Python PyQt – Qt 3DViewer

Qt 3DViewer is a powerful tool for displaying 3D models and visualizing data in a visually appealing way. In this tutorial, we will focus on using Qt 3DViewer with Python and PyQt, which are widely used in the development of desktop applications.

1. Installation

Before you can start using Qt 3DViewer with Python PyQt, you need to make sure that you have Qt and PyQt installed on your system. You can download Qt from the official website (https://www.qt.io/download) and PyQt from the Riverbank Computing website (https://www.riverbankcomputing.com/software/pyqt/download).

Once you have installed Qt and PyQt, you can install Qt 3DViewer using the following command in the terminal:

pip install PyQt3D

1. Creating a simple 3D model

To get started with Qt 3DViewer, we will create a simple 3D model using Blender or any other 3D modeling software. Save the model in a format supported by Qt 3DViewer, such as .obj or .ply.

1. Setting up the PyQt application

First, create a new Python file and import the necessary modules:

from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QWidget, QVBoxLayout
from PyQt5.Qt3DExtras import Qt3DWindow
from PyQt5.Qt3DRender import QMesh

Next, create a class for the main application window:

class MainWindow(QWidget):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()

        self.initUI()

    def initUI(self):
        layout = QVBoxLayout()
        self.setLayout(layout)

        window = Qt3DWindow()
        container = QWidget.createWindowContainer(window)
        layout.addWidget(container)

        entity = window.createEntity()
        mesh = QMesh()
        mesh.setSource(QUrl.fromLocalFile("path_to_your_model.obj"))
        entity.addComponent(mesh)

        window.setRootEntity(entity)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = QApplication([])
    window = MainWindow()
    window.show()
    app.exec_()

1. Displaying the 3D model

In the initUI method, we create a Qt3DWindow and add it to a layout. We then create a new entity and set the source of the mesh component to the path of our 3D model file. Finally, we set the root entity of the window to the entity we created.

Replace "path_to_your_model.obj" with the actual path to your model file.

1. Running the application

To run the application, save the Python file and execute it in a terminal:

python your_file.py

You should see the 3D model displayed in a window created by PyQt using Qt 3DViewer.

1. Manipulating the 3D model

Qt 3DViewer provides various ways to manipulate the 3D model, such as rotating, scaling, and panning. You can add controls for these actions by creating widgets or buttons in the PyQt application and connecting them to methods that modify the transformation component of the entity.

1. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have covered the basics of using Qt 3DViewer with Python PyQt to display and interact with 3D models. You can further enhance the application by adding more complex models, textures, lighting, and animations. Qt 3DViewer offers a wide range of features for creating immersive 3D experiences, making it a valuable tool for developers working on visualization projects.