glTF / glb is the standard format for 3d on the web: to make it even easier, glTF is considered the jpg for 3D.
Why? Because it is light and designed to minimize the size of a 3D asset, making the runtime processing flow fast and smooth.
But what are they exactly? Surprisingly, glTF and glb are the same things. What changes and differentiates them is the approach:
The glTF is a non-autonomous file because it can contain links to other textures and binary files.
The glb is an autonomous file because it has everything you need enclosed in it.
Moreover, these formats are royalty-free, which is pretty convenient.
How to use glTF and glb on Aryel platform
On Aryel, you can choose between using one of the ready-to-use 3D models available in our libraries or upload your custom glb/glTF files.
You have a 3D model in a different format? No problem: you can easily convert it into glTF / glb with a program like Blender or the many converters you find online — however, the great news is the Aryel platform will soon support different formats too! Yay!
You can even convert a glTF file into a glb one to make everything even smoother.
Why should you do so? As we already said, glb is a single file, or — speaking geekish — a single network request, and therefore it is much smaller than glTF.
Okay, till here was pretty easy, right? To be safe, here’s a recap
glTF / glb is the standard formats for 3D on the web
it’s good for you since it makes your AR experiences run fast and smoothly
glb is more convenient than glTF since it is a single file that has everything you need enclosed in it
you can convert different 3D files into this format
How to convert to glTF / glb
1 — Export your 3D model
Blender 2.8b and Substance Painter both support glTF export. Before exporting, be sure that:
The pivot point is at the base of the model
The forward vector of the object is along Z-axis
2 — Convert to GLB
You have different solutions:
Use an online converter such as https://www.creators3d.com/online-viewer.
Use CLI tool here MOST RELIABLE
If you use Maya, install Maya GLTF export tool (supports GLB, macOS/Windows)
Try many other solutions available here
👉 Already have GLTF + bin? Convert to GLB here
3 — Check your model
Navigate to https://gltf-viewer.donmccurdy.com
Drop-in your newly created GLB
Inspect your model and confirm there are no issues with geometry or textures
If you have some animations, unfurl the “Animation” tab and make sure every animation clip is listed beginning with “idle,” “motion,” clip 3, clip 4, etc.