DGN - Format Overview
Table of Contents
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | DGN |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Design File (MicroStation) |
| Extensions | .dgn |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | CAD, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Infrastructure, Mapping |
What is the DGN format, and what is it used for?
DGN (Design File) is the native file format of Bentley MicroStation, a CAD software application primarily used for architecture, engineering, construction, and infrastructure projects. DGN files can store 2D and 3D geometry, including complex designs for buildings, roads, bridges, and utilities. The format supports precise coordinate systems, extensive annotation capabilities, and detailed metadata. DGN is particularly strong in civil engineering and infrastructure applications, with support for geographic coordinate systems and large-scale projects. Modern DGN files are based on an open specification and can be read by various CAD applications. It is a file format mostly used for CAD and infrastructure design data.
Features supported by the DGN format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | No |
| Rigid Animations | Partial0 |
| Skinned Animations | No |
| Animations | Partial1 |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Yes |
| Geometry Compression | No |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | Partial2 |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Partial3 |
| Embedded Textures | Partial4 |
| Multiple UV Channels | Partial5 |
| Normal Mapping | Partial6 |
| Procedural Textures | No |
| Texture Compression | No |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
Converting and Optimizing DGN Files
There are various ways to convert between DGN files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize DGN files, at scale. It supports DGN, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, 3MF, ACIS, AutoCAD, CATIA, COLLADA, Creo, FBX, glTF, I-deas, IFC, IGES, Inventor, JT, Navisworks, OBJ, Parasolid, PLY, PRC/U3D, Revit, Rhino 3DM, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, STEP, STEP Enhanced, STL, USD, USDZ, VDA-FS, VRM, VRML), at high quality.
Due to the potential limitations aforementioned on the table above, in principle, this format cannot always perfectly convert 3D data between DGN and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between DGN and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting DGN to Other 3D File Formats
What's the best way to get DGN files into my 3D applications?
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 files - the conversion guide above gives a rough idea. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to automate the process.
However, especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated 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!
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