What is Microsoft 3D Viewer? A Beginner’s Guide

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Microsoft 3D Viewer is a 3D computer graphics viewer and augmented reality application that was first included in Windows 10 1703. It supports a range of file formats, including .fbx, .3mf, .obj, and .stl. The app is designed to allow users to view and interact with 3D models and objects in a variety of ways.

With Microsoft 3D Viewer, users can rotate, zoom, and pan around 3D models to view them from different angles. They can also view models in a variety of modes, including wireframe, solid, and textured. The app also supports augmented reality, allowing users to view 3D models in real-world environments using their device’s camera.

Microsoft 3D Viewer is a powerful tool for anyone who works with 3D models or objects. Whether you’re a designer, engineer, or hobbyist, the app makes it easy to view and interact with 3D models in a variety of ways. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Microsoft 3D Viewer is, how it works, and what you can do with it.

What is Microsoft 3D Viewer?

Overview

Microsoft 3D Viewer is a powerful 3D computer graphics viewer and augmented reality application that was first included in Windows 10 1703. It is a simple application that allows users to view 3D models and interact with them in various ways. The tool is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to people of all skill levels.

Features

Microsoft 3D Viewer supports a variety of file formats, including .fbx, .3mf, .obj, and .stl, making it a versatile tool for viewing 3D models. Users can rotate, zoom, and pan 3D models, and view them from different angles. The tool also supports augmented reality, allowing users to place 3D models in the real world and interact with them in real-time.

One of the standout features of Microsoft 3D Viewer is its ability to add annotations and measurements to 3D models. Users can add notes, labels, and dimensions to 3D models, making it easier to communicate ideas and collaborate with others. The tool also supports animations, allowing users to create and view animated 3D models.

Another useful feature of Microsoft 3D Viewer is its integration with Microsoft Paint 3D, allowing users to easily edit and customize 3D models. Users can import 3D models from Paint 3D into Microsoft 3D Viewer, and vice versa, making it easy to switch between the two tools and create complex 3D models.

Overall, Microsoft 3D Viewer is a powerful and versatile tool for viewing and interacting with 3D models. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features make it a great choice for anyone looking to view or create 3D models.

How to Use Microsoft 3D Viewer

Microsoft 3D Viewer is a simple but powerful application that allows you to view and customize 3D models on your Windows 10 device. Here are some tips for using Microsoft 3D Viewer to its full potential.

Opening a 3D Model

To open a 3D model in Microsoft 3D Viewer, simply click on the “Open” button in the top left corner of the application. This will bring up a file explorer window where you can select the 3D model you want to view.

Microsoft 3D Viewer supports a variety of 3D file formats, including .FBX, .OBJ, .PLY, and .STL. Once you have selected your 3D model, it will be loaded into Microsoft 3D Viewer for you to view and customize.

Navigating the 3D Model

Once you have opened a 3D model in Microsoft 3D Viewer, you can use a variety of tools to navigate around the model. These include:

  • Zoom: Use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out of the 3D model.
  • Rotate: Click and drag with the left mouse button to rotate the 3D model around its axis.
  • Pan: Click and drag with the right mouse button to pan the 3D model in any direction.

You can also use the toolbar at the bottom of the application to switch between different viewing modes, such as wireframe, shaded, or textured.

Customizing the 3D Model

Microsoft 3D Viewer also allows you to customize your 3D model in a variety of ways. These include:

  • Changing materials: Click on the “Materials” button in the toolbar to bring up a list of available materials. You can then drag and drop a material onto the 3D model to apply it.
  • Adding annotations: Click on the “Annotations” button in the toolbar to add text or shapes to the 3D model.
  • Taking screenshots: Click on the “Screenshot” button in the toolbar to take a screenshot of the current view of the 3D model.

Overall, Microsoft 3D Viewer is a great tool for viewing and customizing 3D models on your Windows 10 device. With its simple interface and powerful functionality, it’s a must-have for anyone working with 3D models.

Compatibility with Other Programs

Microsoft 3D Viewer is a versatile application that can work with a variety of file formats and can be used in conjunction with other programs.

Supported File Formats

One of the strengths of Microsoft 3D Viewer is its ability to work with a wide range of file formats. Some of the file formats that are supported by 3D Viewer include .fbx, .3mf, .obj, and .stl. This makes it easy to import 3D models from other programs and work with them in 3D Viewer.

Exporting 3D Models

In addition to importing 3D models, Microsoft 3D Viewer also allows users to export 3D models in a variety of file formats. This is useful if you want to share your 3D models with others or if you want to use them in other programs. Some of the file formats that are supported for exporting include .fbx, .obj, .3mf, and .stl.

Overall, Microsoft 3D Viewer is a powerful tool that can be used in conjunction with other programs to create and manipulate 3D models. Its compatibility with a wide range of file formats and its ability to export 3D models in a variety of formats make it a versatile tool for 3D modeling and design.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Microsoft 3D Viewer is a simple yet powerful application that allows users to view and interact with 3D models. It supports various file formats such as .fbx, .3mf, .obj, and .stl, making it a versatile tool for 3D modeling enthusiasts.

One of the best things about Microsoft 3D Viewer is its ease of use. The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to get started with 3D modeling. The app also offers basic editing tools such as rotate, zoom, and pan, allowing users to manipulate their models to get the desired view.

Another great feature of Microsoft 3D Viewer is its compatibility with Windows Mixed Reality. Users can import 3D models into the app and view them in a mixed reality environment, providing a more immersive experience.

Overall, Microsoft 3D Viewer is a valuable tool for anyone interested in 3D modeling. Its simplicity and versatility make it a great choice for beginners, while its advanced features make it a useful tool for professionals. If you’re looking for a reliable 3D modeling application, Microsoft 3D Viewer is definitely worth considering.