Web 3D Integration Patterns

Overview

This meta-skill provides architectural patterns, best practices, and integration strategies for combining multiple 3D and animation libraries in web applications. It synthesizes knowledge from the threejs-webgl, gsap-scrolltrigger, react-three-fiber, motion-framer, and react-spring-physics skills into cohesive patterns for building complex, performant 3D web experiences.

When to use this skill:

• Building complex 3D applications that combine multiple libraries
• Creating scroll-driven 3D experiences with animation orchestration
• Implementing physics-based interactions with 3D scenes
• Managing state across 3D rendering and UI animations
• Optimizing performance in multi-library architectures
• Designing reusable component architectures for 3D applications
• Migrating between or combining animation approaches

Core Integration Combinations:

1. Three.js + GSAP - Scroll-driven 3D animations, timeline orchestration
2. React Three Fiber + Motion - State-based 3D with declarative animations
3. React Three Fiber + GSAP - Complex 3D sequences in React
4. React Three Fiber + React Spring - Physics-based 3D interactions
5. Three.js + GSAP + React - Hybrid imperative/declarative 3D

Architecture Patterns

Pattern 1: Layered Separation (Three.js + GSAP + React UI)

Use case: 3D scene with overlaid UI, scroll-driven animations

Architecture:

├── 3D Layer (Three.js)
│   ├── Scene management
│   ├── Camera controls
│   └── Render loop
├── Animation Layer (GSAP)
│   ├── ScrollTrigger for 3D properties
│   ├── Timelines for sequences
│   └── UI transitions
└── UI Layer (React + Motion)
    ├── HTML overlays
    ├── State management
    └── User interactions

Implementation:

// App.jsx - React root
import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
import { initThreeScene } from './three/scene'
import { initScrollAnimations } from './animations/scroll'
import { motion } from 'framer-motion'

function App() {
  const canvasRef = useRef()
  const sceneRef = useRef()

  useEffect(() => {
    // Initialize Three.js scene
    sceneRef.current = initThreeScene(canvasRef.current)

    // Initialize GSAP ScrollTrigger animations
    initScrollAnimations(sceneRef.current)

    // Cleanup
    return () => {
      sceneRef.current.dispose()
    }
  }, [])

  return (
    <div className="app">
      <canvas ref={canvasRef} />

      <motion.div
        className="overlay"
        initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
        animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
      >
        <section className="hero">
          <h1>3D Experience</h1>
        </section>
        <section className="content">
          {/* Scrollable content */}
        </section>
      </motion.div>
    </div>
  )
}

// three/scene.js - Three.js setup
import * as THREE from 'three'
import { OrbitControls } from 'three/addons/controls/OrbitControls.js'

export function initThreeScene(canvas) {
  const scene = new THREE.Scene()
  const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(75, window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000)
  const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ canvas, antialias: true, alpha: true })

  renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight)
  renderer.setPixelRatio(Math.min(window.devicePixelRatio, 2))

  const controls = new OrbitControls(camera, canvas)
  controls.enableDamping = true

  // Setup scene objects
  const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry(2, 2, 2)
  const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: 0x00ff00 })
  const cube = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material)
  scene.add(cube)

  // Lighting
  const ambientLight = new THREE.AmbientLight(0xffffff, 0.5)
  scene.add(ambientLight)

  const directionalLight = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 1)
  directionalLight.position.set(5, 10, 7.5)
  scene.add(directionalLight)

  camera.position.set(0, 2, 5)

  // Animation loop
  function animate() {
    requestAnimationFrame(animate)
    controls.update()
    renderer.render(scene, camera)
  }
  animate()

  // Resize handler
  window.addEventListener('resize', () => {
    camera.aspect = window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight
    camera.updateProjectionMatrix()
    renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight)
  })

  return { scene, camera, renderer, cube }
}

// animations/scroll.js - GSAP Scroll