Interactive Preview Formats in Connecter

“Get to Know Connecter” is a series of articles designed to acquaint you with the diverse features and functionalities of Connecter. Whether you’re a freelancer or a member of a large organization, this series will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate our Digital Asset Management solution confidently and boost your productivity.

We’ve been over the intricacies of Connecter’s previews, and you’re already aware of the built-in OpenGL that allows you to preview various 3d assets interactively. With it, you can see them from all angles and try out different lighting and background settings, among other things.

So, below, we’ll focus on some of the most popular file formats Connecter supports for interactive previews and their uses and benefits.

GL Transmission Format (glTF)

GL Transmission Format (glTF) is an open, royalty-free file format that has rapidly become the de facto standard for 3D asset exchange across various industries and crucial for the Web. Its key strength is its compact file size — the combination of binary and JSON representations enables it to store 3D models with a minimal file size.

Universal Scene Description (USD)

Universal Scene Description (USD) is a flexible 3D file format and framework that revolutionizes the way 3D content is created and managed. Developed by Pixar Animation Studios, it’s expected to be the next universal and widely-used format.

Filmbox (FBX)

FBX is a 3D file format for a wide range of 3D data, including models, animations, cameras, lights, materials, and more. With Connecter, you can conveniently play animated previews directly in its desktop app.

Wavefront OBJ

OBJ was developed initially by Wavefront Technologies for their Advanced Visualizer software but has since become a universal and open standard in the 3D graphics industry. These files are text-based, making them human-readable and editable with a plain text editor, which is handy for manual tweaking and troubleshooting 3D models.

3D Studio (3DS)

3DS is a longstanding format in 3D modeling and serves as a valuable resource for legacy projects, educational purposes, and basic 3D modeling tasks. While it may not offer the advanced capabilities of more modern formats, its simplicity and wide compatibility ensure its continued use in various applications.

Alembic (ABC)

The previous attempt at developing an universal file format is Alembic (ABC) from Sony Pictures Imageworks. This open-source CG interchange format addresses the challenges of storing, sharing, and exchanging complex animation and simulation data in 3D animation, visual effects, and computer graphics.

SolidWorks (STL)

STL is a file format used in the field of 3D computer-aided design (CAD). It was designed for rapid prototyping and 3D printing applications, and it played a pivotal role in the accessibility and democratization of 3D printing technology. In fact, it’s so well made that very little has changed over the years.

Cinema 4D (C4D)

The Cinema 4D (C4D) file format can store comprehensive 3D scene data, including objects, materials, textures, lights, cameras, animations, and more. These files are binary, so they aren’t human-readable like OBJ files, but they offer efficient storage of 3D data, resulting in smaller file sizes.

LightWave (LWO)

The LWO format is native to LightWave, and given that the last version is from 2020, this format’s lifecycle may be coming to an end soon. Now it’s considered “vintage,” but for a while, it was the most reliable way to represent complex 3D scenes.

Collada (DAE)

Collada may be short for “COLLAborative Design Activity,” but nobody knows where “DAE” came from. This XML-based file format for various 3D data types facilitates the content exchange between applications like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Unity3D, and many others.

It was widely used in the Game Development industry for importing 3D assets into game engines, but now there are more optimized formats.

Wrap up

Connecter offers a diverse range of interactive preview formats for 3D assets, catering to various industries and use cases. Formats like OBJ, gLTF, USD, etc., play a crucial role in enhancing workflow efficiency and compatibility in the 3D content creation and design process, ultimately contributing to the success of projects and the evolution of 3D technology across different sectors.

If you’re looking for a way to take control of your digital assets, our DAM might be a good fit for your needs. Contact our support team to find out more about its organizational and collaboration features.

Disclaimer: Some of the images in the article are generated by Midjourney