Rendering System Design of S-CAD

Abstract

In this paper, the authors describe the S-CAD Rendering System that the authors have developed. S-CAD is a CAD system specifically tailored to the needs of the student. This system allows interactive editing and positioning of objects. The basic approach that S-CAD takes is to provide both graphical and dialog editing tools simultaneously. Numerous CAD functions are provided. The Rendering System that the authors have developed handles the rendering of a model. This system is designed to exist concurrently with the S-CAD Editor. Hence, any invoking of rendering function on S-CAD Editor will automatically communicate with the S-CAD Rendering System. Here the authors have designed the system architechture for the communication between the S-CAD Editor and S-CAD Rendering System, and data communications. The link of this is through COM (Component Object Model). Besides rendering, this system also allows user to manipulate the model interactively. User can rotate, scale or translate the model interactively by using mouse. It can also export the model as VRML VL0 or V20 format or as an image format such as JPEG, and BMP. This system also incorporates numerous added functions such as texture mapping, background image, transparency  and many more.