Assets & Formats · Reference
3D Format Map
Every common 3D file format and what it's actually good for — click one to compare. Runs in your browser — no server call, no tracking.
FormatSelect a format
Best use—
Features—
Production note—
There's No Universal Format
Every 3D format trades off between fidelity, file size, and compatibility — GLB is compact and web-ready but strips CAD precision; STEP preserves exact geometry but nothing else; STL carries no color or material at all. Picking a format means picking what you're willing to lose.
Interchange vs. Delivery Formats
FBX and OBJ exist to move data between different 3D applications during production. GLB/GLTF and USDZ exist to deliver a finished asset to a browser, AR viewer, or game engine — using an interchange format for final delivery (or vice versa) is a common and avoidable mistake.
Reference
Reference data
Standards and values to use alongside the tool above.
Format Comparison Table
| Format | Geometry | Materials | Animation | Rig | Scene | Binary | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .glb/.gltf | Yes | PBR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Web, AR, delivery |
| .fbx | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | DCC interchange |
| .usd/.usdz | Yes | PBR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Apple AR, Pixar pipeline |
| .obj | Yes | MTL | No | No | No | Text | Static mesh exchange |
| .stl | Mesh | No | No | No | No | Both | 3D printing |
| .step/.stp | BREP | No | No | No | Asm | Text | CAD manufacturing |
| .ifc | BREP | Basic | No | No | Yes | Text | BIM exchange |
| .dwg | 2D/3D | Basic | No | No | Yes | Yes | CAD drafting |
| .dae | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | XML | Legacy interchange |
| .ply | Yes | Vertex | No | No | No | Both | 3D scanning, research |
| .3ds | Yes | Basic | Key | No | Basic | Yes | Legacy scenes |
| .blend | Yes | Full | Yes | Yes | Full | Yes | Blender projects |
| .abc | Yes | No | Baked | No | No | Yes | VFX cache, simulation |
Typical File Sizes
| Complexity | Polygons | OBJ | FBX | GLB | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple prop | 1K–10K | 50–500 KB | 30–300 KB | 20–200 KB | 50–500 KB |
| Game asset | 10K–100K | 0.5–5 MB | 0.3–3 MB | 0.2–2 MB | 0.5–5 MB |
| Character (rigged) | 50K–500K | 5–50 MB | 3–30 MB | 2–20 MB | N/A |
| Arch-viz scene | 1M–10M | 50–500 MB | 30–300 MB | 20–200 MB | 50–500 MB |
| Film asset (sculpt) | 10M–100M | 0.5–5 GB | 0.3–3 GB | 0.2–2 GB | 0.5–5 GB |
Software Format Support
| Software | Native | Import | Export | Best Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blender | .blend | FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, DAE, PLY, USD, ABC | FBX, OBJ, glTF/GLB, STL, DAE, USD, ABC | glTF, FBX |
| 3ds Max | .max | FBX, OBJ, STL, DAE, DWG, STEP | FBX, OBJ, STL, DAE, DWG | FBX |
| Maya | .ma/.mb | FBX, OBJ, DAE, ABC, USD | FBX, OBJ, DAE, ABC, USD | FBX, ABC |
| Cinema 4D | .c4d | FBX, OBJ, STL, DAE, ABC, glTF | FBX, OBJ, STL, DAE, ABC, glTF | FBX, ABC |
| Houdini | .hip | FBX, OBJ, ABC, USD, glTF | FBX, OBJ, ABC, USD, glTF | USD, ABC |
| ZBrush | .ztl | OBJ, FBX, STL, GoZ | OBJ, FBX, STL, GoZ | OBJ, FBX |
| Unity | .unity | FBX, OBJ, glTF, DAE | — | FBX |
| Unreal | .uasset | FBX, OBJ, glTF, ABC, USD | — | FBX, USD |
| Rhino | .3dm | STEP, OBJ, FBX, DWG, STL, DAE | STEP, OBJ, FBX, DWG, STL | STEP |
| Revit | .rvt | IFC, DWG, FBX, SAT | IFC, DWG, FBX, NWC | IFC |