Getting started in Sketchfab

Sketchfab offers services to 3D creators that allows them to share their 3D models online. It provides a 3D viewer for the web which works with various operating systems, browsers and devices. Users of Sketchfab can:

• Upload 3D files

• Use Sketchfab's tools to manage navigation and views

• Edit the model's orientation and lighting

• Add annotations to the model

• Add simple metadata

• Publish the model online

• Share and embed models

Cultural heritage users

Sketchfab supports Cultural Institutions by offering them a free pro account and discounts on other account plans. If you are a cultural institutions (museum, library, archive or other cultural heritage organisation) contact Sketchfab when registering and ask about this offer!

Preparing your 3D files

Once you created have captured your data, completed post-processing and visual enhancement stages the next step involves preparing your 3D model for upload to Sketchfab. This can involve reducing the number of polygons and other steps to produce a more lightweight version of the model that is optimised for web publication.

Training video 2.2 shows the process of preparing a 3D scene in Unity for upload to Sketchfab

You can upload models in lots of different 3D formats to Sketchfab; your choice depends on the 3D software that you are using and your project. Sketchfab recommends the OBJ or FBX file formats.

When you are preparing your 3D files to upload, it is important to include both the model and any textures into the same folder. It is a good idea to combine all the files in a zip file for ease and speed of upload.

Collecting 3D files for upload

Upload to Sketchfab

You can upload 3D files to your Sketchfab account either:

• By logging in and clicking on upload in the top right hand corner of any Sketchfab page, and then dragging and dropping your files in to the upload window.

• Or by using the share to Sketchfab function supported by 3D software packages such as Unity.