The Complete DGN to VRML Conversion Guide.

August 01, 2025

General Information

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

Converting and Optimizing DGN Files to VRML

There are various ways to convert between DGN and VRML. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize DGN files, at scale. It supports VRML, 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 DGN and VRML files commonly used for?

The DGN file is a format mostly used for CAD and infrastructure design data.
The VRML file is a format mostly used for web-based 3D content and virtual reality.

call to action

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Comparison of Features Supported by DGN and VRML

FeatureSupported by DGNSupported by VRML
Morph TargetsNoPartial0
Rigid AnimationsPartial1Yes
Skinned AnimationsNoNo
AnimationsPartial2Yes
Free-Form SurfacesYesPartial3
Geometry CompressionNoNo
Quad MeshesYesPartial4
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsPartial5No
Transparent MaterialsYesYes
Vertex ColorsYesYes
MaterialsYesYes
Scene CompositionYesYes
Hierarchical Scene GraphYesYes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatPartial6Yes
Embedded TexturesPartial7No
Multiple UV ChannelsPartial8Partial9
Normal MappingPartial10No
Procedural TexturesNoPartial11
Texture CompressionNoNo
Texture TransformsYesYes
TexturingYesYes

0 - Basic shape interpolation through coordinate interpolation
1 - Basic animation for construction sequencing
2 - Simple animation support for design sequences
3 - Limited NURBS support in VRML 2.0
4 - Primarily triangle-based with some quad support
5 - Limited PBR support in newer versions
6 - Open specification with some proprietary extensions
7 - Textures can be referenced or embedded
8 - Limited multi-texturing capabilities
9 - Basic multi-texturing capabilities
10 - Basic normal mapping for visualization
11 - Simple procedural texture generation

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Limitations of DGN Files to VRML Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting DGN files to VRML format:

DGN Feature (not supported by VRML)Limitation Details
Free-Form Surfaces

Free-Form Surfaces Support:

DGN: Full support | VRML: Partial support

Free-Form Surfaces illustratedlack of support for Free-Form Surfaces illustrated

VRML Notes:

Limited NURBS support in VRML 2.0

Impact:

Free-form surfaces allow a CAD user to design surfaces with advanced controls over curvature and continuitiy. While these surfaces are common for CAD models (in the form of so-called boundary representations or "B-reps"), they need to be converted to polygonal triangle or quad data to work with most 3D rendering engines - a process called tessellation. In this example, a surface patch is used to describe a part of a curved surface of a product. Without support for this feature, the free-form surface has to be tessellated into quads or triangles.

Quad Meshes

Quad Meshes Support:

DGN: Full support | VRML: Partial support

Quad Meshes illustratedlack of support for Quad Meshes illustrated

VRML Notes:

Primarily triangle-based with some quad support

Impact:

Quad meshes are a common way to hand-model and edit 3D models. 3D artists get intuitive control and such meshes are also easy to refine, as well as well-suited for creation of skinned animations. However, real-time rendering pipelines and hardware are usually all based on triangles, so if a 3D model should not be edited any more, it is safe to convert quads to triangles (and engines will do this automatically before sending data to the rendering hardware). In this example, a part of a mesh is modeled with quads. Without support for this feature, quads will have to be triangulated, producing a pure triangle mesh.

Embedded Textures

Embedded Textures Support:

DGN: Partial support | VRML: No support

Embedded Textures illustratedlack of support for Embedded Textures illustrated

DGN Notes:

Textures can be referenced or embedded

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.

Normal Mapping

Normal Mapping Support:

DGN: Partial support | VRML: No support

Normal Mapping illustratedlack of support for Normal Mapping illustrated

DGN Notes:

Basic normal mapping for visualization

Impact:

Normal maps are used to model shading differences that are arising from small geometric details on a surface, such as fabric structures, visible gaps between bricks forming a wall, or rough rock surfaces. In this example, a normal map is used to model a fabric structure. Without support for this feature, the rendered fabric will look smoother than it actually is in the real world, as the fabric structure won't be visible.

PBR Materials

PBR Materials Support:

DGN: Partial support | VRML: No support

PBR Materials illustratedlack of support for PBR Materials illustrated

DGN Notes:

Limited PBR support in newer versions

Impact:

PBR materials enable Physically-Based-Rendering (PBR) for a standardized, photorealistic look of rendered images. PBR uses concepts like metallic-roughness or specular-glossiness properties and a microfacet-based modeling of the surface, using a concept called BRDF (Bi-Directional Reflectance Distribution Function). In this example, PBR materials are used to achieve realistic looking plastic and metal materials. Without support for PBR materials, only basic colors and shading can be used (for example, based on more simple shading models, such as the Blinn/Phong model).

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

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 DGN and VRML 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.

Best-in-Class 3D Processing. Try RapidPipeline, for Free.

No credit card needed.

Try for Free

Meet the Author

author image

3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

RapidPipeline lets you convert, optimize and prepare your 3D models, easily.
Try it today, or meet our human 3D experts. The Best-in-Class Tools for Your 3D Processing Jobs