threejs-skills

---
name: threejs-skills
description: Create 3D scenes, interactive experiences, and visual effects using Three.js. Use when user requests 3D graphics, WebGL experiences, 3D visualizations, animations, or interactive 3D elements.
source: https://github.com/CloudAI-X/threejs-skills
risk: safe
---

# Three.js Skills

Systematically create high-quality 3D scenes and interactive experiences using Three.js best practices.

## When to Use

- Requests 3D visualizations or graphics ("create a 3D model", "show in 3D")
- Wants interactive 3D experiences ("rotating cube", "explorable scene")
- Needs WebGL or canvas-based rendering
- Asks for animations, particles, or visual effects
- Mentions Three.js, WebGL, or 3D rendering
- Wants to visualize data in 3D space

## Core Setup Pattern

### 1. Essential Three.js Imports

Always use the correct CDN version (r128):

```javascript
import * as THREE from "https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/three.js/r128/three.min.js";
```

**CRITICAL**: Do NOT use example imports like `THREE.OrbitControls` - they won't work on the CDN.

### 2. Scene Initialization

Every Three.js artifact needs these core components:

```javascript
// Scene - contains all 3D objects
const scene = new THREE.Scene();

// Camera - defines viewing perspective
const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(
  75, // Field of view
  window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, // Aspect ratio
  0.1, // Near clipping plane
  1000, // Far clipping plane
);
camera.position.z = 5;

// Renderer - draws the scene
const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ antialias: true });
renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);
document.body.appendChild(renderer.domElement);
```

### 3. Animation Loop

Use requestAnimationFrame for smooth rendering:

```javascript
function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);

  // Update object transformations here
  mesh.rotation.x += 0.01;
  mesh.rotation.y += 0.01;

  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
animate();
```

## Systematic Development Process

### 1. Define the Scene

Start by identifying:

- **What objects** need to be rendered
- **Camera position** and field of view
- **Lighting setup** required
- **Interaction model** (static, rotating, user-controlled)

### 2. Build Geometry

Choose appropriate geometry types:

**Basic Shapes:**

- `BoxGeometry` - cubes, rectangular prisms
- `SphereGeometry` - spheres, planets
- `CylinderGeometry` - cylinders, tubes
- `PlaneGeometry` - flat surfaces, ground planes
- `TorusGeometry` - donuts, rings

**IMPORTANT**: Do NOT use `CapsuleGeometry` (introduced in r142, not available in r128)

**Alternatives for capsules:**

- Combine `CylinderGeometry` + 2 `SphereGeometry`
- Use `SphereGeometry` with adjusted parameters
- Create custom geometry with vertices

### 3. Apply Materials

Choose materials based on visual needs:

**Common Materials:**

- `MeshBasicMaterial` - unlit, flat colors (no lighting needed)
- `MeshStandardMaterial` - physically-based, realistic (needs lighting)
- `MeshPhongMaterial` - shiny surfaces with specular highlights
- `MeshLambertMaterial` - matte surfaces, diffuse reflection

```javascript
const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
  color: 0x00ff00,
  metalness: 0.5,
  roughness: 0.5,
});
```

### 4. Add Lighting

**If using lit materials** (Standard, Phong, Lambert), add lights:

```javascript
// Ambient light - general illumination
const ambientLight = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 0.5);
scene.add(ambientLight);

// Directional light - like sunlight
const directionalLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 0.8);
directionalLight.position.set(5, 5, 5);
scene.add(directionalLight);
```

**Skip lighting** if using `MeshBasicMaterial` - it's unlit by design.

### 5. Handle Responsiveness

Always add window resize handling:

```javascript
window.addEventListener("resize", () => {
  camera.aspect = window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight;
  camera.updateProjectionMatrix();
  renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);
});
```

## Common Patterns

### Rotating Object

```javascript
function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);
  mesh.rotation.x += 0.01;
  mesh.rotation.y += 0.01;
  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
```

### Custom Camera Controls (OrbitControls Alternative)

Since `THREE.OrbitControls` isn't available on CDN, implement custom controls:

```javascript
let isDragging = false;
let previousMousePosition = { x: 0, y: 0 };

renderer.domElement.addEventListener("mousedown", () => {
  isDragging = true;
});

renderer.domElement.addEventListener("mouseup", () => {
  isDragging = false;
});

renderer.domElement.addEventListener("mousemove", (event) => {
  if (isDragging) {
    const deltaX = event.clientX - previousMousePosition.x;
    const deltaY = event.clientY - previousMousePosition.y;

    // Rotate camera around scene
    const rotationSpeed = 0.005;
    camera.position.x += deltaX * rotationSpeed;
    camera.position.y -= deltaY * rotationSpeed;
    camera.lookAt(scene.position);
  }

  previousMousePosition = { x: event.clientX, y: event.clientY };
});

// Zoom with mouse wheel
renderer.domElement.addEventListener("wheel", (event) => {
  event.preventDefault();
  camera.position.z += event.deltaY * 0.01;
  camera.position.z = Math.max(2, Math.min(20, camera.position.z)); // Clamp
});
```

### Raycasting for Object Selection

Detect mouse clicks and hovers on 3D objects:

```javascript
const raycaster = new THREE.Raycaster();
const mouse = new THREE.Vector2();
const clickableObjects = []; // Array of meshes that can be clicked

// Update mouse position
window.addEventListener("mousemove", (event) => {
  mouse.x = (event.clientX / window.innerWidth) * 2 - 1;
  mouse.y = -(event.clientY / window.innerHeight) * 2 + 1;
});

// Detect clicks
window.addEventListener("click", () => {
  raycaster.setFromCamera(mouse, camera);
  const intersects = raycaster.intersectObjects(clickableObjects);

  if (intersects.length > 0) {
    const clickedObject = intersects[0].object;
    // Handle click - change color, scale, etc.
    clickedObject.material.color.set(0xff0000);
  }
});

// Hover effect in animation loop
function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);

  raycaster.setFromCamera(mouse, camera);
  const intersects = raycaster.intersectObjects(clickableObjects);

  // Reset all objects
  clickableObjects.forEach((obj) => {
    obj.scale.set(1, 1, 1);
  });

  // Highlight hovered object
  if (intersects.length > 0) {
    intersects[0].object.scale.set(1.2, 1.2, 1.2);
    document.body.style.cursor = "pointer";
  } else {
    document.body.style.cursor = "default";
  }

  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
```

### Particle System

```javascript
const particlesGeometry = new THREE.BufferGeometry();
const particlesCount = 1000;
const posArray = new Float32Array(particlesCount * 3);

for (let i = 0; i < particlesCount * 3; i++) {
  posArray[i] = (Math.random() - 0.5) * 10;
}

particlesGeometry.setAttribute(
  "position",
  new THREE.BufferAttribute(posArray, 3),
);

const particlesMaterial = new THREE.PointsMaterial({
  size: 0.02,
  color: 0xffffff,
});

const particlesMesh = new THREE.Points(particlesGeometry, particlesMaterial);
scene.add(particlesMesh);
```

### User Interaction (Mouse Movement)

```javascript
let mouseX = 0;
let mouseY = 0;

document.addEventListener("mousemove", (event) => {
  mouseX = (event.clientX / window.innerWidth) * 2 - 1;
  mouseY = -(event.clientY / window.innerHeight) * 2 + 1;
});

function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);
  camera.position.x = mouseX * 2;
  camera.position.y = mouseY * 2;
  camera.lookAt(scene.position);
  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
```

### Loading Textures

```javascript
const textureLoader = new THREE.TextureLoader();
const texture = textureLoader.load("texture-url.jpg");

const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
  map: texture,
});
```

## Best Practices

### Performance

- **Reuse geometries and materials** when creating multiple similar objects
- **Use `BufferGeometry`** for custom shapes (more efficient)
- **Limit particle counts** to maintain 60fps (start with 1000-5000)
- **Dispose of resources** when removing objects:
  ```javascript
  geometry.dispose();
  material.dispose();
  texture.dispose();
  ```

### Visual Quality

- Always set `antialias: true` on renderer for smooth edges
- Use appropriate camera FOV (45-75 degrees typical)
- Position lights thoughtfully - avoid overlapping multiple bright lights
- Add ambient + directional lighting for realistic scenes

### Code Organization

- Initialize scene, camera, renderer at the top
- Group related objects (e.g., all particles in one group)
- Keep animation logic in the animate function
- Separate object creation into functions for complex scenes

### Common Pitfalls to Avoid

- ❌ Using `THREE.OrbitControls` - not available on CDN
- ❌ Using `THREE.CapsuleGeometry` - requires r142+
- ❌ Forgetting to add objects to scene with `scene.add()`
- ❌ Using lit materials without adding lights
- ❌ Not handling window resize
- ❌ Forgetting to call `renderer.render()` in animation loop

## Example Workflow

User: "Create an interactive 3D sphere that responds to mouse movement"

1. **Setup**: Import Three.js (r128), create scene/camera/renderer
2. **Geometry**: Create `SphereGeometry(1, 32, 32)` for smooth sphere
3. **Material**: Use `MeshStandardMaterial` for realistic look
4. **Lighting**: Add ambient + directional lights
5. **Interaction**: Track mouse position, update camera
6. **Animation**: Rotate sphere, render continuously
7. **Responsive**: Add window resize handler
8. **Result**: Smooth, interactive 3D sphere ✓

## Troubleshooting

**Black screen / Nothing renders:**

- Check if objects added to scene
- Verify camera position isn't inside objects
- Ensure renderer.render() is called
- Add lights if using lit materials

**Poor performance:**

- Reduce particle count
- Lower geometry detail (segments)
- Reuse materials/geometries
- Check browser console for errors

**Objects not visible:**

- Check object position vs camera position
- Verify material has visible color/properties
- Ensure camera far plane includes objects
- Add lighting if needed

## Advanced Techniques

### Visual Polish for Portfolio-Grade Rendering

**Shadows:**

```javascript
// Enable shadows on renderer
renderer.shadowMap.enabled = true;
renderer.shadowMap.type = THREE.PCFSoftShadowMap; // Soft shadows

// Light that casts shadows
const directionalLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 1);
directionalLight.position.set(5, 10, 5);
directionalLight.castShadow = true;

// Configure shadow quality
directionalLight.shadow.mapSize.width = 2048;
directionalLight.shadow.mapSize.height = 2048;
directionalLight.shadow.camera.near = 0.5;
directionalLight.shadow.camera.far = 50;

scene.add(directionalLight);

// Objects cast and receive shadows
mesh.castShadow = true;
mesh.receiveShadow = true;

// Ground plane receives shadows
const groundGeometry = new THREE.PlaneGeometry(20, 20);
const groundMaterial = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: 0x808080 });
const ground = new THREE.Mesh(groundGeometry, groundMaterial);
ground.rotation.x = -Math.PI / 2;
ground.receiveShadow = true;
scene.add(ground);
```

**Environment Maps & Reflections:**

```javascript
// Create environment map from cubemap
const loader = new THREE.CubeTextureLoader();
const envMap = loader.load([
  "px.jpg",
  "nx.jpg", // positive x, negative x
  "py.jpg",
  "ny.jpg", // positive y, negative y
  "pz.jpg",
  "nz.jpg", // positive z, negative z
]);

scene.environment = envMap; // Affects all PBR materials
scene.background = envMap; // Optional: use as skybox

// Or apply to specific materials
const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({
  metalness: 1.0,
  roughness: 0.1,
  envMap: envMap,
});
```

**Tone Mapping & Output Encoding:**

```javascript
// Improve color accuracy and HDR rendering
renderer.toneMapping = THREE.ACESFilmicToneMapping;
renderer.toneMappingExposure = 1.0;
renderer.outputEncoding = THREE.sRGBEncoding;

// Makes colors more vibrant and realistic
```

**Fog for Depth:**

```javascript
// Linear fog
scene.fog = new THREE.Fog(0xcccccc, 10, 50); // color, near, far

// Or exponential fog (more realistic)
scene.fog = new THREE.FogExp2(0xcccccc, 0.02); // color, density
```

### Custom Geometry from Vertices

```javascript
const geometry = new THREE.BufferGeometry();
const vertices = new Float32Array([-1, -1, 0, 1, -1, 0, 1, 1, 0]);
geometry.setAttribute("position", new THREE.BufferAttribute(vertices, 3));
```

### Post-Processing Effects

While advanced post-processing may not be available in r128 CDN, basic effects can be achieved with shaders and render targets.

### Group Objects

```javascript
const group = new THREE.Group();
group.add(mesh1);
group.add(mesh2);
group.rotation.y = Math.PI / 4;
scene.add(group);
```

## Summary

Three.js artifacts require systematic setup:

1. Import correct CDN version (r128)
2. Initialize scene, camera, renderer
3. Create geometry + material = mesh
4. Add lighting if using lit materials
5. Implement animation loop
6. Handle window resize
7. Avoid r128 incompatible features

Follow these patterns for reliable, performant 3D experiences.

## Modern Three.js & Production Practices

While this skill focuses on CDN-based Three.js (r128) for artifact compatibility, here's what you'd do in production environments:

### Modular Imports with Build Tools

```javascript
// In production with npm/vite/webpack:
import * as THREE from "three";
import { OrbitControls } from "three/examples/jsm/controls/OrbitControls";
import { GLTFLoader } from "three/examples/jsm/loaders/GLTFLoader";
import { EffectComposer } from "three/examples/jsm/postprocessing/EffectComposer";
```

**Benefits:**

- Tree-shaking (smaller bundle sizes)
- Access to full example library (OrbitControls, loaders, etc.)
- Latest Three.js features (r150+)
- TypeScript support

### Animation Libraries (GSAP Integration)

```javascript
// Smooth timeline-based animations
import gsap from "gsap";

// Instead of manual animation loops:
gsap.to(mesh.position, {
  x: 5,
  duration: 2,
  ease: "power2.inOut",
});

// Complex sequences:
const timeline = gsap.timeline();
timeline
  .to(mesh.rotation, { y: Math.PI * 2, duration: 2 })
  .to(mesh.scale, { x: 2, y: 2, z: 2, duration: 1 }, "-=1");
```

**Why GSAP:**

- Professional easing functions
- Timeline control (pause, reverse, scrub)
- Better than manual lerping for complex animations

### Scroll-Based Interactions

```javascript
// Sync 3D animations with page scroll
let scrollY = window.scrollY;

window.addEventListener("scroll", () => {
  scrollY = window.scrollY;
});

function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);

  // Rotate based on scroll position
  mesh.rotation.y = scrollY * 0.001;

  // Move camera through scene
  camera.position.y = -(scrollY / window.innerHeight) * 10;

  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
```

**Advanced scroll libraries:**

- ScrollTrigger (GSAP plugin)
- Locomotive Scroll
- Lenis smooth scroll

### Performance Optimization in Production

```javascript
// Level of Detail (LOD)
const lod = new THREE.LOD();
lod.addLevel(highDetailMesh, 0); // Close up
lod.addLevel(mediumDetailMesh, 10); // Medium distance
lod.addLevel(lowDetailMesh, 50); // Far away
scene.add(lod);

// Instanced meshes for many identical objects
const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry();
const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial();
const instancedMesh = new THREE.InstancedMesh(geometry, material, 1000);

// Set transforms for each instance
const matrix = new THREE.Matrix4();
for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
  matrix.setPosition(
    Math.random() * 100,
    Math.random() * 100,
    Math.random() * 100,
  );
  instancedMesh.setMatrixAt(i, matrix);
}
```

### Modern Loading Patterns

```javascript
// In production, load 3D models:
import { GLTFLoader } from "three/examples/jsm/loaders/GLTFLoader";

const loader = new GLTFLoader();
loader.load("model.gltf", (gltf) => {
  scene.add(gltf.scene);

  // Traverse and setup materials
  gltf.scene.traverse((child) => {
    if (child.isMesh) {
      child.castShadow = true;
      child.receiveShadow = true;
    }
  });
});
```

### When to Use What

**CDN Approach (Current Skill):**

- Quick prototypes and demos
- Educational content
- Artifacts and embedded experiences
- No build step required

**Production Build Approach:**

- Client projects and portfolios
- Complex applications
- Need latest features (r150+)
- Performance-critical applications
- Team collaboration with version control

### Recommended Production Stack

```
Three.js (latest) + Vite/Webpack
├── GSAP (animations)
├── React Three Fiber (optional - React integration)
├── Drei (helper components)
├── Leva (debug GUI)
└── Post-processing effects
```

This skill provides CDN-compatible foundations. In production, you'd layer on these modern tools for professional results.