The Complete Glossary of 3D Terms

360 Space Panorama Views are immersive, interactive visualizations that allow users to explore a space from a central point, viewing the environment in all directions (up, down, and around).

A 360-Degree View is an interactive visualization that allows users to see an object or environment from all angles by rotating it or navigating around it.

3D Configuration involves personalizing three-dimensional product or environmental models to meet specific needs.

3D modelling is the process of creating a three-dimensional representation of a physical object or scene using specialized software.

Rendering is the process of generating a 2D image or animation from a 3D model using computer software. I

3D Asset is a set of files describing an item in 3D format. The files describe the 3D representation of the item in question in a format that the visualisation technology can render the 3d model accurately.

A 3D configurator is a tool for customizing products in 3D, providing real-time visual feedback.

3D content includes any digital media with three-dimensional elements such as models, environments, animations, textures, and effects.

3D eCommerce integrates 3D models into online shopping, allowing customers to interact with products in a more immersive way.

3D mesh formats are file formats used to store and exchange 3D models and their associated data, including geometry, textures, and sometimes animations.

A 3D model is a digital representation of an object in three dimensions, used for visualization and simulation purposes in various industries.

A 3D object is a digital representation of a physical or conceptual entity in three-dimensional space, defined by its geometry, texture, and other properties.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects by building them layer by layer from a digital model.

A 3D product configurator is a tool for customizing products in 3D, providing real-time visual feedback.

An interactive 3D product display allows customers to explore and engage with products in a fully immersive way.

3D rendering is the creation of 2D images or animations from 3D scenes, vital for visualizing designs and creating digital content.

3D room planining utilizes three-dimensional models to visualize furniture placement, decor, and spatial arrangements, aiding in effective space utilization and design decision-making.

A 3D scene is a digital representation of a three-dimensional environment composed of objects, textures, lighting, and other elements.

3D visualization is the creation of three-dimensional representations for various purposes, such as design, simulation, and communication.

The 3DS format is a file format used by Autodesk's 3D Studio software for representing 3D models and scenes.

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable software applications to communicate and interact with each other, facilitating data exchange and interoperability

An Accessory Slot defines the placement of the accessory on the item and any item can have 0-any accessory slots.

Animations are sequences of images or frames that depict motion in a three-dimensional space. They are created using computer-generated imagery (CGI) techniques, manipulating 3D models to simulate movement, interactions, and environments

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that adds digital elements, like images or information, onto the real world using various devices.

The back-end is the server-side of a software application, handling data processing, storage, and business logic

The Bill of Materials (BOM) is a detailed list of components needed for product manufacturing. It guides production, inventory, and procurement processes.

In 3D, bounding box refers to the dimensions of the 3D object in it's maximum boundaries.

CAD is computer software used to create precise 2D and 3D designs for architecture, engineering, and manufacturing.

CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) software streamlines sales by automating product configuration, pricing, and quote generation processes.

CRM Integration connects a CRM system with other software to streamline data sharing and enhance functionality, improving efficiency and customer management.

Configuration rules are predefined guidelines that dictate how a product can be customized, ensuring valid and consistent configurations.

The coordinate system is essential in the context of 3D. For 3D, it is important to define the direction of 3 coordinate axes: x, y, z.

Cross-selling involves suggesting complementary products or accessories to users as they customize their items, enhancing the shopping experience and potentially increasing sales.

Customer Self-Service is empowering customers to configure and generate quotes independently through online portals or self-service interfaces, reducing reliance on sales reps for routine transactions.

DAE (Digital Asset Exchange) is a file format used for exchanging digital assets, including 3D models, animations, and scenes.

DWG is a proprietary file format developed by Autodesk that is used for storing 2D and 3D design data and metadata.

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is a CAD data file format developed by Autodesk for enabling data interoperability between AutoCAD and other software.

Dynamic Pricing adjusts product prices in real-time based on user customizations, optimizing revenue and enhancing transparency.

As users make selections or modifications, the configurator dynamically adjusts the available options and presents only valid choices based on the current configuration state.

Dynamic Visualization displays changing visual representations, often responding in real-time to user inputs or external factors

E-commerce Integration involves connecting an eCommerce platform with other systems or software like a 3D configurator to streamline operations and enhance functionality.

ERP Integration involves connecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with other software applications like a 3D configurator to unify business processes and data.

An eCommerce Configurator is an interactive tool on eCommerce platforms that lets customers customize products in real-time, enhancing the shopping experience and boosting sales with personalized options

Two vertices connected together form an edge. Three or more edges connected together form a face

Environment assets are important assets for highlighting the product under configuration.

Environment in the 3D product configurator context refers to the 3D scene where the configuration happens.

FBX (Filmbox) is a versatile file format designed by Autodesk for sharing 3D models, animations, and digital assets.

Face is a plane defined by three or more edges connected together. The faces usually consist of triangles, quadrilaterals, or other types of polygons (n-gons).

2D Floor Plans are simplified diagrams depicting the layout of a building or space from a top-down perspective, commonly used for planning and visualization in architecture and design.

Free Placement Structure logic defines rules for the composition assembly following freedom of placement.

The VividWorks 3D visualization software provides a library of furniture items, fixtures, and decor accessories that users can place and arrange within the room to create realistic interior designs.

glTF (short form of Graphics Language Transmission Format or GL Transmission Format) is a standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models.

Guided Selling is a feature of CPQ software that helps sales representatives or customers navigate through the configuration process by providing recommendations and guidance.

Immersive refers to an experience that deeply engages the senses, often creating a sense of presence and involvement in a virtual environment.

Interactive 3D refers to three-dimensional experiences that allow users to actively engage and interact with virtual environments or objects.

Interactive Configuration is when users can interact with a 3D model of the product or service, selecting different features, options, and customizations in real-time.

The Khronos Group, Inc. is an open, non-profit, member-driven consortium of 170 organizations developing, publishing and maintaining royalty-free interoperability standards for 3D graphics,

A 3D Lighting Configurator is an interactive software tool that allows customers to design and customize their own lighting solutions in a three-dimensional environment.

Linear Structure logic defines rules for the composition assembly following "left-right" logic.

Material slot is an item that allows configuration of materials for one or more material areas of the 3D model.

Texture mapping is a method for defining high frequency detail, surface texture, or color information on a computer-generated graphic or 3D model mesh.

A 3D mesh is a digital representation of a three-dimensional object composed of vertices, edges, and faces.

Mobile compatibility is ensuring that CPQ systems are accessible and functional on mobile devices, allowing sales reps to create and manage quotes while on the go.

A modular product is a type of product composed of interchangeable or detachable components or modules.

A non-modular product offers fixed components but allows customers to personalize the appearance by choosing from a selection of colors and materials.

Normals are vectors perpendicular to the surface of a 3D model at a given point. They play a crucial role in defining how light interacts with the surface.

OBJ is a standard file format for storing 3D geometry data, commonly used in 3D modeling and computer graphics applications.

An online configurator is a web-based tool that allows users to customize and personalize products or services according to their preferences and needs.

WebGL is a derived standard from OpenGL (short for Open Graphics Library).

Physically Based Rendering (PBR) materials are a method of shading and rendering that provides a more accurate representation of how light interacts with surfaces.

PLY (Polygon File Format) is a file format used to store three-dimensional data, typically representing objects as collections of polygons.

The product tree forms a parent - child relationship tree where an item as the most left-top most as the parent and items under the item are it's childs.

Polygons are the flat, geometric shapes (usually triangles or quadrilaterals) that make up the surface of a 3D model.

Pre-built components are an important way for you to help the user to start building their dream product.

Price Transparency is providing customers with visibility into real-time pricing changes, discounts, and promotions to build trust and transparency in pricing practices and encourage informed purchasing decisions.

Product Customization is tailoring a product's features or design to meet specific customer preferences, enhancing satisfaction and personalization.

A Product Configurator is a software tool or application that allows users to customize and personalize products according to their preferences and requirements.

A Product Customizer is a software that empowers users to personalize products to their liking.

Product rules within the VividWorks 3D configurator are defined in few key concepts.

Product variants refer to different versions or options of a product that share a common base but have slight differences in features, attributes, or configurations.

Quote Approval Workflow is a mechanism within CPQ software that automates the approval process for generated quotes, ensuring compliance with company policies and standards.

Quote Management involves the process of creating, managing, and tracking price quotations for products or services offered to customers.

The VividWorks 3D configurator comes with pre-built logic and algorithms specifically tailored for handling modular products, streamlining the configuration process and ensuring compatibility and coherence in the final designs.

Real-time 3D visualization refers to the dynamic rendering of three-dimensional objects or environments, allowing users to interact with and view changes instantly as they happen.

Real-time configuration refers to the ability to dynamically adjust product or service configurations instantaneously as users make selections or changes.

Real-time Pricing involves dynamically updating the cost of a product or service as users interact with the 3D model and make changes to its configuration.

3D Room Planning refers to the process of designing and visualizing interior spaces in three dimensions using specialized software or tools.

A Rule-Based Configurator is a software tool or system that allows users to customize and configure complex products or services according to predefined rules and constraints.

Rule engine is a component of CPQ software that allows businesses to define and enforce rules governing product configuration, pricing, and quoting.

SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit, which is a unique identifier assigned to each distinct product or item in inventory management.

STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) is an international standard (ISO 10303) for representing and exchanging digital product data.

STL (Stereolithography) is a file format used primarily for 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD).

A sales configurator is a software tool designed to help companies sell customizable products more efficiently.

Ability to handle increasing volumes of quotes, users, and product configurations as business operations expand or evolve

Scripting allows to specify how certain area of the application functions through mini-code logic that can take influence on the current configuration or the configuration of parent or child item.

A 3D Shelving Configurator is an interactive software tool designed to help users customize and visualize shelving and stoarge units in a three-dimensional space.

Snapping in 3D refers to the feature in 3D modeling software that allows objects or vertices to align precisely with each other based on predefined criteria.

Space Design is when users can create floor plans and layout designs for rooms, including walls, windows, doors, and other architectural elements, using intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces or drawing tools.

Tangents are vectors that lie tangent to the surface of a 3D model at a given point, typically used in combination with normals and bitangents to form a coordinate system on the surface.

Texel is short for Texture Pixel. While it behaves like any other pixel, the reason of a texture pixel being referred like this, is related to the Textures (materials in 3D product configurator) being overlaid on top of 3D meshes to render the surface in a realistic manner.