Building Interactive 3D Experiences with Three.js

Creating 3D experiences on the web that are both visually stunning and performant is one of my favorite challenges. In this post, I’ll share my approach to building interactive 3D visualizations that make people say “wow” while maintaining smooth 60fps performance.

The Performance Challenge

When working with Three.js, the biggest challenge isn’t creating beautiful visuals—it’s making them run smoothly on all devices. Here’s my approach:

1. Geometry Optimization

// Instead of creating complex geometries on the fly
const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry(1, 1, 1);

// Use instanced meshes for repeated objects
const instancedMesh = new THREE.InstancedMesh(geometry, material, 1000);

2. Texture Management

Proper texture management is crucial for performance. I always:

• Compress textures appropriately
• Use texture atlases when possible
• Implement proper disposal of unused textures

3. Shader Optimization

Custom shaders can be performance killers if not optimized properly. I focus on:

• Minimizing texture lookups
• Using efficient mathematical operations
• Avoiding branching in fragment shaders

Interactive Elements

The key to creating engaging 3D experiences is interaction. Here are some techniques I use:

Mouse Interaction

const raycaster = new THREE.Raycaster();
const mouse = new THREE.Vector2();

function onMouseMove(event) {
  mouse.x = (event.clientX / window.innerWidth) * 2 - 1;
  mouse.y = -(event.clientY / window.innerHeight) * 2 + 1;

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

  // Handle interactions
}

Smooth Animations

I use GSAP for smooth, performant animations:

gsap.to(mesh.rotation, {
  y: Math.PI * 2,
  duration: 2,
  ease: 'power2.out',
});

Real-World Example

In my latest project, I created an interactive 3D portfolio that showcases my work through an immersive experience. The key was balancing visual impact with performance.

The result? A 3D experience that loads in under 2 seconds and maintains 60fps even on mobile devices.

What’s Next

I’m currently exploring WebGPU for even better performance and more complex visual effects. The future of web-based 3D is incredibly exciting!

Stay tuned for more tutorials and insights into creating amazing 3D web experiences.