Our free and fast tool will convert your 3D LWO (LightWave Object File) model files to a standard 3DS (3D Studio Mesh) file that can then be edited further in most popular 3D editing packages or 3D printed without any further processing. Our conversion tool can also batch convert multiple LWO files; up to 200 files at a time can be converted.
To convert your LWO file, click the Upload button above and select the file to convert. Once selected, the file will be converted to a 3DS file and will be ready for download shortly afterwards. For more information about the LWO to 3DS conversion process, see the conversion information section below.
| Extension | LWO |
| Full Name | LightWave Object File |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | LWO Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create LWO Animation, LWO Asset Extractor, LWO Viewer |
The LWO, or LightWave 3D Object file, is a 3D graphics file format originally released in 1990 and available for the Amiga, Mac OS, and Windows. The LightWave software was developed by NewTek and is used in the television and film production of 3D digital effects.
The LightWave software is still a popular choice for 3D modeling and digital effects, with the most recent version being released in 2021. The format can contain 3D model or mesh information along with material and animations.
If your LWO file is uploaded with accompanying texture files, these will be included in the conversion process.
| Extension | 3DS |
| Full Name | 3D Studio Mesh |
| Type | 3D Model |
| Mime Type | application/octet-stream |
| Format | Binary |
| Tools | 3DS Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create 3DS Animation, 3DS Asset Extractor, Text to 3DS, 3DS Viewer |
| Open With | MeshLab |
The 3DS format has been a standard 3D format for many years. It has been the native file format for Autodesk's 3D Studio since the days of Microsoft's MS DOS. The age of the format began to show its limitations many years ago and was replaced by Autodesk when 3D Studio Max was launched.
There are, however, still many 3D model files circulating in the 3DS format, and these can be easily converted using our 3DS conversion tools. Some of the limitations of the 3DS file format include: texture names are limited to DOS 8.3 filenames; the maximum number of vertices allowed in the 3D mesh is capped at 65536; and there is no support for directional lighting.
Converting from the LWO file format to 3DS 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 LWO file to a valid 3DS 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:
In its simplest form, an LWO file is a binary data file containing 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 3DS file.
The LWO 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 3DS file, which does not support materials and textures, we will be ignoring this data if it is present in the LWO file.
For more information regarding the LWO file format, please see this great article that goes into a lot of detail explaining the LWO format.
With the LWO 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 3DS 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 3DS format.
If your LWO file has separate texture (PNG, JPG etc.) files, you can place these additional files, along with the LWO file within a ZIP or other compressed archive file and upload this.
Yes! Our LWO tool supports full batch conversions. You can upload up to 200 LWO files at a time. Our tool will convert them all as quickly as possible. Once completed, you can either download the 3DS files individually or download them all in a single ZIP file.
First click the "Upload..." button, and select your LWO file to upload. You can also drag and drop your file onto the tool. Once your file is selected, you can set any configuration options. When the LWO to 3DS conversion has completed, you can download your 3DS file straight away.
We aim to process all LWO to 3DS conversions as quickly as possible, this usually takes around 5 seconds but can be more for larger more complex files so please be patient.
We aim to create the most accurate conversions with our tools. Our tools are under constant development with new features and improvements being added every week.
Yes, of course! We do not store the LWO file you submit to us. The resulting 3DS file, once created, is stored for 4 hours after upload; after this time it is deleted, and the short-term download link will stop working. You can create a long-term download Url with most tools that will ensure the file is retained for 24 hours, allowing you to download the file when convenient. Our tools also come with a Delete button, allowing you to delete the file immediately.
No. All our conversion tools process your LWO 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 3DS file quickly.
Yes! Our LWO to 3DS tool will run on any system with a modern web browser. No specialist software is needed to run any of our conversion tools.
Yes. Although you can use an Ad Blocker, if you like our LWO conversion tool please consider white-listing our website. When an Ad Blocker is enabled there are some conversion limits and some settings may not be available when using our tools. Processing/conversion and download times will also be longer.
Yes. When you have converted your LWO to 3DS, 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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