I was looking for a Flash alternative when designing my website, silly really as Flash is the only method I know how to program in. I wanted a website that was as HTML as possible as I hate the idea of a prohibitive download. It was suggested that I might be able to do the brief and simple 3D that I wanted in javascript, some examples here:

http://douggreenall.co.uk/site/?p=72
http://ajax3d.sourceforge.net/
http://www.uselesspickles.com/triangles/demo.html

But what I wanted to do was complicated, so somebody suggested Processing. I have seen the example pages and I think it might do what I want, but its very low level and mathematically intensive - a world away from the Flash GUI.

So here is what I would like to achieve - essentially the site would have a 3d looking disc in the centre of it, of which, upon mouse over event, would rotate to bring from behind to the front the program to download. That's it.

Here is a mock up of the site:
http://flickr.com/photos/8-8/2962150678/sizes/o/

And here is a little bit more detail:
http://flickr.com/photos/8-8/2961305193/

First of all can I do this? Secondly how? I don't want to seem like one of those temporary posters that wants their work done for them, but I'm afraid that's exactly the position I find myself in

Well I never thought I could do it, thanks for the offer I actually enjoyed it! Here is some code which outlines much of the shapes I want and clicking it will move the green shape to the left:


// Learning Processing
// Daniel Shiffman
// http://www.learningprocessing.com

// Exercise 5-8: Example 4-3 in the previous chapter moved a circle across the window. Change the sketch so that the circle only starts moving once the mouse has been pressed. Use a boolean variable.

// Boolean variable starts as false so it does not move
boolean going = false;

// Location of moving circle to start with (stationary)
int circleX = 300;
int circleY = 241;

//size of page
void setup() {
 size(600,600);
 smooth();
}

//background colour
void draw() {
 background(255);
 smooth();

 // Disc
fill(255);
ellipse(300,250,160,30);

// Divider
stroke(0);
line(300,250,300,0);
line(300,300,300,600);

// little dot
fill(0);
ellipse(300,250,3,3);
 
 // Moving circle shape size and colour details
 stroke(0);
 fill(122, 222, 33);
 ellipse(circleX,circleY,22,6);
 
 // Only move the circle when "going" is true
 if (going) {
   //speed of movement
   circleX = circleX - 4;
 }
}

// Set going to true when the mouse is pressed!
void mousePressed() {
 going = true;
}



But I need to:

1. Make the green shape follow a circular track so that it gives the impression of the disc spinning

2. I do not know how to make the bottom curve of the shape to give it a body, like the bezel tool I should think to create a semi-circle I would have to draw two quarters.

Thanks.