| page.title=3D with OpenGL |
| parent.title=2D and 3D Graphics |
| parent.link=index.html |
| @jd:body |
| |
| |
| <p>Android includes support for high performance 3D graphics |
| via the OpenGL API — specifically, the OpenGL ES API.</p> |
| |
| <p>OpenGL ES is a flavor of the OpenGL specification intended for embedded |
| devices. Versions of <a href="http://www.khronos.org/opengles/">OpenGL ES</a> are loosely peered to versions of the primary |
| OpenGL standard. Android currently supports OpenGL ES 1.0, which corresponds |
| to OpenGL 1.3. So, if the application you have in mind is possible with OpenGL |
| 1.3 on a desktop system, it should be possible on Android.</p> |
| |
| <p>The specific API provided by Android is similar to the J2ME JSR239 OpenGL |
| ES API. However, it may not be identical, so watch out for deviations.</p> |
| |
| <h2>Using the API</h2> |
| |
| <p>Here's how to use the API at an extremely high level:</p> |
| |
| <ol> |
| <li>Write a custom View subclass.</li> |
| <li>Obtain a handle to an OpenGLContext, which provides access to the OpenGL functionality.</li> |
| <li>In your View's onDraw() method, get a handle to a GL object, and use its methods to perform GL operations.</li> |
| </ol> |
| |
| <p>For an example of this usage model (based on the classic GL ColorCube), |
| see |
| <a href="{@docRoot}guide/samples/ApiDemos/src/com/example/android/apis/graphics/GLSurfaceView.html">com.android.samples.graphics.GLSurfaceView.java</a> |
| in the ApiDemos sample code project. A slightly more sophisticated version showing how to use |
| it with threads can be found in |
| <a href="{@docRoot}guide/samples/ApiDemos/src/com/example/android/apis/graphics/GLSurfaceViewActivity.html">com.android.samples.graphics.GLSurfaceViewActivity.java</a>. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p>Writing a summary of how to actually write 3D applications using OpenGL is |
| beyond the scope of this text and is left as an exercise for the reader.</p> |
| |
| <h2>Links to Additional Information</h2> |
| |
| <p>Information about OpenGL ES can be |
| found at <a title="http://www.khronos.org/opengles/" |
| href="http://www.khronos.org/opengles/">http://www.khronos.org/opengles/</a>.</p> |
| |
| <p>Information specifically |
| about OpenGL ES 1.0 (including a detailed specification) can be found |
| at <a title="http://www.khronos.org/opengles/1_X/" |
| href="http://www.khronos.org/opengles/1_X/">http://www.khronos.org/opengles/1_X/</a>.</p> |
| |
| <p>The documentation for the Android {@link javax.microedition.khronos.opengles |
| OpenGL ES implementations} are also available.</p> |
| |
| <p>Finally, note that though Android does include some basic support for |
| OpenGL ES 1.1, the support is <strong>not complete</strong>, and should not be relied |
| upon at this time.</p> |