Rhino 3DM - Format Overview
Table of Contents
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | Rhino 3DM |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Rhinoceros 3D Model |
| Extensions | .3dm |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | CAD, Industrial Design, Architecture, Jewelry Design, Product Design |
What is the Rhino 3DM format, and what is it used for?
Rhino 3DM is the native file format of Rhinoceros 3D, a NURBS-based 3D modeling software widely used in industrial design, architecture, and product development. The format excels at storing precise NURBS surfaces and curves, making it ideal for complex organic shapes and mathematical surfaces. 3DM files can contain geometry, materials, textures, layers, named views, and custom metadata. The format is particularly valued for its precision and ability to handle complex surface modeling that would be difficult in polygon-based systems. Rhino's openNURBS toolkit allows other applications to read and write 3DM files. It is a file format mostly used for NURBS-based 3D modeling and design.
Features supported by the Rhino 3DM format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| Morph Targets | No |
| Rigid Animations | No |
| Skinned Animations | No |
| Animations | No |
| Free-Form Surfaces | Yes |
| Geometry Compression | No |
| Quad Meshes | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| PBR Materials | Yes |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Scene Composition | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Partial0 |
| Embedded Textures | Partial1 |
| Multiple UV Channels | Yes |
| Normal Mapping | Yes |
| Procedural Textures | Partial2 |
| Texture Compression | No |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
Converting and Optimizing Rhino 3DM Files
There are various ways to convert between Rhino 3DM files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize Rhino 3DM files, at scale. It supports Rhino 3DM, as well as many other file formats (examples: 3dsMax, 3MF, ACIS, AutoCAD, CATIA, COLLADA, Creo, DGN, FBX, glTF, I-deas, IFC, IGES, Inventor, JT, Navisworks, OBJ, Parasolid, PLY, PRC/U3D, Revit, 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 Rhino 3DM and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between Rhino 3DM and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting Rhino 3DM to Other 3D File Formats
What's the best way to get Rhino 3DM 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 Rhino 3DM 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.
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