AS3: Z buffering

Question

Z buffering is a better rendering technique compared to z sorting, since it can render intersecting 3D objects.

Say, I have an Array containing two Object instances as following:

{v1:new Vector3D(0, 0, 0), v2:new Vector3D(100, 0, 0), v3:new Vector3D(100, 0, 100)}
{v1:new Vector3D(0, 100, 50), v2:new Vector3D(100, 100, 50), v3:new Vector3D(100, 0, 100)}

Those are two Object instances, each containing three Vector3D instances that represent the three vertices of a triangle.

I'll use Matrix3D.transformVector() and Vector3D.project() to draw the triangles with the graphics property of the stage.

When under such circumstances without any sprites created, how can I use Z buffering to draw out each pixel?

Answer 1

I'm with you. I miss z-buffering in pure AS3. At this point there is no z buffering provided for Flash/ActionScript-3. Your current options are:

• Reordering sprites
• Culling
• File a request about z-buffering to Abobe

Answer 2

I'm going to provide two links which are fairly enough to pick up the logic behind z-sorting:

http://www.infiniteturtles.co.uk/blog/fast-sorting-in-as3
http://www.simppa.fi/blog/the-fastest-way-to-z-sort-and-handle-objects-in-as3/

These are well described articles so won't be too hard to understand the idea. Even the source codes is provided.