Preparing your 3D Assets

Creating stunning visualizations in Glossi starts with properly prepared 3D models. This guide will help you optimize your models for the best performance and visual quality.

What is a 3D model?

A 3D model is a digital representation of a physical object that exists in three-dimensional space. Unlike 2D images which only have width and height, 3D models include depth, allowing them to be viewed from any angle—just like real objects.

A complete 3D model has several key components:

1. Geometry (Required) - The basic shape and structure

   1. Forms the foundation of your model

   2. Defines the physical dimensions and shape

   3. Created in 3D modeling software like Blender, 3DS Max, or CAD programs

2. Materials (Optional) - collections of different elements that define how a surface looks (sometimes called shaders). They contain textures, colors, reflection values, normal maps, and other properties that come together to create the complete visual appearance of a surface. Think of a material as a recipe that combines various ingredients to create the final look.

3. Textures (Optional) - Textures, on the other hand, are individual image assets used within materials. They're just one component of a material - you can't apply textures directly to a model; they must be part of a material. For example, a wood material might include color textures for the wood grain, normal maps for surface detail, and roughness maps for controlling reflectivity. Common texture types include:

These elements together form the structure of your model that Glossi will use for visualization. Ensuring your model is properly prepared will make sure it shows up it's best.

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Step-by-Step Model Export Guide

Why Preparation Matters

Taking a few minutes to prepare your 3D model properly will dramatically improve your results in Glossi. A well-prepared model with appears at the correct size and position automatically, makes material editing faster and more intuitiv and renders more efficiently and at higher quality

1

Check Your Geometry

Start with a clean, well-built model:

• Fix any holes or broken faces

• Ensure surfaces face outward (correct normals)

• Remove unnecessary hidden geometry

Why this matters: Good geometry ensures your model displays correctly without visual glitches. 3D visualization relies on accurate surface information to calculate how light interacts with your product. Problems in the underlying geometry can cause unpredictable shadows, lighting artifacts, or even missing parts in your final visualization.

2

Set Correct Position and Scale

Position and size your model properly:

• Center your model at origin (0,0,0)

• Use real-world dimensions (if your chair is 80cm tall, make it 80cm in your software)

• Apply all transformations (scale, rotation, position)

Why this matters: Properly positioned and scaled models appear correctly in Glossi without manual adjustments. When your model is correctly centered and scaled, it works seamlessly with Glossi's templates and lighting setups. This consistency becomes especially important when visualizing multiple products that need to maintain relative proportions.

3

Assign Materials to Each Part

For importing your own materials: assign materials to designated parts in your 3D software.

• Give each distinct part its own material

• For example: chair legs, chair back, chair cushion

If you have no materials preferences and would like to assign in Glossi: use colors as placeholders:

• Assign different colors to different parts

• These color "slots" will be editable in Glossi later

Why this matters: Separate materials make it easy to identify and edit specific parts of your model. Unlike some platforms that require you to recreate materials from scratch, Glossi preserves your original material assignments. This means any time invested in setting up materials in your design software pays off when you import into Glossi, where you can further refine rather than rebuild.

4

Name Materials Clearly

Use descriptive names that identify both the part and material type:

• "Wood_Oak_Legs" instead of "Material_1"

• "Metal_Chrome_Frame" instead of "Mat_2"

• "Fabric_Blue_Cushion" instead of "Surface_3"

Why this matters: Clear names save time when editing materials in Glossi. Since Glossi imports your original material names, good naming habits create immediate organization in your visualization workflow. This becomes especially important when collaborating with team members who need to quickly understand which materials control which product elements.

5

Export in the Compatible File Format

Choose the best format for your model:

Best options (preserves materials):

• .glb / .gltf

• .usdz / .usd

• .fbx (with "Embed Media" enabled)

Basic options (geometry only):

• .stl / .step / .iges

Why this matters: The right format ensures your materials transfer correctly to Glossi. Different file formats handle materials, textures, and geometry in distinct ways. Glossi excels at working with modern formats that preserve your original material setups, allowing you to leverage your existing work rather than starting over.

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⚙️ Optimization Techniques

If your model needs optimization for better performance and visual quality, read these simple changes below or dive deeper into our optimization guide

Polygon Optimization:

• Simplify your model by reducing polygons while preserving overall shape and detail

• Focus reduction on less visible areas to maintain quality where it matters

• Combine multiple objects into a single mesh to improve performance

Texture Optimization:

• Verify textures are correctly mapped to appropriate materials

• Consider baking high-resolution textures into optimized texture maps

• Use PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials for realistic appearance under different lighting conditions

Performance Enhancements:

• Use texture compression techniques like ASTC or ETC to reduce file size without significant quality loss

• For complex models, consider merging objects to minimize draw calls

• Balance detail and performance based on how your model will be used

💻 Professional Quality Tips

Glossi is designed for professional-grade assets - here's how to take full advantage of its capabilities:

Use high-resolution textures:

• 4K to 8K textures (2048×2048 to 8192×8192 pixels) for hero surfaces

• Detailed normal maps for surface definition

• High-quality PBR texture sets

Select maximum quality export settings:

• Enable "Export Materials" or equivalent

• Check "Embed Textures" at original resolution

• Use minimal or no texture compression

• Preserve normal maps and specialized texture types

Software-specific export guidance:

• Blender: Use glTF export with "Include" options for textures and materials

• 3DS Max: Use FBX with "Embed Media" enabled and "Original" texture quality

• CAD Software: Check scale settings match real-world dimensions

Glossi is optimized to handle professional-level exports without compromise. When you export with high-resolution textures and maximum quality settings, you're taking full advantage of Glossi's visualization capabilities.

📋 Final Pre-Upload Checklist

Before uploading to Glossi, verify:

✅ Geometry is clean and error-free

✅ Model is centered at origin

✅ Real-world scale is applied

✅ Materials/colors assigned to all parts

✅ Material names are clear and descriptive

✅ Correct file format selected

✅ High-resolution textures (4K-8K) used where appropriate

✅ Optimization techniques applied if needed

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Have More Questions?

Talk to Our Team for Personalized 3D Workflow Support

Embarking on your 3D content journey with Glossi is an exciting step, and we're here to support you all the way. If you have questions about 3D workflows, need assistance getting started, or simply want to explore the best practices for integrating your models with Glossi, our team is ready to help.

Contact our support team through our website's contact form or at [email protected], and let us help you bring your creative visions to life with ease and precision.