3D File Format Resources
Comprehensive guides, comparisons, and references for 3D file formats. From mesh formats like STL and OBJ to cutting-edge Gaussian Splatting formats.
Format Guides
Deep-dive technical guides for every 3D file format we support.
Mesh Formats
STL Format Guide
The format that launched 3D printing in 1987 — still widely used, still fundamentally limited.
OBJ Format Guide
The most universally compatible 3D format from 1992 — and why the .
GLB / glTF Format Guide
The Khronos Group's open 3D transmission format — ISO-standardized, PBR-native, and animation-ready.
3MF Format Guide
The 3D Manufacturing Format — a ZIP archive containing XML that carries everything STL...
PLY Mesh Format Guide
Greg Turk's 1994 format from Stanford — flexible, ASCII or binary, and the foundation of...
Gaussian Splatting Formats
3DGS Format Comparison
A comprehensive comparison of PLY, SPLAT, SPZ, and KSPLAT — with a decision guide to help you choose.
SPZ Format Guide
Niantic's open-source format that compresses 3DGS scenes by 90% while preserving full...
SPLAT Format Guide
The first widely-adopted web format for 3D Gaussian Splatting, created by Kevin Kwok (antimatter15).
KSPLAT Format Guide
The streaming-optimized format for Three.
PLY for 3D Gaussian Splatting
Two files share the .
PLY vs SPZ
PLY preserves everything at 200+ MB.
SPLAT vs SPZ
SPLAT was the first web-friendly 3DGS format.
PLY vs SPLAT
PLY keeps everything.
3DGS vs NeRF
NeRF pioneered neural 3D reconstruction.
3DGS vs Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry gives you meshes.
Format Comparisons
Side-by-side comparisons to help you choose the right format for your project.
How-To Guides
Step-by-step workflows for common 3D tasks.
Prepare STL for 3D Printing
Check, repair, and optimize your model before sending it to the slicer.
Clean Up Photogrammetry Scans
Remove noise, fill holes, and decimate scanned meshes for production use.
Gaussian Splatting Beginner Guide
From capture to web deployment — your first 3DGS scene explained.
Prepare 3D Models for AR
Optimize meshes, textures, and materials for ARKit, ARCore, and WebAR.
Quick Access to Tools
Jump straight to our browser-based 3D processing tools.
Viewers
OBJ Viewer
Preview Wavefront OBJ models with materials.
STL Viewer
Inspect 3D print files before slicing.
GLB Viewer
Preview WebXR and AR models with PBR materials.
3DGS PLY Viewer
View Gaussian Splatting scenes in your browser.
Converters
OBJ → STL
Prepare Blender models for 3D printing.
STL → OBJ
Edit 3D print files in Blender or Maya.
OBJ → GLB
Optimize for Three.js, React Three Fiber, and AR.
GLB → STL
3D print web models and AR assets.
Repair & Optimize
Repair STL
Fix non-manifold edges, holes, and inverted normals.
Repair OBJ
Fix topology errors and mesh integrity issues.
Simplify STL
Reduce polygon count for faster slicing.
Draco Compression
Compress GLB files up to 90% smaller for web delivery.
Cleanup & Smooth
Cleanup STL
Remove duplicate vertices, degenerate triangles, and isolated components.
Cleanup PLY
Clean up scanned PLY meshes — remove noise and unwanted geometry.
Smooth STL
Taubin smoothing to reduce surface noise while preserving shape.
Smooth PLY
Smooth scanned mesh surfaces for cleaner 3D prints and renders.