XO3D Studio · 3D Rendering
3D File Format Guide: What to Send, What to Expect
The right format. The right pipeline.
3D file formats are not created equal. STEP, IGES, OBJ, FBX, GLB and USDZ all have distinct strengths. This guide covers what each format is, when to use it, and how format choice affects downstream rendering, animation and interactive work.
Format choice decides pipeline behaviour.
Send the right file to a CGI studio and the pipeline runs smoothly. Send the wrong file, or lose data in translation, and every downstream stage pays for it. This guide describes the practical differences.
Most product CGI projects use one of a small set of formats. Get to know which does what and the whole brief runs faster.
Advantages
Why brands commission it.
CAD preserves engineering accuracy.
STEP, IGES and native CAD keep engineering-grade tolerances. Best for technical or macro work.
FBX carries animation and materials.
Animation projects benefit from FBX for exchanging scene, materials and rig data.
GLB is the modern web standard.
Real-time, AR, WebXR and configurator work all lean on GLB. Compact and PBR-native.
USDZ delivers native iOS AR.
Paired with GLB, USDZ delivers native AR to iOS Quick Look without any extra plumbing.
Trade-offs
What to plan for.
Not every format carries everything.
OBJ has no scene state. STL has no colour. GLB has no CAD-grade tolerances. Choose the format for the job.
Translation can lose data.
Every export or import can drop something. Native formats between compatible tools are always safer.
AR needs a matched pair.
iOS needs USDZ, Android needs GLB. Both must be produced and kept in sync when the model updates.
File size differences are big.
CAD formats can be tiny. Real-time GLB can be much larger due to baked textures. Plan asset delivery accordingly.
Applications
Where the finished asset ships.
STEP and IGES.
CAD interchange formats. Preserve geometry accurately, favoured for engineering-led source data.
SolidWorks and Parasolid.
Native and mid-level CAD formats. Best when the receiving studio uses a CAD-friendly modelling pipeline.
OBJ.
Universal polygon format. Widely supported, no scene state, good for static geometry.
FBX.
Industry-standard exchange for modelling and animation. Carries scene, materials and animation data.
GLB and glTF.
Web-standard format for real-time and AR. Compact, PBR-friendly, ideal for web deployment.
USDZ.
Apple's AR format for iOS Quick Look. Pairs with GLB for cross-platform AR delivery.
Process
How the work is produced.
- STAGE 1
Identify the source.
CAD (STEP, IGES, SolidWorks) for engineering-led. DCC (native Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D) for artist-led. Photography-only if no digital source exists.
- STAGE 2
Identify the target.
Rendering (any format works if geometry lands), animation (FBX or native), interactive (GLB), AR (GLB + USDZ).
- STAGE 3
Choose interchange.
STEP for CAD-to-DCC, FBX for animation exchange, OBJ for static polygon, GLB for web and AR.
- STAGE 4
Preserve source.
Always keep the original source file. Translations happen against it, not against previous translations.
- STAGE 5
Validate on receipt.
Open the file, check geometry, materials and scale. Do not assume translation succeeded until verified.
- STAGE 6
Archive final.
Final production files archived at project end. Reuse becomes easy when the archive is organised.
Who this is for
Built for teams making it happen.
Product design teams sending CAD to CGI studios. CGI studios receiving and translating incoming source data.
In-house creative teams managing 3D asset libraries. Freelance CGI artists moving between tools and pipelines.
Case studies
Recent work.
Petalite EV charger. Full launch content set from one CGI build, applying the disciplines in this guide.
View case study
Sony WF-C710 wireless earphones. Techniques from this guide applied to hero animation and product imagery.
View case study
G-Lab gaming keyboard launch. One 3D build driving film, stills, and interactive content.
View case studyTestimonial
The team at XO3D were a pleasure to work with on one of our big product launches. They rendered, batched, and saved out literally thousands of images for us. Every single one came out perfect.
For a sibling topic, see product modelling and how to write a project brief.
FAQ
Common questions, answered.
What is the best format to send a CGI studio?
STEP or native CAD (SolidWorks, Parasolid, Rhino) for engineering-led work. FBX or native DCC files for artist-led. Include reference imagery and dimensions regardless.
Can I send an OBJ?
Yes, but OBJ carries no scene state or materials. Send it as static geometry, and provide separate material and dimension spec alongside.
How do GLB and USDZ differ?
GLB is the open web standard, supported by Android Scene Viewer, WebXR and most 3D tools. USDZ is Apple's native AR format used by iOS Quick Look. Cross-platform AR needs both.
Should I convert files myself?
Usually not. Studios have specialist tools for translation. Sending the highest-fidelity source you have is the safest route.
Working on a project?
Tell us about it.
Thomas or Alex replies personally — usually within one working day.