VRM - Format Overview
General Information
This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database.
| Format Name | VRM |
|---|---|
| Long Name | Virtual Reality Model |
| Extensions | .vrm |
| Internet Media Type (previously MIME) | unspecified |
| Common Use Cases | Animation, VFX, Games, Architecture |
What is the VRM format, and what is it used for?
VRM stands for Virtual Reality Model. It is a file format for handling humanoid 3D avatar models for Virtual Reality (VR) applications. At its core, VRM is based on glTF. It is a file format mostly used for animated 3D avatar models.
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Features supported by the VRM format
| Feature | Supported? |
|---|---|
| PBR Materials | Yes |
| Transparent Materials | Yes |
| Vertex Colors | Yes |
| Materials | Yes |
| Embedded Textures | Yes |
| Normal Mapping | Yes |
| Procedural Textures | No |
| Texture Compression | Yes |
| Texture Transforms | Yes |
| Multiple UV Channels | Yes |
| Texturing | Yes |
| Hierarchical Scene Graph | Yes |
| Scene Composition | No |
| Scene Nodes | Yes |
| Quad Meshes | No |
| Free-Form Surfaces | No |
| Geometry Compression | Yes |
| Basic 3D Geometry | Yes |
| Standardized Format | Yes0 |
| Morph Targets | Yes |
| Skinned Animations | Yes |
| Rigid Animations | Yes |
| Animations | Yes |
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Converting and Optimizing VRM Files
There are various ways to convert between VRM files and other 3D formats. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize VRM files, at scale. It supports VRM, as well as many other file formats (examples: AutoCAD, PRC/U3D, PLY, Parasolid, OBJ, Revit, VRML, SolidWorks, VDA-FS, JT, FBX, STEP Enhanced, STEP, COLLADA, glTF, STL, USDZ, USD, CATIA, 3MF, Rhino 3DM, Navisworks, 3dsMax, ACIS, I-deas, DGN, IGES, Solid Edge, Creo, IFC, Inventor), at high quality.
Due to the potential limitations aforementioned on the table above, in principle, this format cannot always perfectly convert 3D data between VRM and other formats. In the following, you can find format conversion guides between VRM and the most important other formats, along with a rough score for compatibility of this workflow:
Converting VRM to Other 3D File Formats
Converting Other 3D File Formats to VRM
- AutoCAD to VRM
- PRC/U3D to VRM
- PLY to VRM
- Parasolid to VRM
- OBJ to VRM
- Revit to VRM
- VRML to VRM
- SolidWorks to VRM
- VDA-FS to VRM
- JT to VRM
- FBX to VRM
- STEP Enhanced to VRM
- STEP to VRM
- COLLADA to VRM
- glTF to VRM
- STL to VRM
- USDZ to VRM
- USD to VRM
- CATIA to VRM
- 3MF to VRM
- Rhino 3DM to VRM
- Navisworks to VRM
- 3dsMax to VRM
- ACIS to VRM
- I-deas to VRM
- DGN to VRM
- IGES to VRM
- Solid Edge to VRM
- Creo to VRM
- IFC to VRM
- Inventor to VRM
What's the best way to get VRM 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 VRM 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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