Abstract: Method for shading 3D graphic models using 2D graphic tools, wherein the 3D graphic model is constructed of any number of polygons, according to which, each polygon is subdivided into triangles while mapping the spatial orientation and scaling of each triangle to a predetermined spatial orientation and scale, using a combination of rotation, scaling, and linear translation. Each mapped triangle is shaded using 2D linear or bi-linear coloring map shading tools and then remapped to its original spatial orientation and scale using, a corresponding combination of rotation, scale, and linear translation, such as an inverse combination.

Abstract: Method for generating and displaying 3D graphic images on the display of a terminal device using 2D graphic environments, where every possible scene is modeled by one or more objects that can be represented by polygons using a suitable modeling method. The geometry of the polygons that correspond to each object is projected for any desired orientation of the objects, onto the plane of the display. For each object, curves connecting the projections of the vertices of its corresponding mesh of polygons in all different orientations of that object and consisting of a plurality of discrete points, is created, such that every point on each curve is stored according to its (x,y) position on the plane, and such that the resolution of each curve is determined according to the number of points. A visibility analysis is performed for every mesh that corresponds to a specific orientation, thereby determining the distance of the points from the viewer.