A picture is worth a thousand words. How much would an interactive 3D Model be worth? See this sample 3D_Model PDF to help you decide.
Universal 3D is a compressed file format for 3D computer graphics data, and Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader have support embedding and viewing these 3D models for some time now (since version 7).
Traditionally, there have been two methods to add a 3D model to the PDF document:
- Use Acrobat to embed a 3D model ( In Acrobat X, choose Tools > Content > Multimedia > 3D). This method requires you to add a placeholder image or white space on the page where the model can be inserted.
- Using the 3D CAD software to publish the 3D model as a PDF, and then use Acrobat to insert the page into an existing PDF file. You’ll also need to renumber the pages etc.
Both methods are cumbersome and require manual intervention.
Now, using TCS you can insert 3D CAD file formats into your document source files. On publishing, they are embedded into your PDF output. Doesn’t break your workflow, no manual intervention required. Pretty cool! so lets see how to do it.
Insert a 3D file
You can insert 3D models into your FrameMaker documents, just as you would insert images or any other files.
- Open your document.
- Choose File > Import > File
- Browse to a .u3d file and click Import.
- Select a DPI Setting and click Set.
Insert 3D files to a FrameMaker document
Set initial view properties
You can specify initial view options for the 3D model from within FrameMaker. No need to approach the designer or learn a CAD software for making minor adjustments. You can specify options such as background colors, lighting, render modes, and existing views from within FrameMaker.
- Right-click on the object and choose 3D Menu.
- Select an option as required:
-
- Background color
- Lighting
- Show Existing Views
- Render Mode
3D menu in FrameMaker
Vikrant is a technical communicator at Adobe and can be reached via twitter @vikrantrai, and blogs at http://blogs.adobe.com/vikrant.
#1 by Vikrant on January 4, 2011 - 1:49 pm
If you’re using Google Chrome and unable to see the Sample PDF in action, that could be because you’re not using Adobe PDF plug-ins. To set it right, see http://blogs.adobe.com/vikrant/2010/12/use-adobe-plugins-to-view-pdfs-inside-google-chrome/
#2 by Tom on February 11, 2011 - 12:05 pm
Very nice! Now I can add 3D models to my documents.
#3 by Marco on March 13, 2011 - 2:22 pm
I have a problem incorporating a 3d model in a pdf via FrameMaker 7: I can’t define the pivot point, and when I activate the 3d mode in the pdf documents, the model does not rotate on itself but it rotates around a point non visible. How I can define the pivot point? Thanks!
#4 by Piotr on November 15, 2011 - 12:49 pm
Hi! My indesign masters
How to add 3D model to PDF file in Adobe Indesign?
Something like that: http://www.plusdf.de/files/PlusDF_Praesentation.pdf
3D modeli is a part of flash object. Help me!
#5 by plusdf on February 1, 2012 - 2:20 am
in indesign? no chance. Maybe with a frame and a Skript and one of the 3d plugs for Acrobat. tetra4d, prostep, or something else.
have fun, good luck.
#6 by Vinayak Jha on October 7, 2012 - 7:01 am
Hi Vikrant, please let me know how can I action the 3D models within the PDF. I actually want to read the coordinates of the point when I roll over the pointer over the 3D model.
Kindly Assist.
Vinayak
#7 by Ryan Steffen on February 19, 2013 - 10:06 am
How can you create the 3d .pdf with Autodesk Inventor? It will not allow you to create a .u3d file format
#8 by Jan on April 3, 2013 - 12:23 am
Any thoughts on the best workflow from Cinema4d (which can not export (.u3d) to pdf?
#9 by Vikrant on April 3, 2013 - 1:05 am
I’m not very familiar with C4D, but I think it is used to create movies, rather than interactive 3D models. So if you render your C4D scene to a movie (.mov, mpeg etc), you can embed a movie into the PDF.
Makes sense?