Model file formats

Recommended formats

• • FBX format (*.fbx): FBX format is a universal 3D model file that contains information such as animation, material properties, textures, skeletal animation, lighting, cameras, etc. FBX format supports Polygons, Curves, Surfaces, and Point Group Materials.

FBX format supports normal and texture coordinates. Textures and coordinate information can be stored in the FBX file, and no manual identification or adjustment of texture coordinates is required after the file is being imported.

Note: If the exported FBX model file has a corresponding texture, the texture should be embedded during the export process.

• • glTF format: glTF format has two formats: *.gltf and *.glb. DataMesh Importer does not support the *.gltf format, but it can be converted to the .glb format for use. Compared with FBX, glTF can store more material information and support more artistic effects. If the model has complex materials (such as reflection maps, metal texture maps, normal maps, etc.), it is recommended to convert them to glTF format for use.

Compatible formats

DataMesh Importer also supports the following model formats, but due to the characteristics of the format itself, it may not include hierarchy structure and color materials.

• • OBJ format (*.obj): The textures and materials in the OBJ format are stored externally, and only the index is stored in the main file. Therefore, importing the OBJ format into DataMesh Importer will lose color and texture.
  • STL format (*.stl): STL format is a simple format for 3D printing, which only includes the shape of the three-dimensional object surface and does not include material information such as color and texture. Therefore, there is no color and texture after importing the STL file into DataMesh Importer. The STL format also does not include sub-objects, so the models in the STL format do not have sub-objects after importing.
  • 3MF format (*.3mf): 3MF format is also a format for 3D printing, but it is more advanced than STL. It can include color information and sub-objects but does not have texture. Because it is a 3D printing format, the transparency in the color information of 3MF is meaningless and cannot represent transparent objects. In some 3MF formats, in addition to setting colors for sub-objects, colors are also set for each point. DataMesh Importer currently does not support setting colors for each point and will ignore this part of the data.
  • PLY format (*.ply): PLY format is a data file used to describe 3D scanning results. It usually does not include color but may have texture. Like OBJ, the texture is external, and only the information used for texture is stored in the main file. Therefore, importing the PLY format will lose texture. The PLY format also cannot include sub-objects.

Model specification recommendation

Parameter	High performance equipment	Mid performance equipment	Low performance equipment
Polycount (Unit: 10k Polys)	1,000	300	50
Textures	100	10	1
Material	500	100	10
Sub-objects	1,000	200	50

High performance equipment: This specifically refers to mid-to-high-end PC hosts, top-tier iOS devices, and high-end Android models.

Examples of high-end Android models include:

• • CPU: Snapdragon 8+ Gen1, Dimensity 9000
  • RAM: 12G/16G

Mid performance equipment: Common PC hosts, mid-to-high-end iOS devices, and mid-range Android models；

Examples of mid-range Android models include:

• • CPU: Snapdragon 778G
  • RAM: 8G

Low performance equipment: Common iOS devices, HoloLens2 and Android low-end models.

The data in the table is recommended as reference values, representing typical values under normal circumstances. It does not guarantee applicability in any environment. The final display effect is influenced by numerous factors, and the actual operating effect shall be subject to the critical value of any item.