The now widely supported format allows developers to store rendering data such as animations, level-of-detail, shaders, as well as diffuse, normal and specularity maps. Collada (COLLaborative Design Activity) is a versatile format well-suited for digital assets that was developed by Sony.OFF (Object File Format) is a simple, hand-programmable, text-based format that next to geometry also stores color data per vertex.Originally developed by Microsoft, it is the native 3D format in Windows. 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) is similar to AMF but less standardized as it is created by a consortium of companies.Being XML-based, it will store additional data such as orientation, scale, patterning multiple objects, non-planar edges, and graded materials. AMF (Additive Manufacturing Format) is an alternative to STL for 3D printing.One of its benefits is the possibility to assign properties such as texture data separately for both sides of a face. PLY (Polygon) is a more extensive format developed at Stanford to aid the storage of 3D scanning data.Besides vertex positions, it also stores surface normal plus a UV coordinate that can be mapped to an external texture. OBJ as first created by Wavefront is a simple format storing vertex information to represent a 3D mesh.It stores only geometry data and has a compact file size. STL (STereoLithography) is a format originally developed for stereolithography 3D printing that is the most commonly accepted file format in 3D printing.For exporting designs to a different format, Meshmixer also supports Collada, VRML, and Smesh.

Meshmixer will read numerous 3D file types, such as STL, OBJ, PLY, and some lesser known formats AMF, 3MF, OFF, and the native MIX format. At the start of a project, choose a file format that can comprehensively describe the design while suiting the intended applications and minimizing the need for file conversions.

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