[whatwg] <model/>: A 3D Equivalent to <img/>

[Simon Fraser]

On Nov 2, 2009, at 3:41 PM, Brian Blakely wrote:

> Additional clarification on this proposal:
>
> A "model" Element Never Becomes a Wafer
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Right now, if you try to act on conventional HTML elements with 3D
> CSS, those elements become wafers.
>
> See here: http://webkit.org/blog/386/3d-transforms/
>
> One of the primary goals of embedding a 3D object (even a static,
> non-interactive one) is that it can be rotated and translated in CSS
> without losing its dimensional properties.  "globe.xml" will always
> appear round, at any rotation degree, rather than like a cracker, as a
> <canvas/> or <img/> would.

I disagree. In order to do this, you have to have some 3D space in which
the model element lives, and you need to be able to specify clipping  
planes,
perspective etc.

If elements are rotated *inside* the model, then of course they maintain
their 3D space. But the model element itself has to be planar, and has  
to
interact with other elements on the page just as any other HTML element
does.

Simon