Chapter 6 - Transform Nodes

Abstract

The transform node includes the translation, scale, shear, and rotation values that are used to generate a transformation matrix. This transformation matrix is applied to the geometry in the child shape node to place it in its final 3D position. The transform node provides a lot of options with regard to the position of the shape. These include axis limits, pivot points, rotation order, and so on. All of these must be accounted for in the final transformation matrix. The standard transformations that are applied to a point include scale, rotation, and translation. The transformation matrix is built as one matrix at a time. These are then concatenated into the final transformation matrix. The main parts to be constructed are the scale, rotation, and translation matrices. The values that drive these matrices come from the transform node. For example, the translation matrix is generated from the transform node's translateX, translateY, and translateZ attributes. The order of the matrix concatenations is scale, shear, rotation, and translation. After calculating the individual scale, rotation, and translation matrices for the node, a final transformation matrix is created. This transformation matrix, representing the transformation points is then analyzed from this single transform node.