Physics simulations in real-time 3D experiences depend on discrete time steps to update motion, collisions, and forces. When objects move too far between frames—due to frame drops, high velocities, or gravity—they may pass through solid surfaces without registering a collision. This issue is known as tunneling. Substepping addresses this by splitting each frame’s physics update… Continue reading Substepping: Reducing Character Tunneling
Author: Amal V K Das
Real-Time Lighting and Shadow Optimization in Three.js
Lighting and shadows define mood, depth, and realism in 3D experiences, but they can also be performance bottlenecks—especially in WebXR and browser-based environments. Three.js provides multiple lighting techniques, ranging from baked lightmaps to real-time dynamic shadows. Balancing realism with performance is key to creating immersive yet smooth-running applications. By combining efficient shadow techniques, light probes,… Continue reading Real-Time Lighting and Shadow Optimization in Three.js
Procedural World Generation and Terrain Rendering in Three.js
Description: In large-scale 3D experiences—such as virtual open worlds, learning platforms simulating geography, or nature-based games—handcrafting every detail becomes impractical. Procedural generation empowers developers to algorithmically create terrains, landscapes, and objects dynamically at runtime. By using height maps, noise functions, and GPU-accelerated techniques, Three.js can render complex, high-detail terrain with smooth performance, even in WebXR.… Continue reading Procedural World Generation and Terrain Rendering in Three.js
GPU-Driven Particle Systems and Visual Effects in Three.js
Description: In immersive WebXR experiences like simulations, sci-fi learning environments, or natural ecosystems, visual feedback plays a major role. Particle systems—used for effects like fire, smoke, dust, magic, electricity, or even swarm behaviors—can become performance bottlenecks if CPU-bound. Three.js, combined with GPU-based computations, enables real-time visual effects by offloading heavy tasks to the GPU using… Continue reading GPU-Driven Particle Systems and Visual Effects in Three.js
Physics Integration in Three.js: Canon.js, Rapier.js, Ammo.js
Description: Three.js does not have built-in physics, but can integrate seamlessly with libraries like: Cannon.js / cannon-es (lightweight, good for rigid bodies and VR). Ammo.js (Bullet-based, accurate but heavier). Rapier.js (WASM-based, high performance for complex interactions). Physics simulation includes rigid bodies, constraints, raycasting, vehicle physics, collision detection, and more. When integrating physics: Use THREE.BufferGeometryUtils.mergeVertices() for… Continue reading Physics Integration in Three.js: Canon.js, Rapier.js, Ammo.js
Real-Time Lighting Techniques: Light Probes, Baked Lighting, and IBL
Description: Lighting is key to realism. In Three.js, real-time lighting can be achieved via a mix of techniques: Light Probes (LightProbe & SH Coefficients): Low-cost ambient light sampling. Baked Lighting (via Blender/3D Tool): Precomputed light stored in texture maps, used for static scenes. Image-Based Lighting (IBL): Uses HDR environment maps for reflections and soft lighting.… Continue reading Real-Time Lighting Techniques: Light Probes, Baked Lighting, and IBL
Optimized Scene Management with LOD, Instancing, and Culling
Description: In large scenes, such as virtual campuses or open-world levels, performance becomes a key concern. Three.js provides multiple strategies to manage performance: Level of Detail (LOD): Load different geometries depending on the camera’s distance from the object. InstancedMesh: Share a single geometry and material across thousands of objects (e.g., trees, bricks, etc.). Frustum Culling:… Continue reading Optimized Scene Management with LOD, Instancing, and Culling
Advanced Post-Processing with EffectComposer
Description: Effect Composer in Three.js is a powerful tool that allows stacking and managing post-processing effects in a pipeline. It works by rendering the scene to a framebuffer and then applying a series of shader-based passes (like UnrealBloomPass, SSAO, FXAA, GlitchPass, DotScreenPass, etc.) on the rendered image, rather than directly to the screen. This decouples… Continue reading Advanced Post-Processing with EffectComposer
Interactive Physics-Based Objects and Ragdolls in Three.js
Physics simulations in WebXR enable realistic interactions with objects, improving immersion in virtual environments. Using efficient physics engines is essential to prevent performance issues. Key Techniques for Physics Interactions in Three.js Cannon.js for Rigid Body Dynamics Use Cannon.js to apply realistic physics forces, collisions, and interactions. Optimize performance by disabling physics calculations for objects at… Continue reading Interactive Physics-Based Objects and Ragdolls in Three.js
Implementing Realistic Water and Particle Effects in Three.js
Water and particle simulations add realism and engagement to WebXR experiences. Achieving high-quality effects requires efficient rendering techniques to avoid performance bottlenecks. Key Techniques for Water and Particle Effects Shader-Based Water Simulation Use GLSL shaders to simulate real-time reflections, refractions, and animated waves. Implement Fresnel reflections for realistic water surfaces. Combine Normal Maps and Perlin… Continue reading Implementing Realistic Water and Particle Effects in Three.js