3D Glossary
Clear, jargon-free definitions for the essential terms in 3D modeling, texturing, rendering, animation, and AI generation — for game developers, 3D artists, and creators.
AI Generation
Animation
File Formats
FBX
FBX is Autodesk's proprietary 3D file format widely used for exchanging animated models between DCC tools and game engines.
GLB / glTF
glTF is the open standard file format for 3D models, and GLB is its binary single-file variant, often called the JPEG of 3D.
STL
STL is the standard file format for 3D printing, storing raw triangulated surface geometry without color, texture, or material information.
Modeling
Low Poly
Low poly refers to 3D models with a small number of polygons, used for performance-efficient real-time rendering in games, mobile apps, and VR.
Mesh
A mesh is the collection of vertices, edges, and faces that defines the shape of a 3D object in computer graphics.
Retopology
Retopology is the process of rebuilding a 3D model's mesh with cleaner, more efficient polygon flow for animation, games, or further editing.
Optimization
LOD (Level of Detail)
LOD is a technique that swaps 3D models for simpler versions as they move further from the camera, improving performance without visible quality loss.
Polygon Count
Polygon count (poly count) is the number of polygons in a 3D model, directly affecting rendering performance and visual detail.
Rendering
Texturing
Normal Map
A normal map is a texture that stores surface direction information to simulate detailed geometry without adding polygons.
Roughness Map
A roughness map is a PBR texture that controls how smooth or rough a surface appears, determining the sharpness of reflections.
Texture Atlas
A texture atlas combines multiple textures into a single image to reduce draw calls and improve rendering performance in games and real-time applications.
UV Mapping
UV mapping is the process of projecting a 2D texture onto the surface of a 3D model by assigning 2D coordinates to each vertex.