glTF

glTF (derivative short form of Graphics Language Transmission Format or GL Transmission Format) is a standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models. A glTF file uses one of two possible file extensions, .gltf (JSON/ASCII) or .glb (binary). A .gltf file may be self-contained or may reference external binary and texture resources, while a .glb file is entirely self-contained.[3] An open standard developed and maintained by the Khronos Group, it supports 3D model geometry, appearance, scene graph hierarchy, and animation.[4] It is intended to be a streamlined, interoperable format for the delivery of 3D assets, while minimizing file size and runtime processing by apps.[4][5] As such, its creators have described it as the "JPEG of 3D."[4] The binary version of the format is called GLB, where all assets are stored in a single file.[4][6]

glTF
glTF official logo
Filename extension
.gltf, .glb
Internet media typemodel/gltf+json, model/gltf-binary
Developed byKhronos Group
Initial release19 October 2015 (2015-10-19)[1]
Latest release
2.0
(5 June 2017 (2017-06-05)[2])
Type of format3D computer graphics
Websitekhronos.org/gltf

Releases

glTF 1.0

The file format was conceived in 2012 by members of the COLLADA working group.[7] At SIGGRAPH 2012, Khronos presented a demo of glTF, which was then called WebGL Transmissions Format (WebGL TF).[6] On October 19, 2015, the glTF 1.0 specification was released.[6]

At SIGGRAPH 2016, Oculus announced their adoption of glTF citing the similarities to their ovrscene format.[5][8] In October 2016, Microsoft joined the 3D Formats working group at Khronos to collaborate on glTF.[9]

glTF 2.0

The second version, glTF 2.0, was released in June 2017, and is a complete overhaul of the file format from version 1.0, with most tools adopting the 2.0 version.[4][6] Physically Based Rendering (PBR) was added, replacing WebGL shaders used in glTF 1.0.[10] Other upgrades include sparse accessors and morph targets for techniques such as facial animation, and schema tweaks and breaking changes for corner cases or performance such as replacing top-level glTF object properties with arrays for faster index-based access.[11] There is ongoing work towards import and export in Unity[12] and an integrated multi-engine viewer / validator.[13]

On March 3, 2017, Microsoft announced that they will be using glTF 2.0 as the 3D asset format across their product line, including Paint 3D, 3D Viewer, Remix 3D, Babylon.js, and Microsoft Office. Sketchfab also announced support for glTF 2.0. As of 2019, the glTF and GLB formats are used on and supported by companies including UX3D, Sketchfab, Facebook, Microsoft, Oculus, Google, Adobe, Box, TurboSquid, and Unreal Engine.[5][6][14][15] The format has been noted as an important standard for augmented reality, integrating with modeling software such as Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Poly.[16]

In February 2020, the Smithsonian Institution launched their Open Access Initiative, releasing approximately 2.8 million 2D images and 3D models into the public domain, delivering the 3D models in glTF.[17]

GLB

The GLB file format is a binary form of glTF that includes textures instead of referencing them as external images. GLB was introduced as an extension to glTF 1.0 and incorporated directly into glTF 2.0.[4]

Derivative formats

On August 10, 2015, 3D Tiles, now a proposed OGC Community Standard, built on glTF to add a spatial data structure, metadata, and declarative styling for streaming massive heterogeneous 3D geospatial datasets.[18][19][20] VRM, a model format for VR, is built on the .glb format.[21] It is a 3D humanoid avatar specification and file format.[22]

Software ecosystem

glTF loaders are in open-source WebGL engines including PlayCanvas, Three.js, Babylon.js, Cesium, PEX, xeogl, and A-Frame.

Open-source glTF converters are available from COLLADA, FBX, and OBJ. Assimp can import and export glTF.

glTF files can also be directly exported from a variety of 3D editors, such as Blender, Vectary, Autodesk 3ds Max (using Verge3D exporter[23]), Autodesk Maya (using babylon.js exporter[24]), Modo, Paint 3D, and Substance Painter.[25]

glTF files can directly edited in Gestaltor.

Open-source glTF utility libraries are available for programming languages including JavaScript, Node.js, C++, C#, Java, Go, Rust, Haxe, Ada, and TypeScript.

An open-source glTF validator can validate if 3D models conform to the glTF specification.[26]

See also

References
  1. "Khronos Finalizes glTF 1.0 Specification - Khronos Group Press Release".
  2. "KhronosGroup/glTF".
  3. "glTF 2.0". blender.org. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. "glTF (GL Transmission Format) Family". loc.gov. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  5. Hamilton, Ian. "Oculus Executive Calls For 3D Equivalent Of JPEG To Build The Metaverse". uploadvr.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  6. Simkin, Aliaksei. "Behind the scene of 3D Magic". globant.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  7. Houston, Ben. "glTF: Everything You Need to Know". threekit.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. "Update" (PDF). www.khronos.org. 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  9. "Bringing 3D to everyone through open standards". Windows Developer Blog. 28 October 2016.
  10. "glTF 2.0". augmania.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. "glTF 2.0 syntax changes and JSON encoding restrictions · Issue #831 · KhronosGroup/glTF". GitHub. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  12. UnityGLTF: Runtime GLTF Loader for Unity3D, The Khronos Group, 2017-09-26, retrieved 2017-09-26
  13. "Web-based client-side preview and validation · Issue #1081 · KhronosGroup/glTF". GitHub. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  14. "Introducing new APIs to improve augmented reality development with ARCore". Google Developers Blog. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  15. Haslam, Oliver. "Adobe's new Aero app lets you create AR experiences on iPhone and iPad". imore.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  16. "glTF is a huge deal for VR + AR". worldviz.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  17. Burns, Chris. "Smithsonian Open Access initiative releases loads of 3D models to public domain". slashgear.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  18. "Cesium 3D Tiles".
  19. "OGC is considering a proposed work item for 3D Tiles as a Community Standard".
  20. "3D Tiles Community Standards Justification".
  21. "VRM specification". github.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  22. "VRM" (PDF). khronos.org. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  23. "How to make Facebook 3D posts". 3D Print Tech Design. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  24. "Export Maya scene as glTF". Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  25. "GLB Tutorials". Facebook Developers. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  26. "Overview" (PDF). www.khronos.org. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
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