The Complete 3MF to Creo Conversion Guide.

August 01, 2025

General Information

This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database. It shows how to convert 3MF to Creo, if you'd like to know more about the formats, please check out the following links:

Converting and Optimizing 3MF Files to Creo

There are various ways to convert between 3MF and Creo. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize 3MF files, at scale. It supports Creo, as well as many other file formats (examples: FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STL, USD, USDZ, VRM), at high quality.

Below you can find a video explaining how to convert your files:

What are 3MF and Creo files commonly used for?

The 3MF file is a format mostly used for 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
The Creo file is a format mostly used for Advanced parametric 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software for mechanical engineering and product development.

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Comparison of Features Supported by 3MF and Creo

FeatureSupported by 3MFSupported by Creo
Morph TargetsNoNo
Rigid AnimationsNoYes
Skinned AnimationsNoNo
AnimationsNoYes
Free-Form SurfacesNoYes
Geometry CompressionPartial0No
Quad MeshesNoYes
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsPartial1Partial2
Transparent MaterialsPartial3Yes
Vertex ColorsYesPartial4
MaterialsYesYes
Scene CompositionYesYes
Hierarchical Scene GraphYesYes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatYesPartial5
Embedded TexturesYesPartial6
Multiple UV ChannelsPartial7Partial8
Normal MappingNoNo
Procedural TexturesNoNo
Texture CompressionPartial9No
Texture TransformsPartial10Partial11
TexturingYesPartial12

0 - ZIP-based compression of model data
1 - Basic PBR material properties
2 - Basic PBR material support through appearance properties and rendering capabilities, but not as advanced as dedicated rendering software.
3 - Alpha channel support for transparency
4 - Limited vertex color support, mainly through part coloring and display properties rather than per-vertex color data.
5 - Creo uses proprietary file formats but supports extensive import/export of industry-standard formats like STEP, IGES, and others for interoperability.
6 - Textures can be included with appearances but with limited embedding capabilities compared to graphics-focused formats.
7 - Multiple texture coordinate sets supported
8 - Limited multi-UV support, mainly through basic material and appearance assignments rather than complex UV mapping workflows.
9 - Compressed textures within ZIP package
10 - Basic texture coordinate transformation
11 - Basic texture mapping capabilities through appearance properties, but not as advanced as dedicated 3D graphics applications.
12 - Limited texture support primarily through appearance and material properties for visualization purposes, not extensively used in typical engineering workflows.

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Limitations of 3MF Files to Creo Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting 3MF files to Creo format:

3MF Feature (not supported by Creo)Limitation Details
Geometry Compression

Geometry Compression Support:

3MF: Partial support | Creo: No support

Geometry Compression illustratedlack of support for Geometry Compression illustrated

3MF Notes:

ZIP-based compression of model data

Impact:

Geometry compression describes the process of compressing the representations of a 3D model's geometry, usually a triangle mesh. 3D geometry compression does not change the topology of a 3D model, but just changes the way that a 3D model and its 3D positions and related vertex data is stored. Geometry compression can be lossy (just like JPEG compression in image processing can be lossy, for example), in which case one might notice slight artifacts like variations in 3D vertex positions (compared to the uncompressed 3D model). However, such differences are often not noticeable. There are only very few standards for geometry compression, like glTF's support of Draco compression and similar extensions.

Texturing

Texturing Support:

3MF: Full support | Creo: Partial support

Texturing illustratedlack of support for Texturing illustrated

Creo Notes:

Limited texture support primarily through appearance and material properties for visualization purposes, not extensively used in typical engineering workflows.

Impact:

Texturing describes the process or refining the visual appearance of a 3D model's surface through additional 2D or 3D data, defined in a different reference system. The by far most common use of texturing are 2D texture images, applied to model visual material properties the 3D surface. Other cases include the use of procedural 2D or 3D funtions that produce intensity or color signals, which are then mapped to the 3D surface. For the vast majority of these cases (all of them except for 3D procedural functions), a parameterization or "Texture Mapping" is needed, which maps the 2D content to the 3D surface. Coming from a 2D coordinate space with coordinate axes often entitled U and V (in contrast to XYZ, which are the 3D surface positions), this process of mapping is also called UV Mapping, and it can be done with a dedicated UV map, or through a live mapping (e.g., box mapping). In this example, a texture image is applied to the 3D model to give the control panel a realistic look. Without support for texturing, the panel would have to use a single material instead, or all controls (including text) would need to be modeled through 3D geometry, instead of a 2D texture image.

Texture Compression

Texture Compression Support:

3MF: Partial support | Creo: No support

Texture Compression illustratedlack of support for Texture Compression illustrated

3MF Notes:

Compressed textures within ZIP package

Impact:

Texture compression refers to a process of compressing 2D texture images for memory-efficient rendering (and sometimes for efficient transmission). The decompression of compressed texture data is therefore performed on-the-fly during rendering, so that it never has to be stored in unpacked form, but can be kept as-is in GPU memory. Formats supporting texture compression methods, such as the ones offered by glTF through KTX2 containers, therefore allow 3D models to use a smaller memory footprint on the client device during rendering. This can speed up rendering time, and also make it possible to store and use larger amounts of texture data than it would otherwise be possible.

Embedded Textures

Embedded Textures Support:

3MF: Full support | Creo: Partial support

Embedded Textures illustratedlack of support for Embedded Textures illustrated

Creo Notes:

Textures can be included with appearances but with limited embedding capabilities compared to graphics-focused formats.

Impact:

Embedded textures allow the storage and exchange of an entire 3D model and its materials within a single file, by embedding the texture images directly into the 3D file (and not storing them as separate image files). Without support for this feature, textures have to be stored in separate image files, and referenced from the main 3D model file.

Vertex Colors

Vertex Colors Support:

3MF: Full support | Creo: Partial support

Vertex Colors illustratedlack of support for Vertex Colors illustrated

Creo Notes:

Limited vertex color support, mainly through part coloring and display properties rather than per-vertex color data.

Impact:

Vertex colors allow the attachment of colors to each vertex of a 3D model. This can be useful in scenarios such as scientific visualization, or when converting/meshing data from a colored 3D point cloud, for example. On the polygonal surface connecting the vertices, the respective vertex colors are usually smoothly interpolated. In this example, different colors are attached to the different corners of a cube. Without support for this feature, the cube won't have any colors.

Standardized Format

Standardized Format Support:

3MF: Full support | Creo: Partial support

Standardized Format illustratedlack of support for Standardized Format illustrated

Creo Notes:

Creo uses proprietary file formats but supports extensive import/export of industry-standard formats like STEP, IGES, and others for interoperability.

Impact:

Standardization plays a huge role in 3D model formats. With a format being standardized, every application will have a clear way of how to load or store data using this format. This makes it easier to re-use the 3D model across different applications, but also to make sure it will still be accessible and usable after a couple of years.

What's the best way to get 3MF files into my 3D applications, and are there alternatives to using Creo?

Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to 3MF and Creo files - the conversion guide above provides a rough first idea about that. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to even automate the process for thousands or even millions of files.

Especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated tools and expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).

If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.

Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.

To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.

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3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

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