Every object in 3D FlowerBox. From left to right: Cube, Tetrahedron, Pyramids, Cylinder, Spring.
3D FlowerBox is a screen saver included with some versions of Microsoft Windows. It was first introduced in Windows NT 4.0 and comes with every subsequent version of Microsoft Windows up to Windows XP. The screen saver's file name is "ssflwbox.scr".
From Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Me, 3D FlowerBox was rendered with OpenGL. In Windows XP, the screen saver was remade to utilize Direct3D.
Description[]
This screen saver depicts an object that shapeshifts between two forms while moving around a black screen. The appearance of the object depends on the shape chosen by the user in the Screen Saver Settings. The Cube, Tetrahedron, and Pyramids show an object that shifts between a shape made of multiple petals and a flat, geometric object. The Cylinder and Spring resemble their namesake objects and continually shift into inversed versions of those objects.
The Windows XP version of 3D FlowerBox has the shape start in the same position, move in the same direction, and rotate in the same manner every time the screen saver starts.
Settings[]
One of five options can be selected under Shape:
- Cube (selected by default) is a shape with six petals. These petals shift into the facets of a cube.
- Tetrahedron is a shape with four petals. These petals shift into the facets of a triangular pyramid.
- Pyramids is a shape with eight petals. These petals shift into the facets of a square bipyramid.
- Cylinder is a shape that alternates between a cylinder form and a circular disc with horns protruding from its centers.
- Spring is a shape that alternates between a form resembling a spring and a curved band that is thinly connected at its ends.
Three options can each be toggled to affect how the shape is rendered:
- Spin (enabled by default) causes the object to constantly rotate. When disabled, the object constantly remains upright.
- Bloom (enabled by default) causes the object to morph its shape. When disabled, the shape remains in its respective geometrical shape.
- Two-sided (disabled by default) affects the appearance of Cylinder and Spring. When disabled, certain facets of the shapes cannot be seen.
One of three choices can be selected under Coloring:
- Per Side (selected by default) assigns a single distinct color to each piece of the object. Pieces are the portions of the Cube, Tetrahedron, and Pyramids that morph from petals into polyhedron facets.
- Checkerboard renders two colors onto each piece of the object. By default, the shape texture is like that of a checkerboard.
- One Color gives a single color to the entire object. By default, this is a white color.
There are three additional options under Coloring that can each be toggled alongside these choices. They are:
- Smooth (enabled by default) renders the object with a smooth, curved shape. Disabling this option renders the object as being made of many smaller rhombus facets.
- Slanted (disabled by default) affects the appearance of the Checkerboard coloring. When enabled, the object uses a striped texture rather than a checkerboard texture.
- Cycle (disabled by default) causes the color(s) of the object to continually shift in hue when enabled.
The Complexity slider determines how smoothly the shape is rendered. This can be set from Min to Max. At lower settings, the shape is visibly made using more straight lines rather than curves.
The Size slider determines how large the shape is. This can be set from Smaller to Larger.
The Display settings allow the user to select a resolution and color depth matching their monitor, as well as enable or disable 3D hardware rendering.