---
name: "RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_POINT"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libembree-dev"
version: "4.3.3+dfsg-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_POINT"
---

# RTC\_GEOMETRY\_TYPE\_POINT(3)

### NAME

-

  ```
  RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_SPHERE_POINT -
    point geometry spheres
  RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_DISC_POINT -
    point geometry with ray-oriented discs
  RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_ORIENTED_DISC_POINT -
    point geometry with normal-oriented discs
  ```

### SYNOPSIS

-

  ```
  #include <embree4/rtcore.h>
  rtcNewGeometry(device, RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_SPHERE_POINT);
  rtcNewGeometry(device, RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_DISC_POINT);
  rtcNewGeometry(device, RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_ORIENTED_DISC_POINT);
  ```

### DESCRIPTION

Points with per vertex radii are supported with sphere, ray-oriented discs, and normal-oriented discs geometric representations. Such point geometries are created by passing `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_SPHERE_POINT`, `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_DISC_POINT`, or `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_ORIENTED_DISC_POINT` to the `rtcNewGeometry` function. The point vertices can be specified t through a vertex buffer (`RTC_BUFFER_TYPE_VERTEX`). For the normal oriented discs a normal buffer (`RTC_BUFFER_TYPE_NORMAL`) has to get specified additionally. See `rtcSetGeometryBuffer` and `rtcSetSharedGeometryBuffer` for more details on how to set buffers.

The vertex buffer stores each control vertex in the form of a single precision position and radius stored in (`x`, `y`, `z`, `r`) order in memory (`RTC_FORMAT_FLOAT4` format). The number of vertices is inferred from the size of this buffer. Similarly, the normal buffer stores a single precision normal per control vertex (`x`, `y`, `z` order and `RTC_FORMAT_FLOAT3` format).

In the `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_SPHERE_POINT` mode, a real geometric surface is rendered for the curve, which is more expensive but allows closeup views.

The `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_DISC_POINT` flat mode is a fast mode designed to render distant points. In this mode the point is rendered as a ray facing disc.

The `RTC_GEOMETRY_TYPE_ORIENTED_DISC_POINT` mode is a mode designed as a midpoint geometrically between ray facing discs and spheres. In this mode the point is rendered as a normal oriented disc.

For all point types, only the hit distance and geometry normal is returned as hit information, u and v are set to zero.

For multi-segment motion blur, the number of time steps must be first specified using the `rtcSetGeometryTimeStepCount` call. Then a vertex buffer for each time step can be set using different buffer slots, and all these buffers must have the same stride and size.

Also see tutorial \[Points\] for an example of how to create and use point geometries.

### EXIT STATUS

On failure `NULL` is returned and an error code is set that can be queried using `rtcGetDeviceError`.

### SEE ALSO

\[rtcNewGeometry\]