Facebook adds support for high-quality 3D posts on the platform
What's the story
Facebook has rolled out support for a standard 3D file format called gITF 2.0 for seamless sharing of 3D posts on the website. The file format also brings support for textures, lighting, and realistic rendering techniques, regardless of the 3D art being rough, shiny, metallic, or soft. It allows for richer 3D objects and aims to bring higher-quality 3D content to Facebook.
Details
It's making sharing 3D posts easier and more seamless
Facebook has also introduced new Graph API endpoints through which developers can build 3D apps that directly share to Facebook's News Feed. They also allow 3D content from websites to automatically appear in 3D when shared on Facebook. Users can now drag-and-drop 3D interactive objects into the News Feed, and also bring them to Facebook's social VR hangout room Spaces for an immersive experience.
Allies
Facebook's early partners implement built-in sharing of 3D content
Xperia XZ1 owners can capture an item in Sony's 3D Creator app and send it directly to their Facebook feed. On the web, users can share 3D objects to Facebook directly from the Oculus Medium gallery. Further, the Facebook pages of LEGO, Jurassic World, Wayfair, Sony Mobile, and Clash Royale have already uploaded some incredible interactive 3D objects to the social networking website.
Quote
Next step is to integrate 3D with augmented reality: Facebook
"We're trying to make 3D a native part of the Facebook ecosystem. Stage 3 is getting these 3D objects into AR. The aim is to keep the upload flow pretty simple and streamlined," Facebook's creative director for social VR, Ocean Quigley, said.
Context
3D posts are interactive in nature
Earlier, Facebook had launched 3D posts on the platform, which let people see and interact with a digital object from all sides in the News Feed. These posts are responsive to scroll and touch. It opens new ways to interact with things like games, movie characters, and museum artefacts. Now users can also pick a background color and texture for their 3D posts.