Latest revision as of 20:58, 6 March 2026

Prototype for textured and animated 3D models

Gallery of 3D models
Gallery of articles with 3D content

Currently, only the glTF 2.0 specification is supported (.glb files). Extensions such as KTX compression or MeshOpts are not yet available.

Background

Wikimedia Commons currently only supports colorless, untextured 3D models, which only show the basic geometric shape of objects. This page tracks the progress towards adding support for 3D formats capable of full-color, textured 3D models—i.e. where images of the surface appearance are overlaid onto the 3D shapes to provide a more realistic and detailed appearance. Animated 3D models can illustrate how objects or processes change over time, making dynamic developments clearer than static 3D models. By integrating the time axis, they enrich understanding of historical evolution, scientific transformations, or mechanical functions in motion. This page also contains a list of resources and links to get involved, as well as some example 3D models that would fit on Commons once such support is in place.

3D models have been supported in Wikimedia Commons since 2018, but only the STL format can be used at the moment. STL is a format designed for 3D printing that does not support textures, color, and more nuanced digital representation.

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Motivation

Sketchfab, nearly stopped permitting openly licensed models, showing how important a non-commercial platform for sharing and visualising textured 3D models would be. The situation however has now stabilized and they are retaining open licenses as an option. Here is a petition with background information.

Further information

Please take a look at our wiki page Commons:Textured_3D.

3D in Wikimedia Telegram Channel - The place to be for current information and discussion

License information

Animated Wikipedia GIF CC-BY-SA OmegaTombuş
Animated Tectonic Plates Collide Loop CC-BY-SA LasquetiSpice
MEDIAWIKI3D Testing Logo CC-BY-SA Dndrnmn1-2Years

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 == Motivation ==
-The current issues surrounding Sketchfab show how important a non-commercial platform for sharing and visualising textured 3D models would be: thus there is significant urgency due to current developments. Tens of thousands of 3D models under free licences are under threat, and in a petition to Sketchfab it is said that "this is the virtual equivalent of burning the Library of Alexandria". [https://www.change.org/p/keep-sketchfab-alive-preserve-open-access-to-3d-art-museum-collections Here] is a petition with lots of background information.
+Sketchfab, nearly stopped permitting openly licensed models, showing how important a non-commercial platform for sharing and visualising textured 3D models would be. The situation however has now stabilized and they are retaining open licenses as an option. [https://www.change.org/p/keep-sketchfab-alive-preserve-open-access-to-3d-art-museum-collections Here] is a petition with background information.
 == Further information ==