Update computeNormals() to support smooth shading for buildGeometry() outputs

src/core/constants.js

@@ -709,6 +709,18 @@ export const CLAMP = 'clamp';
  */
 export const MIRROR = 'mirror';
 
+// WEBGL GEOMETRY SHADING
+/**
+ * @property {String} FLAT
+ * @final
+ */
+export const FLAT = 'flat';
+/**
+ * @property {String} SMOOTH
+ * @final
+ */
+export const SMOOTH = 'smooth';
+
 // DEVICE-ORIENTATION
 /**
  * @property {String} LANDSCAPE

src/webgl/p5.Geometry.js

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 //some of the functions are adjusted from Three.js(http://threejs.org)
 
 import p5 from '../core/main';
+import * as constants from 'constants';
 /**
  * p5 Geometry class
  * @class p5.Geometry
@@ -185,17 +186,148 @@ p5.Geometry = class Geometry {
     return n.mult(Math.asin(sinAlpha) / ln);
   }
   /**
- * computes smooth normals per vertex as an average of each
- * face.
- * @method computeNormals
- * @chainable
- */
-  computeNormals() {
+   * This function calculates normals for each face, where each vertex's normal is the average of the normals of all faces it's connected to.
+   * i.e computes smooth normals per vertex as an average of each face.
+   *
+   * When using `FLAT` shading, vertices are disconnected/duplicated i.e each face has its own copy of vertices.
+   * When using `SMOOTH` shading, vertices are connected/deduplicated i.e each face has its vertices shared with other faces.
+   *
+   * Options can include:
+   * - `roundToPrecision`: Precision value for rounding computations. Defaults to 3.
+   *
+   * @method computeNormals
+   * @param {String} [shadingType] shading type (`FLAT` for flat shading or `SMOOTH` for smooth shading) for buildGeometry() outputs. Defaults to `FLAT`.
+   * @param {Object} [options] An optional object with configuration.
+   * @chainable
+   *
+   * @example
+   * <div>
+   * <code>
+   * let helix;
+   *
+   * function setup() {
+   *   createCanvas(100, 100, WEBGL);
+   *
+   *   helix = buildGeometry(() => {
+   *     beginShape();
+   *
+   *     for (let i = 0; i < TWO_PI * 3; i += 0.6) {
+   *       let radius = 20;
+   *       let x = cos(i) * radius;
+   *       let y = sin(i) * radius;
+   *       let z = map(i, 0, TWO_PI * 3, -30, 30);
+   *       vertex(x, y, z);
+   *     }
+   *     endShape();
+   *   });
+   *   helix.computeNormals();
+   * }
+   * function draw() {
+   *   background(255);
+   *   stroke(0);
+   *   fill(150, 200, 250);
+   *   lights();
+   *   rotateX(PI*0.2);
+   *   orbitControl();
+   *   model(helix);
+   * }
+   * </code>
+   * </div>
+   *
+   * @alt
+   * A 3D helix using the computeNormals() function by default uses `FLAT` to create a flat shading effect on the helix.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * <div>
+   * <code>
+   * let star;
+   *
+   * function setup() {
+   *   createCanvas(100, 100, WEBGL);
+   *
+   *   star = buildGeometry(() => {
+   *     beginShape();
+   *     for (let i = 0; i < TWO_PI; i += PI / 5) {
+   *       let outerRadius = 60;
+   *       let innerRadius = 30;
+   *       let xOuter = cos(i) * outerRadius;
+   *       let yOuter = sin(i) * outerRadius;
+   *       let zOuter = random(-20, 20);
+   *       vertex(xOuter, yOuter, zOuter);
+   *
+   *       let nextI = i + PI / 5 / 2;
+   *       let xInner = cos(nextI) * innerRadius;
+   *       let yInner = sin(nextI) * innerRadius;
+   *       let zInner = random(-20, 20);
+   *       vertex(xInner, yInner, zInner);
+   *     }
+   *     endShape(CLOSE);
+   *   });
+   *   star.computeNormals(SMOOTH);
+   * }
+   * function draw() {
+   *   background(255);
+   *   stroke(0);
+   *   fill(150, 200, 250);
+   *   lights();
+   *   rotateX(PI*0.2);
+   *   orbitControl();
+   *   model(star);
+   * }
+   * </code>
+   * </div>
+   *
+   * @alt
+   * A star-like geometry, here the computeNormals(SMOOTH) is applied for a smooth shading effect.
+   * This helps to avoid the faceted appearance that can occur with flat shading.
+   */
+  computeNormals(shadingType = constants.FLAT, { roundToPrecision = 3 } = {}) {
     const vertexNormals = this.vertexNormals;
-    const vertices = this.vertices;
+    let vertices = this.vertices;
     const faces = this.faces;
     let iv;
 
+    if (shadingType === constants.SMOOTH) {
+      const vertexIndices = {};
+      const uniqueVertices = [];
+
+      const getKey = vert =>
+        `${vert.x.toFixed(roundToPrecision)},${vert.y.toFixed(roundToPrecision)},${vert.z.toFixed(roundToPrecision)}`;
+
+      // loop through each vertex and add uniqueVertices
+      for (let i = 0; i < vertices.length; i++) {
+        const vertex = vertices[i];
+        const key = getKey(vertex);
+        if (vertexIndices[key] === undefined) {
+          vertexIndices[key] = uniqueVertices.length;
+          uniqueVertices.push(vertex);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // update face indices to use the deduplicated vertex indices
+      faces.forEach(face => {
+        for (let fv = 0; fv < 3; ++fv) {
+          const originalVertexIndex = face[fv];
+          const originalVertex = vertices[originalVertexIndex];
+          const key = getKey(originalVertex);
+          face[fv] = vertexIndices[key];
+        }
+      });
+
+      // update edge indices to use the deduplicated vertex indices
+      this.edges.forEach(edge => {
+        for (let ev = 0; ev < 2; ++ev) {
+          const originalVertexIndex = edge[ev];
+          const originalVertex = vertices[originalVertexIndex];
+          const key = getKey(originalVertex);
+          edge[ev] = vertexIndices[key];
+        }
+      });
+
+      // update the deduplicated vertices
+      this.vertices = vertices = uniqueVertices;
+    }
+
     // initialize the vertexNormals array with empty vectors
     vertexNormals.length = 0;
     for (iv = 0; iv < vertices.length; ++iv) {