3D models and viewer
Upload an architecture model, compose a clay view, and use a saved capture as the source for Enhance.
Updated Aug 11, 2026 · 5 min read
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This reference owns supported formats, Viewer tools, setup corrections, and conversion recovery. Follow the 3D model render tutorial for the complete capture-to-Enhance procedure.
Conversion costs no credits. One package must contain exactly one root model and be 200 MB or smaller.
Supported files
The software column gives conservative examples, not an exhaustive compatibility list. Export support varies by software and version. Check your installed export options.
| Accepted format/family | Software commonly able to export it | Requirements/notes |
|---|---|---|
| GLB or glTF with companions | Blender | GLB is simplest. Include every glTF companion file. Remote links are rejected. |
| IFC or IFCZIP | Revit, Archicad, Vectorworks | Use IFC2X3 or IFC4 with visible building elements. |
| STEP/STP | Rhino, Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS, FreeCAD | Include valid, visible solids or surfaces. |
| IGES/IGS | Rhino, Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS, FreeCAD | Include valid, visible solids or surfaces. |
| OpenCascade BREP | FreeCAD or other OpenCascade-based tools | Include valid, visible solids or surfaces. |
| FCStd | FreeCAD | Include visible shapes. Plugins are not loaded. |
| BLEND | Blender | Save a static visible scene. Scripts are disabled and presentation data is removed. |
| FBX | Blender, SketchUp Pro, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D | Export a static visible exchange scene. |
| DAE | Blender, SketchUp Pro, Cinema 4D | Export a static visible exchange scene. |
| ABC | Blender, Maya, Houdini, Cinema 4D | Export a static visible exchange scene. |
| USD, USDA, or USDC | Blender, Maya, Houdini, 3ds Max | Export a static visible exchange scene. |
| USDZ | Reality Composer Pro or other USDZ exporters | One example source. Export a static visible exchange scene. |
| OBJ | Blender, Rhino, SketchUp Pro | Include triangle geometry and required companions. Units or orientation can be ambiguous. |
| STL | Blender, Rhino, FreeCAD | Include triangle geometry. Units, up axis, and Front are not defined. |
| PLY | Blender | Include triangle geometry. Units or orientation can be ambiguous. |
| 3MF | Rhino, FreeCAD | Include visible triangle geometry. |
| 3DS | 3ds Max | Include visible triangle geometry. |
| 3D DXF | AutoCAD, Rhino, FreeCAD | Include 3DFACE or mesh entities only. Units or orientation can be ambiguous. |
| 3DM | Rhino | Save shaded cached render meshes. Do not use SaveSmall. |
Unsupported authoring formats include RVT/RFA, SKP, MAX/C4D, DWG, PLN/VWX, NWD/NWC, and modern DGN. This list is not exhaustive. Export a supported exchange format first.
A package can be one file, a file with companions, a folder, or a ZIP.
Upload and open a model
The 3D models panel accepts one file, a companion set, a folder, or a ZIP. Conversion continues when you leave the Project. Ready tiles open Viewer; processing tiles show the current conversion stage.
Tutorial: Find the 3D models panel and upload.
A replacement keeps the current model available until the new version is ready. A failed replacement leaves the current model unchanged.
Inspect and compose
Viewer includes Layers, Camera, Appearance, Section, Detail, and Model setup. Camera controls projection and lens. Views provides standard directions and named saved views. Presentation is the default clay appearance.
Layers hides or isolates geometry. Section reveals interiors. Reset view recenters the complete model without changing those choices.
Tutorial: Compose the camera in Viewer.
Capture and Enhance
Capture mode locks the camera and hides Viewer chrome and helpers. Its crop defines the exact PNG frame and output size. Download PNG saves locally. Save capture keeps the Viewer capture with the Project.
After Save capture, the result opens with Enhance this capture as the primary action. It closes the viewer, switches the Composer to Enhance, attaches the saved image as the source, and focuses the prompt. It does not send. Stay in capture mode returns to the same crop and controls.
Tutorial: Capture and save the shot.
Saved captures remain under Captures and This project. Deleting the source model removes it from the Project immediately. Saved captures remain.
Correct model setup
Use Viewer → Model setup only when scale or orientation is wrong. Camera Orbit and saved Views do not change the model itself.
- Check the imported units and up axis.
- For STL, choose the units used during export.
- Choose Y up or Z up.
- Use the quarter-turn controls, or orbit to a side and choose Set current view as Front.
- Review Setup preview · Not applied.
- Choose Reset preview or Apply correction.
Applying a correction clears saved Views tied to the old geometry. Existing captures remain unchanged. Replace the source when you need X-up, mirroring, pitch, roll, or an arbitrary angle.
Recover a conversion
An initial conversion with no ready version cannot open. A failed replacement keeps the current ready model openable. Use the tile Actions menu, then choose Retry conversion or Replace file.
- IFC needs visible building elements.
- Solid CAD may need repaired solids or visible surfaces.
- DCC files need a static visible scene.
- DXF needs 3D face/mesh entities.
- 3DM needs cached render meshes from a shaded Rhino view.