FBX - Format Overview
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | FBX |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Filmbox Format |
| Extensions | .fbx |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | Animation, VFX, Games, Architecture |
What is the FBX format, and what is it used for?
FBX (Filmbox Format) is a proprietary format by Autodesk that became popular as exchange format across common 3D graphics applications. Despite being non-standardized, authoring and runtime applications have developed sophisticated support of advanced FBX features such as animation data and PBR materials, yet all in their own flavor and therefore not always compatible across applications. It is a file format mostly used for interactive 3D & rendering applications.
Best-in-Class 3D Processing in Your Favorite Tools.
100% Local Processing via Desktop Software.
Features supported by the FBX format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | Yes |
| Rigid Animations | Yes |
| Skinned Animations | Yes |
| Animations | Yes |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Partial0 |
| Geometry Compression | Partial1 |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | Yes2 |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | No |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | No3 |
| Embedded Textures | Yes |
| Multiple UV Channels | Yes |
| Normal Mapping | Yes |
| Procedural Textures | Partial |
| Texture Compression | Partial4 |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
Best-in-Class 3D Processing in Your Favorite Tools.
100% Local Processing via Desktop Software.
Converting and Optimizing FBX Files
There are various ways to convert between FBX files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize FBX files, at scale. It supports FBX, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, 3MF, ACIS, AutoCAD, CATIA, COLLADA, Creo, DGN, 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 FBX and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between FBX and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting FBX to Other 3D File Formats
Converting Other 3D File Formats to FBX
- 3dsMax to FBX
- 3MF to FBX
- ACIS to FBX
- AutoCAD to FBX
- CATIA to FBX
- COLLADA to FBX
- Creo to FBX
- DGN to FBX
- glTF to FBX
- I-deas to FBX
- IFC to FBX
- IGES to FBX
- Inventor to FBX
- JT to FBX
- Navisworks to FBX
- OBJ to FBX
- Parasolid to FBX
- PLY to FBX
- PRC/U3D to FBX
- Revit to FBX
- Rhino 3DM to FBX
- Solid Edge to FBX
- SolidWorks to FBX
- STEP to FBX
- STEP Enhanced to FBX
- STL to FBX
- USD to FBX
- USDZ to FBX
- VDA-FS to FBX
- VRM to FBX
- VRML to FBX
What's the best way to get FBX 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 FBX 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!
If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.
Best-in-Class 3D Processing in Your Favorite Tools.
100% Local Processing via Desktop Software.
Meet the Author
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