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Convert Your 3D Mesh/Model PLY Files to VTK

Our free and fast tool will convert most 3D mesh or PLY (Stanford Triangle Format) model files to a standard VTK (Visualization Toolkit) 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 PLY files; up to 25 files at a time can be converted.

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

How to Convert your PLY to VTK Online?

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

Upload a PLY

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

Download your VTK

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert my PLY file to VTK?

First click the "Upload..." button, select your PLY file to upload. Select any configuration options. When the PLY to VTK conversion has completed, you can download your VTK file straight away.

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

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

How accurate is the PLY to VTK conversion?

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.

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

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

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

Yes! Our PLY to VTK 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 PLY 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.

What PLY formats can I convert from?

Our tool supports converting from all PLY formats including Text and Binary (both little endian and big endian).

I have several PLY files; can I batch convert my PLY to VTK?

Yes! Our PLY tool supports full batch conversions. You can upload up to 25 and PLY files at a time. Our tool will convert them all as quickly as possible. Once completed, you can either download the VTK files individually or download them all in a single ZIP file.

Comparing PLY and VTK Features

 

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

VTK 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

File Format Information for PLY to VTK

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

If your PLY file contains vertex colors, these will be imported and mapped where possible.

Supported Features

  • Mesh geometry
  • Vertex colors
  • Binary and text versions are supported when converting from PLY
  • Binary-only version when converting to PLY
ExtensionVTK
Full NameVisualization Toolkit
Type3D Model
Mime Typeapplication/octet-stream
FormatBinary
ToolsVTK Converters, 3D Model Voxelizer, Create VTK Animation, Text to VTK, VTK Viewer

Description

The VTK file format is a 3D modeling and graphics format supported by the Visualization Toolkit. Created in the '90s, the Visualization Toolkit provides a series of data and visual tools for advanced 3D modeling applications. Some example functions of the toolkit include polygon simplification, mesh repair and smoothing, and more.

The format has evolved over the years. It started out as a simple text-based format that could be edited within a simple text editor. Additional features have been added over the years, with the most recent version of the format supporting an XML-based format.

VTK Notes

Any model converted to the VTK format will be stored in a triangulated mesh format.

Supported Features

  • Polygon mesh
  • Triangle strip-base mesh

How does it work?

Converting from the PLY file format to VTK 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 PLY file to a valid VTK 3D model. Let's start with the conversion process, which involves the following steps:

Step 1: Read the Source PLY File

In its simplest form, an PLY file can be either a plain text or binary file containing 3D data such as vertices, faces, normals, and more. When combined, these make up the 3D model you see on your screen.

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

Step 2: Process File Data

With the PLY 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 VTK format.

Step 3: Saving to the VTK 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 VTK format.

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