View and interact with 3D PLY models directly in your browser. Upload your models and explore them from every angle without installing any software. No Signup Required.
Drag & drop your PLY file here or click to browse. You can also include a PNG texture.
Supports PLY files (Stanford Polygon Format) and PNG/JPG textures
PLY (Polygon File Format) is a file format designed to store three-dimensional data from 3D scanners. Also known as the Stanford Triangle Format, it was developed at Stanford University in the 1990s.
Key features of PLY files include:
PLY files are commonly used in research, 3D scanning applications, and computer graphics to represent 3D models, particularly those captured from real-world objects.
The PLY format was created at Stanford University during the 1990s as part of the Stanford 3D Scanning Repository project.
This project aimed to make 3D scanned models freely available to researchers worldwide.
What makes PLY particularly interesting is its origin in capturing real-world objects rather than creating synthetic models.
The famous "Stanford Bunny" - a 3D scan of a ceramic rabbit figurine - became one of the most recognized test models in computer graphics, stored in PLY format.
With just 69,451 triangles, this relatively simple model revolutionized 3D graphics research by providing a standard reference object.
Researchers could use this common model to compare rendering techniques, mesh processing algorithms, and 3D printing methods across different studies.
What sets PLY apart technically is its elegant extensibility through its property system.
Unlike fixed formats, PLY allows arbitrary properties to be attached to vertices and faces through its header definition.
This means a PLY file can store standard geometric data alongside specialized information like confidence values, temperature readings, or material densities.
This flexibility makes PLY invaluable for scientific applications and research environments.
The format's dual representation options (ASCII and binary) offer a practical trade-off: ASCII files can be manually edited in any text editor, while binary files are typically 5-10 times smaller and faster to process.
This versatility explains why PLY remains popular for point cloud data from LIDAR systems and photogrammetry, despite newer formats being available.
Our PLY Viewer allows you to upload and view 3D models in PLY format directly in your browser. You can rotate, zoom, and inspect models from all angles without needing specialized software.
PLY (Polygon File Format, also known as Stanford Triangle Format) is a 3D file format designed to store three-dimensional data from 3D scanners. It supports a variety of properties such as color, transparency, surface normals, and texture coordinates, making it ideal for storing point cloud data.
Simply upload your PLY file using the upload button, and the 3D model will appear in the viewer. You can then use your mouse to rotate the model, scroll to zoom in/out, and right-click and drag to pan the view.
The viewer supports PLY files up to 50MB in size. Larger files may take longer to load depending on your internet connection speed.
Yes, your 3D models are processed entirely in your browser. We never upload or store your models on our servers, ensuring complete privacy and security of your intellectual property.
The PLY Viewer is designed for viewing only. It doesn't currently support exporting to other formats or downloading modified versions of the models.
The PLY Viewer works best on modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version for optimal performance.
Yes, our PLY Viewer supports colored point clouds if the PLY file includes color information. The viewer will render the points with their associated colors for a more detailed visualization.