This sample demonstrates the basic 3D capabilities of Cinder. Go to the ArcballDemo directory in the samples folder and open xcode/ArcballDemo.xcodeproj (vc10ArcBallDemo.sln, if you are using Windows).

A strange image appears within the application window. Don't worry, just click-and-drag. You will notice that it is a 3D cube. I won't explain other things that were meant to demonstrate through this demo, but the important thing to know is that rendering (of the default Open GL render mode) in Cinder is done by using Open GL and that means that you can render 2D images, as well as 3D space.