3d-development

name	3d-development
description	Develop 3D games in Godot including meshes, lighting, cameras, environments, and 3D model importing. Use this skill when building 3D scenes, setting up lighting rigs, configuring cameras, importing glTF/FBX models, implementing 3D character controllers, or working with the 3D rendering pipeline.
metadata	{"author":"godot-dev","version":"1.0"}

3D Development

Node3D Basics

Transform and Position

extends Node3D

func _ready():
    position = Vector3(1, 2, 3)
    rotation = Vector3(0, PI/2, 0)
    scale = Vector3(2, 2, 2)
    look_at(Vector3(10, 0, 10))
    global_position = Vector3(0, 5, 0)

MeshInstance3D

Basic Mesh Setup

extends MeshInstance3D

func _ready():
    var mesh = BoxMesh.new()
    mesh.size = Vector3(1, 1, 1)
    self.mesh = mesh

    var material = StandardMaterial3D.new()
    material.albedo_color = Color.RED
    material.metallic = 0.5
    material.roughness = 0.3
    set_surface_override_material(0, material)

Camera3D

Basic Camera

extends Camera3D

@export var target: Node3D
@export var distance = 10.0
@export var height = 5.0
@export var smooth_speed = 5.0

func _ready():
    current = true
    fov = 75.0
    near = 0.1
    far = 1000.0

func _physics_process(delta):
    if target:
        var target_pos = target.global_position
        global_position = global_position.lerp(
            target_pos + Vector3(0, height, distance),
            smooth_speed * delta
        )
        look_at(target_pos)

Third Person Camera

extends Node3D

@export var target: Node3D
@export var mouse_sensitivity = 0.003
@export var distance = 5.0
@export var min_pitch = -30.0
@export var max_pitch = 60.0

var yaw = 0.0
var pitch = 0.0

@onready var camera = $Camera3D

func _ready():
    Input.set_mouse_mode(Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED)

func _input(event):
    if event is InputEventMouseMotion:
        yaw -= event.relative.x * mouse_sensitivity
        pitch -= event.relative.y * mouse_sensitivity
        pitch = clamp(pitch, deg_to_rad(min_pitch), deg_to_rad(max_pitch))

func _physics_process(delta):
    if target:
        global_position = target.global_position
        rotation = Vector3.ZERO
        rotate_y(yaw)
        rotate_x(pitch)
        camera.position = Vector3(0, 0, distance)
        camera.look_at(global_position)

3D Lighting

Directional Light (Sun)

extends DirectionalLight3D

func _ready():
    light_color = Color(1, 0.95, 0.8)
    light_energy = 1.2
    shadow_enabled = true
    rotation_degrees = Vector3(-45, 30, 0)

Point Light

extends OmniLight3D

func _ready():
    light_color = Color(1, 0.8, 0.6)
    light_energy = 2.0
    omni_range = 10.0
    shadow_enabled = true

Spot Light

extends SpotLight3D

func _ready():
    light_color = Color(1, 1, 1)
    light_energy = 3.0
    spot_range = 15.0
    spot_angle = 30.0
    shadow_enabled = true

Environment Setup

WorldEnvironment

extends WorldEnvironment

func _ready():
    var env = Environment.new()
    env.background_mode = Environment.BG_SKY
    env.sky = Sky.new()
    env.ambient_light_source = Environment.AMBIENT_SOURCE_SKY
    env.ambient_light_energy = 0.5
    env.tonemap_mode = Environment.TONE_MAP_ACES
    env.glow_enabled = true
    env.glow_intensity = 0.8
    env.ssr_enabled = true
    env.ssao_enabled = true
    environment = env

3D Movement

Character Movement (FPS)

extends CharacterBody3D

@export var speed = 5.0
@export var jump_velocity = 4.5
@export var mouse_sensitivity = 0.002

var gravity = ProjectSettings.get_setting("physics/3d/default_gravity")

func _ready():
    Input.set_mouse_mode(Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED)

func _input(event):
    if event is InputEventMouseMotion:
        rotate_y(-event.relative.x * mouse_sensitivity)
        $Camera3D.rotate_x(-event.relative.y * mouse_sensitivity)
        $Camera3D.rotation.x = clamp($Camera3D.rotation.x, -1.2, 1.2)

func _physics_process(delta):
    if not is_on_floor():
        velocity.y -= gravity * delta

    if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and is_on_floor():
        velocity.y = jump_velocity

    var input_dir = Input.get_vector("left", "right", "forward", "back")
    var direction = (transform.basis * Vector3(input_dir.x, 0, input_dir.y)).normalized()

    if direction:
        velocity.x = direction.x * speed
        velocity.z = direction.z * speed
    else:
        velocity.x = move_toward(velocity.x, 0, speed)
        velocity.z = move_toward(velocity.z, 0, speed)

    move_and_slide()

Importing 3D Models

Supported Formats

• glTF 2.0 (.glb, .gltf) - Recommended
• FBX (.fbx)
• OBJ (.obj)
• Collada (.dae)

Import and Access

var model = preload("res://models/character.glb").instantiate()
add_child(model)

var mesh_instance = model.get_node("MeshInstance3D")

Raycasting 3D

extends Node3D

@onready var ray_cast = $RayCast3D

func _physics_process(delta):
    if ray_cast.is_colliding():
        var collider = ray_cast.get_collider()
        var point = ray_cast.get_collision_point()
        var normal = ray_cast.get_collision_normal()
        if collider.has_method("interact"):
            collider.interact()

Best Practices

1. Use glTF format for 3D models
2. Optimize meshes: Reduce polygon count
3. LOD (Level of Detail): Use for distant objects
4. Occlusion culling: Hide objects behind walls
5. Lightmaps: Bake lighting for static scenes
6. Navigation: Use NavigationRegion3D for pathfinding