# Included assets

This folder contains the graphics used by the globe. They are available in the configurator and can also be selected through the corresponding globe or object properties. Paths below are relative to this folder.


## backgrounds/

Decorative images placed behind the globe using `backgroundImage`. They stay fixed behind the rotating globe; `backgroundSize` controls their size relative to it.


## icons/

Flat SVG symbols for `icon` objects. They can be resized, rotated and recolored through the object settings.


## maps/

World maps selected through `map`. All use an equirectangular layout covering the full globe: longitude runs from −180° on the left to +180° on the right, with north at the top.

The WebP maps are image textures: their colors are already part of the image, and they do not provide individual country shapes for recoloring or lookup.


### World map source

`world.svg` is adapted from [Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons BlankMap-World public-domain data](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlankMap-World.svg). It was converted to an equirectangular layout and simplified for decorative use, with small islands removed or represented by simplified shapes. Very small countries use enlarged shapes with a projection adjustment to remain visible on the globe.

Country and territory IDs use [ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes](https://www.iso.org/iso-3166-country-codes.html). The map includes territories as well as sovereign states; these identifiers do not imply a position on disputed borders or sovereignty. It is not intended as a precise geographic reference.


## meshes/

Three-dimensional models for `mesh` objects. Each SVG contains the actual model geometry in its `<metadata>` element and a small two-dimensional thumbnail for the configurator. Keep the metadata when editing or optimizing these files; the visible SVG drawing alone is not the model.


## opacity-maps/

Grayscale world images selected through `opacityMap`. They vary the opacity of vector countries and map dots: white preserves opacity, black makes them transparent, and gray gives intermediate values. The runtime reads the red channel, which is equivalent to brightness in these grayscale files. They do not change the sea color, or country geometry.


## NASA imagery and credit

The daytime maps and derived surface/terrain masks use adapted NASA imagery from the [Blue Marble collection](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/collections/blue-marble/). The night-light assets (`maps/black-marble-by-nasa.webp` and `opacity-maps/light.webp`) use NASA's [Earth at Night / Black Marble imagery](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/earth-at-night/). The supplied versions have been resized, compressed or adjusted in color and contrast for use in Miniature Earth.

Credit: **NASA Earth Observatory. Imagery adapted for Miniature Earth.**

NASA asks users and republishers of Blue Marble: Next Generation to credit **NASA Earth Observatory**; see the Credits section of the [official Blue Marble documentation](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/blue-marble-next-generation/). When reusing the adapted NASA imagery, please include this credit and a link to the source.