How to export from Rhino to 3DM or GLB (for client review)

MeshMarkup opens Rhino .3dm files directly, so the simplest route is to save your model with File›Save As… with render meshes included, and upload that. For more control over materials and file size, export a GLB from Rhino 8 with File›Export Selected… and Save as type set to GL Transmission Format Binary (.glb).

#Best format: 3DM or GLB

Both work well. Pick by what you need:

When you upload a .3dm, MeshMarkup reads it in your browser with McNeel's own rhino3dm library, applies the model units so measurements are right, and converts it to GLB. Curves, points and annotations are left out; surfaces, polysurfaces, meshes and SubD come through as shaded geometry.

#Export step by step

#Option 1: upload the 3DM

1. 1

   Shade the model once

   Switch a viewport to Shaded or Rendered so Rhino builds render meshes for every surface and polysurface.

2. 2

   Set render mesh quality

   For smooth curves, open File›Properties›Mesh and choose Smooth & slower, or use Custom and lower the maximum distance, edge to surface. Coarse render meshes look faceted in the browser.

3. 3

   Save with render meshes

   Use File›Save As… and make sure you don't choose Save Small, which strips the render meshes. Without them, NURBS geometry has nothing to show.

4. 4

   Upload the .3dm

   Drop it on Models. It's converted to GLB in your browser before it uploads.

#Option 2: export a GLB from Rhino 8

1. 1

   Select what to send

   Select the objects for the review. Hide or leave out construction curves and reference geometry.

2. 2

   Open the exporter

   Choose File›Export Selected… (or File›Save As… for everything) and set Save as type to GL Transmission Format Binary (.glb). Rhino 8 has this built in. In Rhino 7, look for it in the same list; if it isn't there, use McNeel's older glTF plug-in or upload the .3dm instead.

3. 3

   Choose the options

   Tick Map Rhino Z to glTF Y so the model stands the right way up, Export materials, Use display color for objects with no material, Export texture coordinates and Export vertex normals. Tick Draco compression if the file is large.

4. 4

   Export and check the size

   Click OK. The Free plan has 50 MB of storage in total, so keep an eye on large assemblies.

#Recommended GLB settings

#Units and scale

Rhino models can be in millimetres, centimetres, metres, inches or feet. Both routes handle this: MeshMarkup applies the model units stored in a .3dm, and Rhino's glTF exporter converts to metres. A 40 mm ring measures 40 mm in MeshMarkup either way. If you use a custom unit system, the size may not convert; switch to a standard unit in File›Properties›Units before saving. See wrong size or scale if something looks off.

#Textures and materials

• Rhino's own materials (Custom, Physically Based, Plaster, Metal and so on) export to glTF as physically based materials. Physically Based materials give the most faithful result.
• Plug-in materials from V-Ray, Enscape or other renderers may export as plain white. Assign a Rhino material for the review, or rely on Use display color.
• Layer and object colours carry through when there's no material.
• Uploading the .3dm brings colours across. If your client needs to see textures exactly as you set them up, export a GLB.

#Common problems

• The upload says there's no geometry, or parts are missing. The file was saved without render meshes (for example with Save Small). Shade the model and save normally, or export a GLB.
• Curved surfaces look faceted. The render mesh is too coarse. Raise the quality in File›Properties›Mesh, then save or export again.
• The model is lying on its back. Map Rhino Z to glTF Y was off. Tick it and re-export.
• Everything is white. The objects use plug-in materials. Assign Rhino materials, or tick Use display color for objects with no material.
• The file is too big. Tick Draco compression, or export only the objects the client needs to see. See reduce file size.

#Upload and send it

1. 1

   Upload the 3DM or GLB

   Drop it on Models, or check it first in the free viewer at /viewer.

2. 2

   Share it for review

   Open the model, confirm one dimension with the measure tool, and click Share for review. The full walkthrough is in how to send a 3D model to a client for feedback.