Spinning world globe

[salaam]

I just did this rotating globe and decided to check if it has been done before but I can't find this easier method.
It is all animated in X3D using the [step] animation method.

[salaam]

Sorry, this one should move

[Acorn]

If you have Xara Web Designer then this is the approach I would have used.
I would take a flat map and slice in into 24 thin rectangles.
I would clone it across a number of pages and on each page move the leftmost rectangle to the right hand side.
I would then take the 12 left slices and put them in a Circular Envelope using the Mould tool.

I would then assemble the 24 images into an animated gif.

I've not used Xara 3D maker for such a long time so I can only imagine the hard work you did to get your globe.



Acorn

[gwpriester]

Ron Duke did a spinning globe a long time ago.

[salaam]

I think the X3D way is easier.

Duplicate a map to form a single longer map as shown in the image.

Paste your 3 vector dots from Xara to X3D
Adjust the settings to create 3 globes (The 2 outer globes are only to force the spherical shape)
Extrusion = 65
Bevel, Rounded = 999
Animation, Step, Pause = 0

Load up your double map texture into X3D onto your 3 globes.
Move the texture along the X axis to the far right (of the centre globe) so that it looks OK, as the animation will start here.
Display the cursor.
Copy this frame hit [enter] and [paste] it to the next frame.
Adjust the [texture] along the X axis, one or two degrees. Repeat this until your last frame is one step behind the 1st frame.

[salaam]

Here is the X3D file.

This method also allows you greater freedom to view the animation from different angles so that you can easily rotate it to see the top or bottom or even adjust the angle to quickly rotate it diagonally.

[Nicola]

Ammazing.