Companies that decide to put a 3D configurator on their website usually already have 3D files: the design ones. The problem is that a CAD file is made to build the product, not to show it in a browser. Before going online it needs a preparation step.
This guide explains why CAD cannot go on the web as it is, which formats are used and how to organise models for configuration.
Why CAD cannot go on the web as it is
Design models are built for precision: they contain internal parts, screws, details the customer will never see, and very heavy geometry. In a browser, especially on a phone, a model like that loads slowly or not at all. The web needs a lighter model that keeps the product's appearance.
Reducing the geometry
The first job is to remove what is not visible and simplify surfaces where detail is not needed. The goal is a model that stays visually faithful but weighs far less than the original. Parts the customer will look at closely, such as seams or finishes, can keep more detail than the rest.
Formats: GLB, glTF and OBJ
- GLB and glTF are the most widely used formats for 3D in the browser: they hold geometry, materials and textures compactly.
- OBJ is a simpler, widespread format, useful as an intermediate step.
- CAD formats need to be converted into one of the above before going online.
Materials and textures
A configurator shows the same product in different fabrics, leathers, colours and finishes. That is why materials should be prepared as a library: each material with its textures, applicable to the model's parts without rebuilding the model each time.
Structure and naming built for configuration
Every part the customer can change should be a separate element of the model, with a clear name: «shell», «stitching», «base», «pocket». A tidy structure makes it simple to link the configurator's options to the right parts and to add variants later.
Updating the catalogue over time
A configurator lives for a long time: new models, new materials and new options arrive. A shared material library and consistent naming rules turn each update into a small job instead of a new project.
With Config3D you start from your 3D models, for example GLB or OBJ, or from your CAD files, which we convert; if there are no models, our team builds them from technical sheets or photographs. For projects outside fashion there is also the guide on 3D configurators for furniture and machinery.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a CAD file directly in a web configurator?
Usually not: it contains internal parts and heavy geometry. It needs to be simplified and converted into a web format such as GLB or glTF.
Which 3D format should you use for the web?
GLB and glTF are the most widely used for 3D in the browser because they hold geometry, materials and textures compactly; OBJ is useful as an intermediate step.
Which files does Config3D start from?
The brand's 3D models, for example GLB or OBJ, or CAD files converted by the We Wear team; if there are none, models are built from technical sheets or photographs.