Finding a Perpendicular Vector

Given a normal N and a point P, what is the most efficent way to find a perpendicular vector V (any vector that lies in the plane perpendicular to N at P) in GLSL?

Here’s how the math should work:
N dot V is 0 when a and b are orthoganal to each other (because the dot product is NV cos theta). Component-wise, this is N_xV_x + N_yV_y + N_z*V_z=0. N_(stuff) are constants. This is a linear equation of three unknowns, so you can choose any two of them arbitrarily. For instance, you could set V_x and V_y to 1 and solve for V_z. There may or may not be some way to choose the best vector perpendicular depending on the situation, but this should give you a start. Adding V to P will give you a point in the plane you want.

A technical note about vectors (you may skip this if you so desire): vectors don’t have a position associated with them. They consist of a magnitude and a direction, not a location from which the vector projects. Often, vectors are used to represent points, but they are not the same thing. A vector doesn’t really lie in a particular plane; points do, because they have position. V+P will denote the displacement from the origin to the desired point. This is a really fine distinction, but it makes a bunch of the math work.

If you don’t want to bother solving math equations, you can simply make cross product on N with any vector:
vec3 T = cross(N, vec3(0.0,0.0,1.0));

It will always be perpendicular to N. Bear in mind that performance-wise this way may be worse.

That is a far better solution, good call there.

Keep in mind that you have to make sure that N is not (0,0,1) or you will get an indeterminate result when doing cross(N, vec3(0.0,0.0,1.0))

Why indeterminate? He’ll just get zero vector :slight_smile:
Of course, PickleWorld, make sure the second vector in cross product does have a different direction from N.

You’re right of course. I was thinking about what you do with the result of the math operation instead of just the operation. Sorry for the confusion!

I recalled having the “indetermination” with a billboard orientation which was based on the result of the cross product you mentioned.

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