3D and images¶

A 3D panel sits in a document cell like a plot. The built-in renderer draws solids and meshes as vector paths and resolves depth between intersecting parts. For photographic lighting, Inklet renders a Blender scene and keeps its annotations as vector geometry, positioned with the saved camera and depth pass. Calibrated microscopy volumes have their own section.

Built-in 3D and images

The built-in renderer writes vector artwork from solids and meshes. It needs no GPU, Blender or network connection.

Meshes and imagesGenerated solids, assembled parts with depth ordering, loaded meshes and raster images in document cells.

A measured 3D partA labelled part with dimensions from the example scripts.

Blender scenes

Blender renders the pixels. Labels, leaders, dimensions and paths stay vector in SVG and PDF, and editing them does not render again.

Blender scenesUse a .blend scene as a panel, with depth, normal, object ID and mask passes.

Annotations and measurementsLabels, arrows, length dimensions and angles placed in world coordinates.

Vector paths in scenesTrajectories and routes hidden by scene objects according to the saved depth pass.

Scene templatesLaboratory, product and architectural scenes with named cameras and landmarks.

GPU rendering and jobsCycles uses an available GPU and falls back to the CPU. Queue several views, observe progress and cancel.

Worked examples

Biological schematicA synapse built in Blender, labelled in Inklet and placed above two plots.

Label an anatomy modelA freely licensed NIH 3D model rendered from two views with vector labels.

Annotated laboratory cutawayA 265-object scene with twelve callouts, a dimension, detail views and a plot.

Requirements¶

The built-in renderer uses the core package. Raster images use the images extra. Blender scenes need a Blender installation; the compatibility matrix lists the tested versions. See installation for the extras.