GL Transmission Format
Import glTF files into your digital twin
glTF is the format built for delivering 3D over the web, and Moicon gives it a dedicated import pipeline. Export from Blender, upload, and build.
- File extensions
- .gltf, .glb, .bin
- Developed by
- Khronos Group
- Category
- Mesh & visualization
- Geometry
- Runtime-ready polygon mesh with PBR materials
- Typical software
- Blender, Substance 3D, Web and AR toolchains
- Import pipeline
- Moicon's dedicated glTF pipeline
What is a glTF file?
glTF is an open standard from the Khronos Group, designed as a runtime delivery format for 3D. Where CAD formats optimize for editing, glTF optimizes for loading and rendering fast, which earned it the nickname "the JPEG of 3D." It uses physically based (PBR) materials, so models carry a modern, consistent look across viewers.
The format comes in two variants. Separate glTF splits a model across a JSON scene description (.gltf), a binary geometry buffer (.bin), and standalone texture images. GLB packs all of that into a single binary file. Moicon takes either one: a .glb uploads on its own, while a Separate glTF needs the .gltf, its .bin, and any .png or .jpg textures uploaded together.
Where these files come from
glTF comes out of Blender and other modern 3D tools, web and AR content pipelines, and asset libraries built for realtime use. It is the natural export choice when the destination is a browser, which is exactly where Moicon runs.
How to import glTF files into Moicon
As simple as four steps, from file to factory floor.
Step 1
Upload your model
In the Moicon dashboard, select Add asset and drag and drop your model. A .glb goes up on its own, while a Separate glTF needs the .gltf, its .bin, and the texture images together.
Step 2
Let it process
glTF is a format Moicon supports natively, so the upload is processed in house rather than handed to the Autodesk translator.
Step 3
Name and organize it
Give the asset a name, add a thumbnail so it is easy to spot, and file it under the categories your team uses in the asset library.
Step 4
Place it in your project
Open your project and drop the asset into the viewport. From there you can position, clone, and scale it like any other asset in your twin.
Before you upload
A few glTF-specific details that save a second upload.
- Exporting as GLB sidesteps the notes below. Everything travels in one file, so there is no .bin to lose and no texture path to fix.
- For Separate glTF, upload the complete set: the .gltf file, its .bin file, and the texture images together. The .gltf is only a description; the geometry lives in the .bin.
- Do not rename Separate glTF files after export. The .gltf references its .bin by name, so model.gltf renamed to model(1).gltf stops finding model.bin. Re-export with the desired name, or edit the path inside the .gltf in a text editor.
- Keep texture paths flat. Textures referenced through folders or subfolders do not load properly, so the .gltf should point at bare file names. If textures are missing after import, edit the paths in the .gltf and upload again.
- A higher vertex count after export is expected. glTF stores discontinuous normals and UVs as separate vertices, so tools like Blender duplicate vertices along hard edges when exporting.
glTF FAQ
What is the difference between .gltf and .glb?
They hold the same data. A .glb is the single-file binary packaging, while Separate glTF splits the model into a .gltf scene file, a .bin geometry buffer, and texture images. Moicon accepts both. GLB is the simpler upload because nothing can go missing.
Why did my textures not show up after uploading?
On a Separate glTF, almost always because the texture paths point into a folder. Open the .gltf in a text editor, change each texture reference to the bare file name, and upload the set again. GLB models do not have this problem, since their textures are embedded.
Can I rename glTF files before uploading?
Not safely, with Separate glTF. The .gltf stores the name of its .bin file, so renaming one without the other breaks the link. This often happens when a browser downloads duplicates as model(1).gltf. Remove the suffix, fix the path inside the .gltf, or re-export. A .glb can be renamed freely.
How do I export glTF from my 3D software?
Blender has a built-in glTF exporter and is a common choice. Either variant works: GLB gives you one self-contained file, and Separate glTF gives you the .gltf, .bin, and texture files to upload together. The Moicon help center includes a walkthrough video covering export and upload.