Generate U3D files from STL models for making multilayer 3D PDF figures

Conversion of meshes into U3D files for making multilayer 3D PDF figures with transparency.

Description

This submission is based on Alexandre Gramfort's "matlab-mesh-to-pdf-with-3d-interactive-object". His program allows meshes to be converted into 3D PDF figures. However, his code only allows a single layer to be converted, and does not enable transparency.

The present submission does not create the final PDF. It generates the U3D file which can then be inserted into a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Pro. This submission also allows multilayer meshes to be created, and for the transparency of each layer to be specified.

This code includes a function (installGoogleArchive.m) which will automatically download and install binaries required to convert the intermediate data format (IDTF) file into the final Universal 3D (U3D) file. This code also only includes the windows version of the converter.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to acknowledge the following in the creation of this submission:
Binary STL file reader, Patch Slim (patchslim.m), Show 3D model, Matlab mesh to PDF with 3D interactive object, Install package requirements automatically from a zip file hosted on Google Sites.
This submission has inspired the following:
Install package requirements automatically from a zip file hosted on Google Sites.

• MATLAB release: MATLAB 7.12 (2011a)

[Abdullah]