A3D (ASCII 3D) format is a simple text based 3D image format. It is able to represent 3D points in space. Its simplicity allows users to create their own point clouds or reuse saved data in other applications.

Data storage

Data in a3d file is stored as text. There are two variations of data:

• Vector - each line consists of a vector
• Matrix - each line consists of a matrix element

Each vector or matrix element is stored as comma separated list of float numbers (represented as text). Comma delimits float numbers and dot represents decimal separator (not locale sensitive). Vector or matrix element can be composed of 3 or 5 elements. First data line defines the number of elements in subsequent rows.

• 3 elements - 3D coordinates of a point
• 5 elements - 3D coordinates of a point + 2 additional components for other point data

For matrix data type the first line consists of matrix size. The size is defined by two comma separated integer values as text. Size defines rows and columns in matrix. Matrix file must contain rows*columns points. Points are loaded row by row (first columns count points are taken as first matrix row).

Examples:

Vector elements consisting of points having 3 data items
-7.000000,-3.200000,-0.027074
-7.000000,-3.000000,-0.030649
-7.000000,-2.800000,-0.034418
-7.000000,-2.600000,-0.038344
-7.000000,-2.400000,-0.042376
-7.000000,-2.200000,-0.046460
Vector elements consisting of points having 5 data items
-7.000000,-3.200000,-0.027074,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-3.000000,-0.030649,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.800000,-0.034418,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.600000,-0.038344,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.400000,-0.042376,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.200000,-0.046460,50.000000,1.000000
Matrix elements consisting of points having 3 data items
3,2
-7.000000,-3.200000,-0.027074
-7.000000,-3.000000,-0.030649
-7.000000,-2.800000,-0.034418
-7.000000,-2.600000,-0.038344
-7.000000,-2.400000,-0.042376
-7.000000,-2.200000,-0.046460
Matrix elements consisting of points having 5 data items
3,2
-7.000000,-3.200000,-0.027074,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-3.000000,-0.030649,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.800000,-0.034418,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.600000,-0.038344,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.400000,-0.042376,50.000000,1.000000
-7.000000,-2.200000,-0.046460,50.000000,1.000000

Download samples

A3D vector - a3dVector.zip

A3D matrix - a3dMatrix.zip