Short question; Is a 'mesh' a '3d model'?
I need abit of terminology check, as I'm not sure what exactly separates a 3d model from a mesh, or if its the same thing.
Short question; Is a 'mesh' a '3d model'?
I need abit of terminology check, as I'm not sure what exactly separates a 3d model from a mesh, or if its the same thing.
Short answer: yes.
Longer answer: As far as I've heard the terms used, "mesh" is used to talk more specifically about the raw set of polygons that creates something. A 3D model is made out of a "mesh" of triangles, so the answer to the question is at least a partial yes. However, (again this goes back to how I've heard the terms used most frequently) a 3D model might have more data associated with it than a raw mesh (for example, texturing or lighting information, animation, bone structures, etc.). Basically, a mesh is a set of polygons (triangles) that makes up some object. A "3D model" is typically formed out of a mesh, but often has extra data like textures, animations/joints, etc. associated with it.
to take it further:Short answer: yes.
Longer answer: As far as I've heard the terms used, "mesh" is used to talk more specifically about the raw set of polygons that creates something. A 3D model is made out of a "mesh" of triangles, so the answer to the question is at least a partial yes. However, (again this goes back to how I've heard the terms used most frequently) a 3D model might have more data associated with it than a raw mesh (for example, texturing or lighting information, animation, bone structures, etc.). Basically, a mesh is a set of polygons (triangles) that makes up some object. A "3D model" is typically formed out of a mesh, but often has extra data like textures, animations/joints, etc. associated with it.
The mesh is the data describing the points that make up the object (This includes faces and edges). This is just one small part of the model.
"Model" is a generic term. It means any data related to drawing a 3d item onto the screen. Exactly what data this includes depends on the program or file format. In some case it might just be the mesh, although usually it also includes some of the following:
... the list goes on, depending on what you're trying to do with the mesh.
A Model is just that, A Model. Like a model Car or Plane, a Person or a geographical location. In the computer world, a virtual Model is comprised of a mesh or meshes.
A mesh is a virtual surface, ( I am not going to get to technical here just trying to explain the differences in simple terms ) This virtual surface is what you see.
1 more example would be to ask if a lump of clay is a model ? No! But as you shape it into something identifiable it becomes a model. So maybe you could think of a mesh as a 2D lump of clay, bent and shaped and added to other 2D lumps of clay to produce a 3D Model.
NO! a mesh isn't a 3d Model, but most 3d models have meshes.(exceptions are voxel models,solid models,ens....)
A 3d model usually consist of a Object(sometimes known as a Node) with a input for a mesh or a array of meshes, a Material with a input for a Texture or a array of textures.
In short:a 3d object can swap meshes like textures.