3D graphics software
Stella
is a
computer program
available in three versions (
Great Stella
,
Small Stella
and
Stella4D
). It was created by Robert Webb of
Australia
. The programs contain a large library of
polyhedra
which can be manipulated and altered in various ways.
Polyhedra
[
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]
Polyhedra in Great Stella's library include the
Platonic solids
, the
Archimedean solids
, the
Kepler-Poinsot solids
, the
Johnson solids
, some
Johnson Solid near-misses
, numerous
compounds
including the
uniform polyhedra
, and other polyhedra. Operations which can be performed on these polyhedra include
stellation
, faceting, augmentation,
dualization
(also called "reciprocation"), creating
convex hulls
, and others.
All versions of the program enable users to print
nets
for polyhedra. These nets may then be assembled into actual three-dimensional
polyhedral models
of great beauty and complexity.
Stella4D
[
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]
In 2007, a
Stella4D
version was added, allowing the generation and display of four-dimensional polytopes (
polychora
), including a library of all convex
uniform polychora
, and all currently known nonconvex star polychora, as well as the uniform duals. They can be selected from a library or generated from user created polyhedral
vertex figure
files.
Features
[
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]
Stella provides a configurable workspace comprising several panels. Once a model has been selected from the range available, different views of it may be displayed in each panel. These views can also include measurements, symmetries and unfolded nets.
A variety of operations may be performed on any polyhedron. In 3D these include:
stellation
,
faceting
, augmentation, excavation, drilling and
dualising
.
Other features include spring network relaxation, generation of the convex hull, and generation of cupolaic blends and related figures.
Release history
[
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]
- v1.0 ? 20 August 2001 ? First release of Stella
- v2.0 ? 12 September 2002
- v2.8.7 ? 16 November 2004
- v3.0 ? 12 June 2005
- v4.0 ? 13 March 2007 ? (Including new "Stella4D")
- v5.0 ? 30 September 2012
References
[
edit
]
- Bedford, Mike (August 2008). "Great Stella software".
PC Plus
. No. 271. pp. 46?47.
This is quite a sophisticated program for those who want to go beyond the basics.
- Ms. Megabyte (4 February 2003).
Ms Megabyte presented Stella
.
Today
.
- Webb, Robert (2000).
"Stella: Polyhedron Navigator"
.
Symmetry: Culture and Science
.
11
(1?4): 231?268.
Zbl
1026.52010
.
(Note: journal was back-dated. Paper actually written 2003)
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Webb, Robert (2002).
"Stella Models"
.
Symmetry: Culture and Science
. Vol. 13, no. 3?4. pp. 391?399.
(Note: journal was back-dated. Paper actually written 2004)
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Stella
.