Comprehensive Guide to 3D File Formats: Uses, Pros & Cons, and More

1. STL (Standard Tessellation Language)

STL represents one of the most popular 3D printing data formats thanks to its simplicity as well as efficiency. It stores surface geometry using triangles, making it lightweight and easy to process. But STL does not have support for textures, colors, or animation, only to the shape of the object.

Its compatibility with most 3D printers makes it a go-to format for rapid prototyping and manufacturing, though it is limited to static models without additional visual or functional details.

Features:

• Represents 3D surface geometry with triangular facets
• Lightweight and efficient structure
• High compatibility with most 3D printers
• Supports both ASCII and binary file formats
• No native support for textures, colors, or metadata
  
  

2. FBX (Filmbox)

FBX is a versatile format designed for animations, games, and film production. Autodesk features rich rigging, animation, and texture capabilities, allowing highly detailed character and scene designs. 

It is very compatible with the most famous 3D software, so it is widely used for teamwork. While it offers an extensive feature set, FBX files are often large and proprietary, which can pose challenges for workflows requiring open standards or lightweight file handling.

According to our 3D designer, “FBX (Filmbox) is one of the best formats because exporting it is very easy, and it produces excellent results.”

Features:

• Supports complex animations, rigging, and keyframes
• Encodes textures, materials, and lighting data
• High compatibility with major 3D modeling tools
• Available in both ASCII and binary formats
• Proprietary format maintained by Autodesk

3. COLLADA (Collaborative Design Activity)

COLLADA is an open file format that allows for the interchangeability of 3D assets between applications. It offers a broad set of features including textures, animations and physics, and is suitable for AR/VR game development. As a format based on XML it encourages interoperability and shared workflows. But its complexity makes it yield to further processing issues and adoption is low in some domains in favor of proprietary formats which offer efficient workflow.

Features:

• Supports textures, animations, and physical simulations
• XML-based structure for easy readability and editing
• Designed for cross-platform compatibility
• Ideal for AR/VR applications and interactive environments
• Extensible format with robust customization options.

4. OBJ (Object File)

OBJ is one of the most common formats for 3D models because of its simplicity and compatibility. It supports geometry, textures, and materials, making it a popular choice in gaming and 3D visualization. 

Despite being simple to process and mold, OBJ files lack animation support and as a consequence, are well suited for static models. Its general compatibility guarantees its continued importance, although very large models lead to very large file sizes.

According to several 3D designers, “It's really good for exporting simple meshes because of smaller file sizes.”

Features:

• Stores geometry and texture data
• Supports materials and UV maps
• Simple and easy-to-read file structure
• Widely compatible with 3D software and game engines
• No native support for animations

5. 3DS (3D Studio)

3DS is an old format for Autodesk's 3D Studio, widely adopted in architectural rendering and design. It is desirable for its small file size and its ability to hold geometry, textures, and lighting. However, its outdated structure limits support for advanced features like animations or modern rendering techniques. 

Although there are existing drawbacks, 3DS continues to be a viable choice for lightweight projects consisting of compact, efficient files and wide system software tool compatibility.

Features:

• Compact file size for efficient storage
• Encodes geometry, textures, and lighting data
• Widely compatible with older software
• Limited support for modern rendering techniques
• Static format with minimal animation support

6. 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format)

3MF is a recent standard format for 3D printing design, which has been adapted to the complex requirements of advanced manufacturing. It expresses rich information, such as textures, materials, metadata, etc., to achieve accuracy and efficiency in the printing process. 

Optimizing for additive manufacturing overcomes the shortcomings of previous formats such as STL. However, 3MF's ability to work on legacy software and hardware may be restricted, and 3MF is most appropriate for data workflows that essentially use modern instruments and software.

Features:

• Encodes textures, materials, and metadata
• Optimized for additive manufacturing workflows
• Advanced support for multi-material 3D printing
• Lightweight format with robust functionality
• Limited compatibility with older tools

8. GLB (GL Transmission Format Binary)

GLB is a binary version of the GLTF (Graphics Library Transmission Format), designed for efficient transmission and rendering of 3D assets. It provides a compact file format that includes textures, animations, and geometry in a single package, making it ideal for web, AR, VR, and game applications.

GLB is widely used due to its lightweight nature and fast loading times. It is an open standard developed by the Khronos Group, ensuring broad compatibility across various platforms and applications.

Features:

• Supports 3D geometry, animations, PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials, and interactivity
• Optimized for real-time rendering and web-based applications
• Efficient file format with textures and data stored in a single binary file
• Open standard with strong adoption across industries
• Suitable for AR/VR, gaming, and e-commerce applications

Related Article: GLTF vs GLB: Which format is right for your 3D projects?

8. AMF (Advanced Manufacturing Format)

AMF is an open format, existing in an XML-based data model, for promoting 3D-printing workflows. It encompasses multi-material and color printing, providing features and functionalities that go beyond classic formats such as STL. AMF encodes detailed data, including materials, textures, and structures, enhancing manufacturing precision. 

Although it is both powerful and versatile, its implementation is constrained by compatibility with legacy or less specialized software, and therefore, it is most suitable for high-technology printing systems.

Features:

• Supports multi-material and multi-color 3D printing
• Encodes material, texture, and color data
• XML-based format for easy parsing and customization
• Designed for advanced 3D printing applications
• Open standard for cross-platform compatibility.

9. USDZ (Universal Scene Description Zip Archive)

USDZ is a 3D file format developed by Apple and Pixar, optimized for AR applications on iOS devices. It is a package format based on the Universal Scene Description (USD) framework, allowing seamless integration with ARKit and native Apple applications like Safari and Messages.

USDZ is designed for high-quality, interactive 3D content while maintaining performance across Apple’s ecosystem. It supports advanced materials, lighting, and animations, making it ideal for AR experiences.

Features:

• Supports rich 3D geometry, animations, materials, and physics
• Optimized for augmented reality on iOS devices
• Seamless integration with Apple’s AR ecosystem (ARKit, Safari, Quick Look)
• High visual fidelity with support for advanced rendering techniques
• Portable and shareable with no need for additional apps

10. STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data)

STEP is an ISO-compliant data exchange format for Computer-aided Design (CAD) data in the areas of engineering and manufacturing. It encodes highly computable 3D geometry, assemblies, and metadata, so it is essential to collaborative workflows and product lifecycle management. 

STEP is a popular tool in industrial applications, and it is recognized for its accuracy and robustness. Nevertheless, because of its large file sizes and complexity, it can become a challenge, particularly in workflows with a demand for low or real-time processing.

When asked a designer, we got this reply,  “STP is more commonly used in printing for CAD-based work, making it a better choice for those types of applications.”

Features:

• Supports 3D geometry, assemblies, and metadata
• Highly detailed and precise format for engineering applications
• Facilitates collaboration in manufacturing and design
• ISO standards are widespread in the industry
• It can result in large and complex files

Emerging Trends in 3D File Formats

Apart from these common 3D file formats, let’s have a look at some key trends that you must know: 

1. Increased Interoperability: Emerging 3D file formats prioritize compatibility across platforms and applications, enabling seamless data exchange, reducing conversion errors, and improving workflow efficiency in industries like gaming, design, and manufacturing.
   
   
2. Smaller File Sizes: New formats, such as GLTF, are targeted towards minimization of file sizes and maintaining the quality of a model, leading to accelerated loading times and improved performance for web-based applications, mobile devices and AR/VR applications.
   
   
3. Support for Complex Geometries: Next-generation file types are now able to deal with complex geometries and curves (e.g., NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines), enabling a higher-accuracy modelling of applications such as the automotive and architectural industries where precision counts.
   
   
4. Real-Time Rendering Optimization: To accommodate real-time rendering, 3D formats are changing and tools are improving to allow smoother performance in interactive applications (such as video games, AR/VR and simulations), where visual feedback must be delivered in real-time.
   
   
5. AR/VR-Specific Formats: Formats such as GLTF are adapted for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) usage, providing a light weight efficient data flow, together with complex texture and animation capabilities, and by accommodating interaction to achieve immersive experience.
   
   
6. Improved Support for Complex Geometries: New formats can more effectively accommodate complicated geometries, i.e., curved geometries or fine details, giving way to more realistic representation of designs in areas such as, automotive, industrial design and architecture.
   
   
7. Cloud Integration: With an increasing number of 3D models aggregated and kept in the cloud, collaboration, and sharing become better, allowing teams to work remotely for complex designs, share them instantly, and improve workflows in the manufacturing or architectural industry, for example.
   
   

Conclusion

Selecting the right 3D animation file format is essential for product and graphic designers aiming to excel in their craft. With the right choice, you can streamline your processes, enhance collaboration, and ensure your designs shine across platforms and mediums. By paying close attention to factors like compatibility, performance, features, and format type, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the vast landscape of 3D design with confidence and creativity.