Free Online 3DS to PLY Converter

Here is our free to use 3DS to PLY 3D model converter tool that will take your 3DS file and convert it to the PLY format ready for loading into your favourite 3D modeling package. Our 3D model converter supports batch processing of your files and can convert up to 20 3DS files at one time.

Select File(s)

Drag and drop your files here to upload or click the button above.
A maximum of 20 files can be converted at once.

Please note: Your 3DS file file, when uploaded to our server, will be deleted 15 minutes after upload. Please download your converted 3DS file file before this time.

The 3DS to PLY model conversion tool will analyse your 3DS file and convert its 3D mesh data including vertices, surfaces and where applicable vector normals and texture coordinates to the PLY format whilst maintaining the structural accuracy of your original 3DS 3D model file.

File information for 3DS and PLY

Full Name	3D Studio Mesh
Extension	3DS
Type	3D Model
Mime Type	application/octet-stream
Format	Binary

The 3DS file format is one of the older, some may say classic, 3D file formats designed to store fully textured 3D models. Developed in the early 1990's, the 3DS format was to be the standard format for the popular 3D Studio modeling application.

The format is still in use today though was superseded some time ago by the MAX format that is used by the Autodesk 3ds Max modeling application. Although out of favor as a preferred storage format for modern 3D models, the 3DS format is still important due to the huge library of existing 3D models that exist in this format.

3DS Converter Capabilities

As the 3DS format currently does not support the use of material colors when used by tool, your converted model will contain only the mesh geometry, material colors will not be transferred to your converted file.

Full Name	Stanford Triangle Format
Extension	PLY
Type	3D Model/Point Cloud
Mime Type	application/octet-stream
Format	Text

The PLY file format, commonly referred to as the Stanford Triangle Format, is a 3D file format that comes in either plain text or binary formats. The PLY format is a mature format and is supported by many popular 3D editing applications.

Due to its ability to handle full-color 3D point clouds, the format is commonly used as a medium of exchange when working with 3D scanners. There are also many 3D models available online in the PLY format.

PLY Converter Capabilities

As the PLY format currently does not support the use of material colors in 3D models when created using our tool, your converted model will contain only the mesh geometry, material colors will not be transferred to your converted PLY file.

How to Convert your 3DS to PLY?

Here are two steps to convert your 3DS to PLY using our free 3DS converter tool.

Upload your 3DS file

Click the "Select File" button, and then select the 3DS file to upload. The maximum file size is 100MB.

Download your PLY

Click the download link to receive your PLY file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert my 3DS to PLY?

First, click the "Select File" button and choose your 3DS file. We will upload and convert your 3DS file. Once the conversion from 3DS to PLY completes, use the provided link to download your PLY file.

How long does it take to convert my 3DS file to PLY?

We aim to process all 3DS to PLY file conversions as soon as possible; this should take around 5 seconds; however, this may be longer for larger files.

Is the 3DS format suitable for 3D printing?

No. Most 3D printing slicer software will not support the 3DS format. It is recommended to convert your 3DS file to the STL format if you wish to 3D print it.