A hierarchy of 2D visual objects and 3D scene objects are integrated for seamless processing to render 2D images including a 2D view of a 3D scene on a 2D computer display. The processing of the 3D model objects and 2D visual objects in the visual hierarchy is integrated so that the processing is readily handed off between 3D and 2D operations. Further the number of transitions between processing visual 2D objects and 3D model objects when creating a display image has no architectural limit. A data structure integrates computer program objects for creating 3D images and 2D images in a visual tree object hierarchy having visual 2D objects or 3D scene objects pointing to 3D model objects. The data structure comprises an object tree hierarchy, one or more visual 2D objects, and one or more 3D reference or scene objects pointing to 3D model objects. The visual 2D objects define operations drawing a 2D image. The 3D reference or scene objects define references pointing to objects with operations that together draw a two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional scene made up of one or more 3D models. The 3D reference or scene objects point to 3D model objects and a camera object. The camera object defines a two-dimensional view of the 3D scene. The 3D model objects draw the 3D models and define mesh information used in drawing contours of a model and material information used in drawing surface texture of a model. The material information for the surface texture of a model may be defined by a visual 2D object, a 3D reference or scene object or a tree hierarchy of visual 2D objects and/or 3D reference scene objects.