Learning 3D

I work with Lightwave 3D made by Newtek and will be using the particular names that are used in lightwave.

Highlighted in red is a polygon, sometimes known as a face
The polygon is what is actualy seen when you render out a picture from your 3D package- the virtual surface of your object. It is basicly a 2d construct, any 3D object needs more than one to really be 3D.
The red dashed line sticking out from the center of the polygon is its "normal", basicly the direction that it is facing.
If you move a polygon all its points and attached edges follow along

In blue a point aka vertex
A point is basicly like a pin at each corner of a polygon.
If you move a point that corner of the polygon and any attached edges follow along.

And in green an edge
And an Edge is .... well an edge of a polygon, it will have a point on each end.
If you move an edge the two corners of the polygon that it is part of & the two points on its ends will follow along.


There are the very basics of a model/object
All comments and questions welcomed.
Next up are the very basics of texture mapping.