JT - Format Overview
Table of Contents
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | JT |
|---|---|
| Long Name | JT Open (Siemens) |
| Extensions | .jt |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | CAD, Visualization, Collaboration, Manufacturing, PLM |
What is the JT format, and what is it used for?
JT (originally Jupiter Tessellation, now JT Open) is a 3D data format developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software for lightweight visualization, collaboration, and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management). JT files provide highly compressed representations of 3D CAD data, making them ideal for sharing design information across organizations without exposing proprietary CAD data. The format supports multiple levels of detail (LOD), assembly structures, metadata, and annotations. JT is an ISO standard (ISO 14306) and is widely used in automotive and aerospace industries for design review and collaboration. It is a file format mostly used for lightweight 3D visualization and collaboration.
Features supported by the JT format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | No |
| Rigid Animations | Partial0 |
| Skinned Animations | No |
| Animations | Partial1 |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Yes |
| Geometry Compression | Yes |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | No |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Yes |
| Embedded Textures | Partial2 |
| Multiple UV Channels | Partial3 |
| Normal Mapping | Partial4 |
| Procedural Textures | No |
| Texture Compression | Partial5 |
| Texture Transforms | Partial6 |
| Texturing | Yes |
Converting and Optimizing JT Files
There are various ways to convert between JT files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize JT files, at scale. It supports JT, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, 3MF, ACIS, AutoCAD, CATIA, COLLADA, Creo, DGN, FBX, glTF, I-deas, IFC, IGES, Inventor, 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 JT and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between JT and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting JT to Other 3D File Formats
What's the best way to get JT 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 JT 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.
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