Case Study: WebGL / Three.js 3D CRT Monitor & Voxel Art Simulator
Soratech's R&D department developed an interactive 3D CRT Monitor & Voxel Art Simulator running in real-time on browsers to demonstrate next-gen WebGL graphic capabilities.
This project simulates a vintage Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) monitor with spherical screen bending, scanlines, and physics-based voxel logo shatter animations matching user gestures.
Technical Approach & Architecture
1. 3D Rendering with React Three Fiber (R3F)
The CRT monitor and 3D voxel cubes are modeled using React Three Fiber and @react-three/drei (Three.js wrappers for React).
- Realistic physical rendering (PBR) mimicking glass reflection and plastic monitor casings.
- Dynamic camera tracking following mouse coordinates to create a natural parallax effect.
2. Retro CRT Screen Shader
To recreate a nostalgic screen glow, we built custom shaders processing:
- Lens distortion and screen curvature.
- Dynamic scanlines and magnetic signal noise (glitches).
- Outer glow and bloom effects radiating from the monitor surface.
3. Performance Optimization & Mobile Fallback
Since WebGL 3D rendering consumes significant GPU resources, we developed a lightweight 2D SVG Flat Pixel version using native Web Animations. Mobile devices and low-spec browsers load the flat version instantly and render animations smoothly at 60 FPS.
Live Demonstration
You can interact with both the 3D CRT simulator and the 2D Flat version on our interactive technology showcase page: