3D file formats are the ways 3D models are saved and shared. GLB and glTF are the standard for the web and browser AR; FBX carries animation between 3D apps; OBJ is a simple, widely supported mesh format; and USDZ is Apple's format for AR Quick Look. For browser AR, export GLB.
Also known as: 3D model formats, GLB vs FBX vs OBJ vs USDZ, 3D export formats
How it works
Formats differ in what they carry: geometry only (OBJ, with a separate material file), geometry plus rigs and animation (FBX), or everything in one compact, web-ready file (GLB). Most tools export several, and converters bridge the rest.
How it works in illust
illust's AR Studio takes 3D as .glb. Convert FBX or OBJ to GLB in Blender or a converter, bake animations, and keep files under 30MB.
Key facts
- illust accepts .glb for 3D (illust FAQ).
- Apple and Pixar introduced USDZ in 2018 for AR on iOS (The Next Web).
- Materials travel inside a GLB, so export settings matter: Black Sludge's black mirrored finish came from shader settings that changed when the mask was first brought into AR (illust MF DOOM Legacy Auction).
- The Black Sludge GLB went from 14.4MB to 2.7MB after mesh simplification, meshopt compression and 1024px textures, with no visible change (illust).
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FAQ
What's the best 3D format for AR?
GLB for browser and cross-platform AR; USDZ only for Apple's AR Quick Look.
Can I upload FBX or OBJ to illust?
Convert them to GLB first. Blender imports both and exports GLB.