The Complete IGES to STEP Conversion Guide.

August 01, 2025

General Information

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

Converting and Optimizing IGES Files to STEP

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

The IGES file is a format mostly used for CAD data exchange and interoperability.
The STEP file is a format mostly used for exchange of CAD data.

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Comparison of Features Supported by IGES and STEP

FeatureSupported by IGESSupported by STEP
Morph TargetsNoNo
Rigid AnimationsNoNo
Skinned AnimationsNoNo
AnimationsNoNo
Free-Form SurfacesYesYes
Geometry CompressionNoNo
Quad MeshesYesYes
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsNoNo
Transparent MaterialsNoNo
Vertex ColorsPartial0No
MaterialsPartial1Partial
Scene CompositionPartial2No
Hierarchical Scene GraphPartial3Yes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatPartial4Partial
Embedded TexturesNoNo
Multiple UV ChannelsNoNo
Normal MappingNoNo
Procedural TexturesNoNo
Texture CompressionNoNo
Texture TransformsNoNo
TexturingNoNo

0 - Limited color support for visualization
1 - Basic material properties and annotations
2 - Assembly relationships with limited constraints
3 - Basic entity relationships and grouping
4 - Legacy format, superseded by STEP in 1994

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Limitations of IGES Files to STEP Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting IGES files to STEP format:

IGES Feature (not supported by STEP)Limitation Details
Vertex Colors

Vertex Colors Support:

IGES: Partial support | STEP: No support

Vertex Colors illustratedlack of support for Vertex Colors illustrated

IGES Notes:

Limited color support for visualization

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.

Scene Composition

Scene Composition Support:

IGES: Partial support | STEP: No support

Scene Composition illustratedlack of support for Scene Composition illustrated

IGES Notes:

Assembly relationships with limited constraints

Impact:

Scene Composition describes the process of composing a scene through links from a main scene that pull in various other scenes/3D models. This can also happen in a nested fashion (through multiple levels of linkage). With a target format not supporting this feature, references to external models must be resolved and the content be baked into one 3D model, which is then saved in that target format.

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

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 IGES and STEP 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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Meet the Author

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3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

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