why do some source save with z as up orientation

why do some source save with z as up orientation

3d studio max, for example, saves its models with z as the up orientation. in my chemistry book z is the up orientation. however in games y is the up orientation (as it should be)

that's a good question...the only reason i can think of is preference, but i've always learned that y is up, so it's awkward for me.

carmack uses z as the up direction in quake.

z is up in many modeling programs, such as 3D Studio Max, because of how 3-Dimensions are thought of with respect to art.

Think of a paper lying flat on a table, with you looking down on it from above. Artists and mathematicians will think of x and y axis on the paper and a z axis for perspective going "through" the paper. When 3D modeling programs first came about they used that concept -- x and y are perpendicular and parallel to the "table" and z is perpendicular to them both. Hence, you will sometimes still often see the z axis as being up. I'm pretty sure that the axes can be changed in 3D Studio Max if you feel that uncomfortable with it.


Also, carmack uses y as up in quake, not z (unless the official world editor for it purposely changes the orientation, but I don't see why they would do that).

well poly that makes sense. it also makes sense that computer game's have z being the depth because instead of looking down at a table you are looking forward into a monitor, so it still seems kind of silly that they would use z as up orientation.

what editor are you talking about, q3 radiant or something?? have you done anything with worldcraft? I like worldcraft3.3, i've made a bunch of maps with that, pretty fun and easy. I wonder how complicated it would be to make worldcraft, it seems possible to do, and potentially fun.

Yeah, I agree that y should be "up"

I was refering to worldcraft. I haven't done anything amazing in it, just fooled around with it and made some small, ugly levels.

EDIT: Hmm, I just downloaded valve's hammer editor cuz I wanted to get into mapping again and apparently z IS up/down. I must've been mistaken.

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I wonder how complicated it would be to make worldcraft, it seems possible to do, and potentially fun.

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My guess is that it would be near impossible for one person to do, considering that the project probably consisted of at least 15 professional programmers/artists/designers, who have at least a million dollar plus budget at their despense.

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Also, carmack uses y as up in quake, not z

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maybe i was thinking just about the .md3 models then? hmm i forget.