Shaping Polygons

[smjmitchell]

Hi All,

I am developing a application in VB 6.0. I need to plot a 3D mesh of
quadrilateral and triangular polygons. I have this working OK in
wireframe. The question I have is what is the easiest way to shade the
polygons so that I can render the surface. Each polygon is defined by
the coordinates in space of its corners. Initially I would be happy
with a uniform shading (i.e. constant color) and that is really what I
am asking for help with. However I would also like to eventually shade
the polygons with a color graduation based on value of a parameter at
each of the corners (i.e. to generate a contoured plot on the surface
of the body) where the color represents the value at a particular
point. Any comments on how this would be achieved would also be
appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Steve Gerrard]

"smjmitchell" <sm*********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:de**************************@posting.google.c om...

Hi All,

I am developing a application in VB 6.0. I need to plot a 3D mesh of
quadrilateral and triangular polygons. I have this working OK in
wireframe. The question I have is what is the easiest way to shade the
polygons so that I can render the surface. Each polygon is defined by
the coordinates in space of its corners. Initially I would be happy
with a uniform shading (i.e. constant color) and that is really what I
am asking for help with. However I would also like to eventually shade
the polygons with a color graduation based on value of a parameter at
each of the corners (i.e. to generate a contoured plot on the surface
of the body) where the color represents the value at a particular
point. Any comments on how this would be achieved would also be
appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

VB6 is not so strong on graphics. I think you really have only a few choices
here:
1. Use Windows API calls, such as FloodFill, passing the hDC (device context
handle) from your form.
2. Buy a graphics control. There must be dozens, some not too spendy, that
could save lots of time.
3. Bump up to VB.Net, which has most of the GDI built in, including a
Graphics.FillPolygon method.

Steve G.