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Annotations

Annotations

Previews of 3D models can have persistent annotations added by media contributors. These annotations can be used to highlight specific features of 3D models, to provide context for content being viewed, and to create full-featured narrative experiences to guide viewers through the most relevant aspects of a 3D model. This page will introduce annotations on MorphoSource and show you some of their most important features. You may also be interested in Creating and Saving Annotations or Mobilizing Annotations with IIIF.

 

This is a preview of Media 000658129 showing a set of annotations. Annotations are ordered and numbered. You can select and activate individual annotations by toggling between them with the annotation toolbar at the bottom of the main 3D view, by clicking the annotation numbers in the main 3D view, or through the left-hand tools menu by accessing the annotations tab and selecting individual annotations there.

 

Annotations have the following parts:

  1. Title: A short name for the annotation. This is shown in the annotation toolbar or next to the annotation number when the annotation is activated.

  2. Description: A longer description for the annotation. This is shown next to the annotation number when the annotation is activated.

  3. Default View: Each annotation stores a camera view specific to that annotation. When the annotation is activated, the current view of the 3D scene will smoothly transition to viewing the annotation from its default camera view.

  4. Facing: Each annotation has an orientation or facing. When the annotation faces toward the camera, the annotation number is opaque. When the annotation faces away from the camera, the number becomes translucent. The facing of the annotation is usually the same as the underlying model surface the annotation sits on.

 

Interacting with annotations:

  1. Clicking the annotation number in the 3D view will activate that annotation.

  2. The annotation toolbar at the bottom of the main 3D view can be used to step through or select annotations. Left and right buttons step through annotations in order. You can also click the middle of the annotation toolbar to select an individual annotation.

  3. The left-hand tools menu has an annotation tab where users can select annotations individually. Please note the annotation tab does allow users to modify annotations in their current view, but modifications to annotations can not be saved simply by changing them in the annotation tab.

 

Annotations can be exported and saved locally in CSV or JSON format. Open the left-hand tools menu and go to the annotation tab, then click the Export Annotations button at the bottom of the tab.