Export Models with Blender

You can use any 3D modeling program that can export glTF/GLB/OBJ files and load them into the web-based visualization. This section describes the use of the open-source tool Blender.

Enable the glTF Addon

Open the addon preferences by clicking Edit - Preferences - Add-ons. Search for the Import-Export: glTF 2.0 format addon and enable it as shown in Fig. 14.

Enable the **Import-Export: glTF 2.0 format** addon

Fig. 14 Enable the Import-Export: glTF 2.0 format addon

Prepare the Model

  • Make sure all translation, rotation and scale values are applied. Translation and rotation values are zero and scale values 1 as shown in Fig. 15 on the right side.

  • Make sure that the origin of the object is at the position around which you want to rotate the object later in the 3D visualization.

  • If you want to use materials, make sure that the shaders used in Blender are compatible with the glTF format, such as the Principled BSDF shader.

Export the Model

Select the object(s) and open the glTF export menu by clicking File - Export - glTF 2.0 (.glb/.gltf) (Fig. 15).

The glTF export menu

Fig. 15 The glTF export menu

Choose glTF Binary (.glb) as format and limit to Selected Objects as shown in Fig. 16. Make sure to deselect +Y Up transformation.

The glTF export settings

Fig. 16 The glTF export settings