An exchange format (a.k.a. generic or open source format) is a 3D model file format that doesn't belong to any particular application, but is used primarily to transfer (exchange) a model between applications.
To ensure the model preserves as much info as possible in an exchange format it should be made ready for conversion with limitations in mind. For example, materials should be prepared/baked as standard materials. Rigging should be kept as basic as possible. If there is a possibility it is recommended to double-check the exported model and its functionality in various software.
While it is not required in our Marketplace for exchange formats to work perfectly, you can always ask our Support to convert the models to achieve better compatibility with your software.
All exchange formats hold information on the 3D model's geometry. However, they vary greatly in how much information they carry about textures, mapping, rigging, and animation, and in how closely they adhere to the original model's topology.
Features that are specific to a 3D application, such as physics simulations, particle systems, render settings or plugin dependent data are not held by exchange formats.
|
Format |
Supported data | Not supported data (features described above excluded) |
| OBJ + MTL |
Geometry (quad) Materials (standard) Mapping (UV coordinates) Normals |
Complex materials Rigging Animation Vertex colors |
| FBX |
Geometry (quad) Materials (standard) Mapping (UV coordinates) Normals Rigging (skeleton, skinning, morphs...) Animation |
Complex materials (Vray, Corona, Octane, etc.) Complex rigging (rig controls, IK rig, etc.) |
| 3DS |
Geometry (triangles, limit of 65536 vertices/mesh) Materials (standard; name limit to 16 characters) Textures (filename limit to the 8.3 DOS format (8 characters)) Object, light and camera (name limit to 10 characters) |
Complex materials Animation Accurate vertex normals |
| DAE |
Geometry (quad) Materials (standard) Mapping (UV coordinates) Normals Rigging (skeleton, skinning, morphs...) Animation |
Complex materials (Vray, Corona, Octane, etc.) Complex rigging (rig controls, IK rig, etc.) |
| STL | Geometry (triangles) |
Materials Textures Mapping Rigging Animation |
| DXF | Geometry (triangles, limit of 32K faces) |
Materials Textures Mapping Rigging Animation |
| IGES | Geometry (nurbs) |
Materials Textures Mapping Rigging Animation |
| STEP | Geometry (nurbs) |
Materials Textures Mapping Rigging Animation |