{"id":180,"date":"2023-07-18T15:12:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/?p=180"},"modified":"2023-07-18T15:12:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:12:21","slug":"what-are-the-most-common-3d-file-types","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/what-are-the-most-common-3d-file-types\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are The Most Common 3D File Types?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You&#8217;ve decided: you want to add 3D to your game. Or maybe you want to do some 3D printing. Awesome! Either way, you\u2019ll need 3D models. There are many different file types available for 3D models, but which are the most common, and what are their advantages and disadvantages? This article aims to explain the most common file types and some things to consider when choosing a 3D file type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are 3D File Types?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>3D file formats are used to store data about 3D models. They are widely used in various applications and industries, from gaming, printing, computer-aided design, manufacturing, academics, engineering, and more. There are hundreds of 3D file formats, and each is used for a variety of reasons. Below, we&#8217;ll talk about some of the advantages and disadvantages of five of the most common 3D file types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Most Common 3D File Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OBJ<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File.png\" alt=\"OBJ File\" class=\"wp-image-195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File.png 1920w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OBJ20File-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Wavefront Technologies developed the OBJ format in the 1980s for their Advanced Visualizer animation program, now known as Autodesk Maya. The file extension OBJ is derived from the term Wavefront OBJect. An OBJ file includes geometry information for 3D objects. The files are used for information exchange, CAD, and 3D printing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>OBJ files can include an endless number of colors, and a single file can define numerous objects. This file type can define texture, color, lighting, and effects such as fog. It can also include positioning and topographical information for models, improving OBJ models&#8217; dimensional accuracy, and enabling advanced modeling techniques like subdivision surfaces and linear blend skinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to read and write<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Widely supported by most programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Features make it well-suited for high-quality modeling tools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Slow and inefficient&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hasn\u2019t been updated since the 1980s<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can be used to store 3D models only (not animated characters or 3D scenes)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FBX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FBX20File.jpg\" alt=\"FBX File\" class=\"wp-image-193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FBX20File.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FBX20File-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FBX20File-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/FBX20File-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Autodesk FBX file format is widely used as an exchange standard for 3D data among various 3D software and gaming engines. Originating in 1996 as the file format for Kaydara&#8217;s Filmbox motion capture software, it has now found widespread use. However, FBX files can only be read by applications that have been built with an SDK that supports this proprietary format. The software development kit (SDK) ensures that the program can correctly read the file and is available in Blender or Autodesk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly to the OBJ file, it can include information such as lighting, color, texture, and effects, as well as positioning and topographical information. However, it also can include information about scenes and animations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can handle irregular and complex geometries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast and efficient because the information is binary (it doesn\u2019t need to be converted)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SDK can read both the old and new format of the files<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limited in programs that it works with due to SDK<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Large file size<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Usage of more complex modeling tools makes it slower to load<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">glTF<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file.jpg\" alt=\"glTF File\" class=\"wp-image-169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/gltf20file-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Created in 2013 by The Khronos Group, the glTF format is a publicly available 3D model and scene format made for the rapid transfer of complex 3D scenes. The abbreviation &#8220;glTF&#8221; refers to the Graphics Language Transmission Format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>glTF is fast and efficient. This file type is also used by Google and Facebook and is becoming the standard 3D file type for augmented reality (AR). In addition, tools such as glb.ee allow users to open and view this file for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to read and write (even more than OBJ files) because it relies on a JSON descriptor file to describe the glTF file<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supports complex scenes, animation, and lights&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ability for game engines to direct read the file makes it fast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Difficult to edit the 3D model once it\u2019s saved as glTF<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Does not support shader networks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non-backwards compatible extensions can create compatibility issues across vendors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GLB<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file.jpg\" alt=\"glb File\" class=\"wp-image-170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/glb20file-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The GLB file format is relatively new, having debuted in 2015. The GLB file format is a variant of the gLTF format. The GLB format is binary, whereas the GLTF is based on JSON. With the GLB, you can find the geometry, lighting, and cameras of a 3D scene all in one compact file. The gLTF file, on the other hand, requires external processing file formats for textures, shaders, and animation data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GLB files are often used in game design and development, interactive websites, and augmented reality and virtual reality. Like glTF, tools such as glb.ee allow users to open and view this file for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Smaller and faster than glTF files<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy to transfer because it\u2019s lightweight (it can even be emailed!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lots of information is stored all in one file, making it easy to use and interact with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not as easy to read since its format is written in binary<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less detailed and complex information compared to glTF<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">STL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/stl20File.jpg\" alt=\"stl File\" class=\"wp-image-194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/stl20File.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/stl20File-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/stl20File-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/stl20File-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Stereolithography (STL) file format was developed by 3D Systems in 1987 for use with their stereolithography printing technique for consumer-grade 3D printers. It hasn&#8217;t evolved much since it was first developed. However, it\u2019s a standard file type for 3D printing. Other names for STL include Standard Triangle Language and Standard Tessellation Language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each file is constructed from a network of triangles describing the surface geometry of a 3D model or object together. There will be more triangles used and a greater resolution if the design is complicated. The objects defined by the STL file are colourless and featureless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Universally recognized for 3D printing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Small file size and fast processing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can be used to create 3D models from scans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limited color and texture, so it\u2019s usually used for prototyping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard to edit the model in this file format outside of simple scaling&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited fidelity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Think About Your Needs When Choosing a File Type<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The use cases, benefits, and disadvantages vary tremendously across the different file types. So, there really is no \u201cbest\u201d 3D file type. Instead, you should think about how the 3D model will be used. Will your object need to be edited later? Do you need to store information about animations? Will the model be complex? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself as you decide what 3D file type is best suited for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-background-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"color:#f8f40d\"><strong><em>To try glb.ee for free today <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/glb.ee\/\" target=\"_blank\">click here<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;ve decided: you want to add 3D to your game. Or maybe you want to do some 3D printing. Awesome! Either way, you\u2019ll need 3D models. There are many different file types available for 3D models, but which are the most common, and what are their advantages and disadvantages? This article aims to explain the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,8,9,12,16,17,18,19],"class_list":["post-180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting-articles","tag-3d","tag-3dartist","tag-3dmodels","tag-fbx","tag-glb","tag-gltf","tag-obj","tag-stl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glb.ee\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}