How Do You Use 3 Js in Webflow?

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Do you want to take your Webflow projects to the next level? With the power of 3 Js, you can add stunning 3D graphics and interactive elements to your websites. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of using 3 Js in Webflow, step by step.

What is 3 Js?

Before we dive into how to use 3 Js in Webflow, let’s first understand what it is. 3 Js is a JavaScript library that allows you to create and display animated 3D computer graphics on your website. It provides an easy-to-use API that simplifies the complex task of rendering 3D objects and scenes in a browser.

Getting Started

To use 3 Js in Webflow, you need to follow these simple steps:

  1. Step 1: Create a new project or open an existing project in Webflow.
  2. Step 2: Add the 3 Js library to your project. You can either download the library files from the official website or use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) link.
  3. Step 3: Link the library files by adding the following code inside the head tag of your HTML document: 
    <script src="path/to/your/3js/library.js"></script>
  4. Step 4: Create a container element where you want to display your 3D scene. This could be a div with a specific ID or class.

Create Your First Scene

Now that we have set up our project, let’s create our first 3D scene using 3 Js.

Inside your JavaScript file, add the following code:

<script>
    // Initialize the scene
    var scene = new THREE.Scene();

    // Create a camera
    var camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(75, window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000);
    
    // Create a renderer
    var renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer();
    
    // Set the size of the renderer
    renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);
    
    // Add the renderer to the container element
    document.getElementById('container').appendChild(renderer.domElement);

    // Render the scene with the camera
    function animate() {
        requestAnimationFrame(animate);
        renderer.render(scene, camera);
    }
    
   animate();
</script>

Let’s break down this code:

  • Line 2: We create a new instance of the THREE.Scene class that represents our 3D scene.
  • Line 5: We create a perspective camera that determines how our scene is viewed. The parameters are: field of view, aspect ratio, near clipping plane, and far clipping plane.
  • Line 8: We create a WebGL renderer that renders our scene using WebGL. This provides hardware-accelerated graphics for better performance.
  • Line 11: We set the size of the renderer to match the size of our container element.
  • Line 14: We append the renderer’s DOM element to our container element.

Add Objects to Your Scene

A scene without objects is like an empty canvas. Let’s add some objects to our 3D scene using 3 Js.

Inside the same JavaScript file, add the following code below your existing code:

<script>
    // Create a geometry
    var geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry();
    
    // Create a material
    var material = new THREE.MeshBasicMaterial({ color: 0x00ff00 });
    
    // Create a mesh
    var cube = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material);
    
    // Add the mesh to the scene
    scene.add(cube);

    // Position the camera
    camera.position.z = 5;
</script>

Here’s what this code does:

  • Line 2: We create a box geometry that defines the shape and size of our object.
  • Line 5: We create a basic material with a green color for our object.
  • Line 8: We create a mesh by combining the geometry and material.
  • Line 11: We add the mesh to our scene.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to use 3 Js in Webflow.

With this knowledge, you can now create stunning 3D scenes and interactive elements for your websites. Keep experimenting and exploring the capabilities of 3 Js to take your projects to new heights!

Note: Make sure to check browser compatibility and performance considerations when using WebGL-based libraries like 3 Js.

If you want to learn more about Webflow or explore other JavaScript libraries, be sure to check out our other tutorials and resources.

Happy coding!