Normal question (well, kinda weird actualy)

[c_olin]

I wrote a program that can load and render .obj files with textures, but the .obj file does not have normals data, is there a way to calculate normals?

how can i draw an .obj with lighting?

thanks!

[zix99]

The normals is an equation to calculate it for each verticy, i don't know it. I use DirectX calls to calculate all my normals for me.

[c_olin]

im trying to stick with opengl, is there a way to calculate normals in opengl?

[Some guy]

See appendix E from the red book, also recommended to zix99 so he does not have to depend on some helper functions.
If you really do not want to make the effort is low level libraries like OpenGL and Direct3D not what you want.

You probably need to calculate the cross product. Here is two libraries with that function and others. http://plib.sourceforge.net/sg/ http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~ajw/doc/svl.html

Once you have the normals can you use the standard OpenGL lights.

[errno]

the normal of a vertex is the normalized sum of the normal of the triangles that share the vertex.

for each triangle
normal[triangle.vertex[0]] += triangle.normal
normal[triangle.vertex[1]] += triangle.normal
normal[triangle.vertex[2]] += triangle.normal
end for

[gvm]

it's strange that there is not normals in obj file! i using maya's exported obj models and they contain normals data!
like this: vn 1 0 0

[zix99]

thanks some guy, i'll try not to use DX this time. Its a pain to use DX for just ONE call in my whole program.

[c_olin]

simple math question, it says that the normal = [v1 - v2] × [v2 - v3].

How do you subtract 2 vectors? is it: (x1+y1+z1 - x2+y2+z2) or: (x1-x2 y1-y2 z1-z2)
i think its (x1-x2 y1-y2 z1-z2) because its the only one resulting in a vector, but imnot sure... and also, how do you muliply?

The cross product of 2 given vectors v1 and v2 is as follows:
v1 x v2 = ( v1.x*v1.z - v1.z*v2.y , v1.z*v2.x - v1.x*v2.z, v1.x*v2.y - v1.y*v2.x )

I think it would be better for you if you get a math book and take a look at vector math, so you can understand where this formula comes from.

[Some guy]

Here is a description on how to calculate the cross product, its really very simple. http://www.lighthouse3d.com/opengl/m...3?crossproduct
Note that the x means cross pruduct and not multiplication.

If you need some reference material about matrices could perhaps the matrix FAQ be used. http://www.j3d.org/matrix_faq/