three.js Scene Setup

Create the foundation of a three.js app: module loading, the scene/camera/renderer trio, the render loop, responsive resizing, and camera controls. Patterns target r165+ and are verified against r184.

When to use

Use when bootstrapping a three.js scene, fixing a blank/black canvas, making the canvas responsive, setting up the animation loop, or adding
```
OrbitControls
```
.

Use when

package.json

depends on

three

and code does

import * as THREE from 'three'

When not to use: loading

.gltf

.glb

models or skinned animation →

threejs-gltf-loading

. Materials, lights, shadows, environment maps →

threejs-materials-lighting

. 2D rendering →

pixijs-rendering

Core workflow

Load three.js as an ES module with an import map. Since r147 the bare specifier
```
'three'
```
and
```
'three/addons/'
```
must be mapped (in HTML or by a bundler). Addons (controls, loaders) live under
```
three/addons/...
```
.
Create the trio. A
```
Scene
```
(root of the graph), a
```
PerspectiveCamera(fov, aspect, near, far)
```
moved back from the origin, and a
```
WebGLRenderer
```
whose
```
domElement
```
is in the DOM. Set size and
```
pixelRatio
```
.

Add a mesh.

new Mesh(geometry, material)

and

scene.add(mesh)

. With a lit material you also need a light (see

threejs-materials-lighting

Drive a render loop with
renderer.setAnimationLoop(fn)
. It's the modern, WebXR-/WebGPU-safe replacement for hand-rolled
```
requestAnimationFrame
```
. Use a
```
Clock
```
for delta time.
Handle resize so the camera aspect and renderer match the canvas; update
```
camera.aspect
```
, call
```
updateProjectionMatrix()
```
, and
```
renderer.setSize(...)
```
.
Add
OrbitControls
for orbit/pan/zoom while developing. Confirm something actually renders (a lit cube, the controls responding) before assuming success.

Patterns

1. HTML import map + module entry (no bundler)

html

<canvas id="c"></canvas>
<script type="importmap">
{
  "imports": {
    "three": "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/three@0.184.0/build/three.module.js",
    "three/addons/": "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/three@0.184.0/examples/jsm/"
  }
}
</script>
<script type="module" src="./main.js"></script>

With a bundler (Vite/webpack), skip the import map and just

npm i three

; the same

import

statements resolve.

2. Scene + camera + renderer

// main.js
import * as THREE from 'three';

const canvas = document.querySelector('#c');
const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer({ canvas, antialias: true });
renderer.setPixelRatio(Math.min(window.devicePixelRatio, 2)); // cap for perf
renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);

const scene = new THREE.Scene();
scene.background = new THREE.Color(0x101018);

const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(
  60,                                   // vertical field of view (degrees)
  window.innerWidth / window.innerHeight, // aspect
  0.1,                                  // near
  100                                   // far
);
camera.position.set(3, 2, 5);
camera.lookAt(0, 0, 0);

const cube = new THREE.Mesh(
  new THREE.BoxGeometry(1, 1, 1),
  new THREE.MeshNormalMaterial()        // unlit; shows orientation without a light
);
scene.add(cube);

3. The render loop (setAnimationLoop + Clock)

const clock = new THREE.Clock();

renderer.setAnimationLoop(() => {
  const dt = clock.getDelta();          // seconds since last frame
  cube.rotation.x += dt;                // frame-rate independent
  cube.rotation.y += dt * 0.7;
  renderer.render(scene, camera);
});
// renderer.setAnimationLoop(null); // stop the loop

4. Responsive resize

function onResize() {
  const w = window.innerWidth, h = window.innerHeight;
  camera.aspect = w / h;
  camera.updateProjectionMatrix();      // required after changing aspect
  renderer.setSize(w, h);
}
window.addEventListener('resize', onResize);

5. OrbitControls (orbit / pan / zoom)

import { OrbitControls } from 'three/addons/controls/OrbitControls.js';

const controls = new OrbitControls(camera, renderer.domElement);
controls.enableDamping = true;          // inertial feel
controls.target.set(0, 0, 0);

renderer.setAnimationLoop(() => {
  controls.update();                    // needed every frame when damping is on
  renderer.render(scene, camera);
});

Pitfalls

Failed to resolve module specifier "three"
→ missing import map (or bundler config). Map both
```
"three"
```
and
```
"three/addons/"
```
; addon paths must end with
```
/
```
.
Black canvas, no errors → camera is at the origin (inside/behind the object), or you used a lit material (
```
MeshStandardMaterial
```
) with no light. Move the camera back; use
```
MeshNormalMaterial
```
/
```
MeshBasicMaterial
```
to verify geometry first.
Nothing animates → you never called
```
renderer.render
```
inside the loop, or you call
```
setAnimationLoop
```
but render outside it.
Stretched / squashed view on resize → you resized the renderer but didn't update
```
camera.aspect
```
+
```
updateProjectionMatrix()
```
.
Blurry or jagged on HiDPI → set
```
renderer.setPixelRatio(...)
```
; cap it (≈2) so 4K/retina screens don't tank performance.
OrbitControls feel dead → with
```
enableDamping = true
```
you must call
```
controls.update()
```
every frame.
Old tutorials use
<script src="three.min.js">
→ since r147 three.js ships ES modules only; use
```
type="module"
```
+ import maps.

References

For coordinate conventions, the scene-graph (
```
Group
```
, parent/child transforms,
```
Object3D
```
add/remove),
```
OrthographicCamera
```
for 2.5D, and disposing of geometries/materials/textures to avoid leaks, read
```
references/scene-graph.md
```
.

Related skills

```
threejs-materials-lighting
```
— give surfaces a lit look (lights, shadows, PBR).
```
threejs-gltf-loading
```
— load 3D models and play their animations.
```
pixijs-rendering
```
— 2D rendering in the browser.
```
fps-shooter
```
— a 3D genre template that composes three.js skills.

threejs-scene-setup

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content