Supported Formats

  • Published on Nov 17, 2025
  • 1 minute(s) read
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Prevu3D supports importing mesh models that were generated outside the platform. These meshes may originate from:

  • Reality capture data, such as lidar or photogrammetry, processed into a mesh using external tools

  • Hand-modeled geometry, created directly in 3D modeling software

Mesh inputs are used when the geometry has already been reconstructed prior to upload. Since surface information is already defined, no scan positions or normal computation is required, making mesh uploads straightforward.

Supported Mesh Formats

OBJ

Prevu3D fully supports the OBJ format, including:

  • .obj geometry file

  • .mtl material file

  • Texture files (usually .jpg or .png)

OBJ datasets must be uploaded as a single ZIP archive containing all required files.

Warning

Inside the ZIP, the .obj, .mtl, and texture files must maintain their relative paths so materials resolve correctly.

FBX

Prevu3D also supports FBX files. FBX often packages geometry, materials, and textures together, depending on the exporting software.

Accepted content includes:

  • Textured FBX meshes

  • FBX models with embedded or external textures (FBM)

  • Single or multiple materials

If your FBX uses external textures, ensure all texture files are included in the ZIP archive prior to upload.

Warning

Prevu3D does not support or preserve animations contained in an FBX file.

The platform is designed for large-scale environment visualization rather than small animated assets, and only the static geometry and materials from the FBX will be used.

General Requirements & Recommendations

File Organization

  • Ensure that all files belonging to the mesh are included in a single ZIP before uploading.

  • Texture paths must resolve correctly, otherwise materials may appear untextured.

Texture Guidelines

  • JPG or PNG textures are supported.

  • Higher resolution textures result in better visual quality.

  • Keep texture names consistent with material references (case sensitive in some exporters).

Scale & Orientation

Prevu3D imports the mesh exactly as provided, so it is important that:

  • The model is exported at the correct real-world scale, and

  • The orientation matches Prevu3D’s coordinate system expectations

Prevu3D expects meshes to be exported using a Z-up, right-handed coordinate system.

Info

If the orientation is incorrect upon upload, you can adjust it manually using the RealityComposer tool.
However, for georeferenced datasets, it is strongly recommended to export the mesh in the correct coordinate system from the start, since orientation adjustments may affect spatial alignment with other data sources.