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Convert Your 3D Mesh/Model DAE Files to PLY

Our free and fast tool will convert most 3D mesh or DAE (COLLADA - Collaborative Design Activity) model files to a standard PLY (Stanford Triangle Format) file that can then be edited further in most popular 3D editing packages such as Blender or 3D printed without any further processing. Our conversion tool can also batch convert multiple DAE files; up to 25 files at a time can be converted.

To convert your DAE file, click the Upload button above and select the file to convert. Once selected, the file will be converted to a PLY file and will be ready for download shortly afterwards. For more information about the DAE to PLY conversion process, see the conversion information section below.

How to Convert your DAE to PLY Online?

Here are two simple steps to convert your DAE to PLY.

Upload a DAE

Click the "Upload a DAE File" button and select a DAE to upload. The maximum file size is 100MB.

Download your PLY

Click the download link once completed to receive your PLY file.

File Format Information for DAE to PLY

ExtensionDAE
Full NameCOLLADA - Collaborative Design Activity
Type3D Model
Mime Typetext/xml
FormatText
ToolsDAE Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create DAE Animation, DAE Asset Extractor, Text to DAE, DAE Viewer
Open WithBlender, MeshLab

Description

The DAE format (also known as COLLADA) is a 3D file format used to describe 3D models, meshes, and 3D worlds using a simple text-based structure. The format was introduced in 2004 by Sony Computer Entertainment and is currently managed by the Khronos Group.

DAE files are a text/XML-based file format containing 3D geometric information used to describe 3D objects and meshes such as vertices, faces, animations, materials, camera/lighting elements, and other related metadata. The format has widespread usage and support, with applications such as Blender and MeshLab being able to read and write to it.

DAE Notes

If your DAE file is uploaded with accompanying texture files, these will be included in the conversion process.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Material colors
  • Textures (PNG, JPG formats)
ExtensionPLY
Full NameStanford Triangle Format
Type3D Model/Point Cloud
Mime Typeapplication/octet-stream
FormatText & Binary
ToolsPLY Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create PLY Animation, Compress PLY, Text to PLY, PLY Viewer
Open WithBlender, MeshLab

Description

The PLY format is a 3D model format originally developed and released in 1994, with its primary use being to store three-dimensional data from 3D digital scanners. The format known as the Polygon File Format or the Stanford Triangle Format can be either a binary or text-based format.

The file format stores 3D geometric information such as vertices, faces, vertex normals, color, and other custom data. The format is still in use, with many PLY models available to download, and PLY files can be loaded into most popular 3D applications, such as Blender.

PLY Notes

PLY files support per-vertex color information. If your uploaded model contains color information, our tool will attempt to save this in the PLY file at the end of the conversion process.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Vertex colors
  • Binary and text versions are supported when converting from PLY
  • Binary-only version when converting to PLY

Comparing DAE and PLY Features

 

DAE Features

  • Mesh Geometry (Vertices and Faces)
  • Vertex Normals
  • Face Normals
  • Vertex Colors
  • Face Materials (Excluding textures)
  • Textures
  • Point Cloud
  • Multiple Objects Per File
  • Object Transforms (Translation, Rotation, and Scale)
  • Bones/Joints
  • Animations
  • Suitable for 3D Printing

PLY Features

  • Mesh Geometry (Vertices and Faces)
  • Vertex Normals
  • Face Normals
  • Vertex Colors
  • Face Materials (Excluding textures)
  • Textures
  • Point Cloud
  • Multiple Objects Per File
  • Object Transforms (Translation, Rotation, and Scale)
  • Bones/Joints
  • Animations
  • Suitable for 3D Printing

How does it work?

Converting from the DAE file format to PLY can be a complex process, and any tool used for this conversion process needs to be able to handle a variety of data conversion tasks as well as identify any defects within the 3D model and fix them. Here we will explain the conversion process used by our tool to accurately convert your DAE file to a valid PLY 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:

Step 1: Read the Source DAE File

In its simplest form, an DAE file is a plain text file containing human-readable 3D data such as vertices, faces, normals, and more. When combined, these make up the 3D model you see on your screen.

When our tool reads this 3D data, all we are interested in are the vertices, faces, and normals, as this is the only data that can be accurately converted into the final PLY file.

The DAE file can contain other data, such as material definitions and textures, that describe how a particular set of 3D geometry should be rendered. As we are creating an PLY file, which does not support materials and textures, we will be ignoring this data if it is present in the DAE file.

For more information regarding the DAE file format, please see this great article that goes into a lot of detail explaining the DAE format.

Step 2: Process File Data

With the DAE file data read, our tool generates an internal representation of the full 3D model and will attempt to fix any geometry issues encountered. Along with repairing any issues with the 3D model, the tool will remove any duplicated vertices and prepare the model for exporting to the PLY format.

Step 3: Saving to the PLY Format

With the conversion process entering its final stages, our tool now needs to take the in-memory 3D model we have created in step 2 and convert it to the PLY format.

Frequently Asked Questions

My DAE file contains textures, how do I upload these?

If your DAE file has separate texture (PNG, JPG etc.) files, you can drag and drop these onto the upload tool along with the main DAE file. Our tool will intelligently detect which of these additional files belong with the DAE file. Alternatively, you can place these additional files, along with the DAE file within a ZIP or other compressed archive file and upload that.

How long does it take to convert my DAE to PLY?

We aim to process all DAE to PLY conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.

What format is my PLY file saved as?

The PLY file generated by our tool will be in the binary little endian format.

Is it safe to convert my DAE to PLY on ImageToStl.com?

Yes, of course! We do not store the DAE file you submit to us. The resulting PLY file, once created is deleted 15 minutes after upload and the download link will expire after this time.

Do I need a high-spec. computer to use the DAE to PLY converter?

No. All our conversion tools process your DAE file on our dedicated conversion servers, meaning you can use our tools on low-spec computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices and receive your converted PLY file quickly.

Can I convert my DAE to PLY on Windows, Linux, Android, iOS or Mac OS?

Yes! Our DAE to PLY tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.

What if I am using an Ad Blocker, will that affect things?

Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our DAE conversion tool please consider white-listing our site. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits on some of our tools and processing/conversion times will be longer.

Can I get support with converting my DAE to PLY?

Yes. When you have converted your DAE to PLY, there is a "Feedback" option that you can use to let us know of any issues you encountered when converting your file.

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