Universal 3D


Universal 3D
Filename extension .u3d
Developed by 3D Industry Forum,
Ecma International
Initial release August 2005
Latest release 4th edition / June 2007
Type of format File format for 3D computer graphics
Extended from XML
Standard(s) ECMA-363
Website Standard ECMA-363

Universal 3D (U3D) is a compressed file format standard for 3D computer graphics data.

The format was defined by a special consortium called 3D Industry Forum that brought together a diverse group of companies and organizations, including Intel, Boeing, HP, Adobe Systems, Bentley Systems, Right Hemisphere and others whose main focus had been the promotional development of 3D graphics for use in various industries, specifically at this time manufacturing as well as construction and industrial plant design. The format was later standardized by Ecma International in August 2005 as ECMA-363.

The goal is a universal standard for three-dimensional data of all kinds, to facilitate data exchange. The consortium promoted also the development of an open source library for facilitating the adoption of the format.

The format is natively supported by the PDF format and 3D objects in U3D format can be inserted into PDF documents and interactively visualized by Acrobat Reader (since version 7).

Application support

PDF with embedded U3D objects can be created by at least the following list of applications:

  • Adobe Acrobat Extended allows PDF creation and conversion of various file formats to U3D within the PDF.
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro allows PDF creation and embedding of pre-created U3D files.
  • Bentley Systems MicroStation allows export of PDF containing U3D.
  • Pdftex with the movie15 package.
  • Right Hemisphere Deep Exploration allows export of PDF containing U3D, or standalone U3D files.
  • Siemens PLM Software Process Simulate allows export of U3D files.

Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader (since version 7), Photoshop CS3, Poser 7, DAZ Studio and MeshLab support U3D.

See also

External links







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