The 3D Pipes screen saver.
3D Pipes 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 "sspipes.scr".
From Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Me, 3D Pipes was rendered with OpenGL. In Windows XP, the screen saver was remade to utilize Direct3D.
Description[]
This screen saver depicts a set of metallic pipes slowly increasing in length, while changing their paths of movement in different directions. Each pipe begins and ends with a sphere. Four to six pipes are generated before the screen saver is blanked, after which more pipes will begin to generate.
In the original version of 3D Pipes, the screen would transition to black by cutting out black square shapes across the screen. In Windows XP, the transition consists of a simple fade.
Settings[]
The Pipes settings can be set to one of two options:
- Single (selected by default) - One pipe generates at a time. The next pipe only begins to generate after the latest one has finished.
- Multiple - Multiple pipes generate at a time. The screen saver fades to black faster with this setting.
The Joint Type features a drop-down menu allowing the selection of one of the following options:
- Elbow (selected by default) - The bending parts of the pipes share the thickness and shading of the straight parts, appearing similar to elbows.
- Ball - The bending parts of the pipes are replaced by solid spheres, similar to the ones at the ends of each pipe.
- Mixed - Some bending parts of the pipes are Elbows, while others are Balls. In the original version of 3D Pipes, there is an additional possibility for a bending part to be a Utah teapot.
- Cycle - Separate cycles of the screen saver use a different setting: The first cycle uses Elbow, the second uses Ball, and the third uses Mixed; subsequent cycles repeat this pattern.
The Surface Style settings can be set to one of two options:
- Solid (selected by default) - The pipes each use one of several solid colors.
- Textured - The pipes all use a texture specified in the Texture menu.
The "Choose Texture..." button opens Windows Explorer to allow the user to select any .bmp image file on the computer, which will serve as the texture of the pipes. If the selection is cancelled, the screen saver uses a red-and-white striped texture.
Speed can be set for the screen saver, ranging from Slow to Fast. The default setting is at the center-right of the scale.
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.
There is one additional setting in the original version of 3D Pipes: Pipe Style. Selecting "Flex" changes the pipes to use a wavy model, as opposed to the default 90-degree bending style.