Left- vs. Right-Handed Coordinate Systems
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Left- vs. Right-handed coordinate systems

Left-handed coordinate system

The default coordinate system in the RenderMan(TM) Interface is left-handed: the positive x, y and z axes point right, up and forward, respectively. Positive rotation is clockwise about the axis of rotation.

Right-handed coordinate system

The default coordinate system in OpenGL(TM) is right-handed: the positive x and y axes point right and up, and the negative z axis points forward. Positive rotation is counterclockwise about the axis of rotation.

positive x rotation

positive y rotation

positive z rotation

positive x rotation

positive y rotation

positive z rotation