3D file format

Draft

Introduction

3D graphics combines a large area of applications such as gaming, interactive environments, movies, computer-aided design and manufacturing.

There exist many (dozens) of 3D file formats. The list presented here is not complete. It's purpose is just to have a central index and some pointers.

List of file formats

Not complete list of file formats used in 3D modeling, Computer-assisted manufacturing and design

3DS - 3D Studio

.3ds is one of the file formats used by the Autodesk 3ds Max 3D modeling, animation and rendering software.

• .3ds (Wikipedia)
• Other extensions: .max
• Media-type: application/x-3ds and image/x-3s

DAE - COLLADA

.dae was designed as format for COLLAborative Design Activity for establishing an interchange file format for interactive 3D applications. Also used as native format in the same spirit as X3D.

• Collada
• COLLADA (Wikipedia)
• Tools support: Many (e.g. Blender)

DXF - AutoCAD

.dxf

LWO - Lightwave

.lwo

OBJ

.obj “is a geometry definition file format first developed by Wavefront Technologies for its Advanced Visualizer animation package. The file format is open and has been adopted by other 3D graphics application vendors. For the most part it is a universally accepted format.” (Wikipedia)

• Obj (Wikipedia)
• Tools support: Most 3D modeling software

OFF

.off Object File Format (.off) files are used to represent the geometry of a model by specifying the polygons of the model's surface. The polygons can have any number of vertices.

• Princeton Shape Retrieval and Analysis Group

XSI - SoftImage

.xsi

Software

• Modeling software, see 3D modeling and Computer-aider design and manufacturing

Conversion software

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Links

• Category Graphics file formats (Wikipedia)
• Category CAD file formats (Wikipedia)