D models in the
virtual world. You can use an overlay to create a frame around a scene, to show a progress bar, to show text, to act
as a button, or any number of other things. A backdrop will appear behind all the 3D models. You can use a
backdrop to create a 2D background for the scene.
Modifiers provide extra functionality for models. There are modifiers to:
Create realistic movements for characters (Bones Player, Keyframe Player, Mesh Deform)
Change the appearance of a model (Inker, Toon, Level of Detail, Subdivision Surfaces)
Create the illusion of solidity (Collision)
Physics objects provide ways to control the interactions between models. The list of physics objects includes rigid
bodies, terrains, springs, joints, and constraints.
Sound
A 3D world is silent. You need to create your 3D soundscape independently of the visual 3D world. You can add sound
to a Director movie in many ways. Director 11.5 and later supports 5.1 sound. If your end-users have a 5.1 sound
system connected to their computer, you can simulate sounds in three dimensions. If your end-users have headphones
or stereo speakers, you can use stereo as an alternative.
See Sound, and in particular “Audio mixers and sound objects” on page 400 for more information on how Director
can place sounds in 3D space.
3D Sprites
When you place a Shockwave3D cast member on the Stage, a 3D sprite is created. Every 3D sprite has at least one
camera. The settings for the camera determine the view that appears in the 3D sprite.
Last updated 8/26/2011
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