Export as model

The above interactive, animated 3D model is designed in BluffTitler, exported as GLB and rendered with the <model-viewer> web player. The avatars are made with Ready Player Me.

GLB

BluffTitler exports your show in the GLB format. This is a very popular 3D model format, supported by all major modelling apps and players. It is also the most popular format for web players.

How do I export as model?

Choose FILE > Export as model... to export your BluffTitler show as a 3D model file.

Mark the Include animation checkbox to include the animations.

When the Fake camera checkbox is marked, the camera animation is simulated by moving and rotating the world instead. This can be useful for players like Sketchfab and Fab that do not support camera animations. This trick however messes up lighting, so use it with care.

Powerful possibilities

Limitations

Unfortunately not all effects can be exported. Learn more.


Publish on your computer

Many players, inluding Windows 3D Viewer, support the GLB format. This way your family, friends and clients can view your work in an interactive way, without having to install the BluffTitler app.

gltf-viewer.donmccurdy.com is a good online player.

Publish on your website

model-viewer

A popular web player is <model-viewer>.

To play x.glb on your webpage, add the following HTML code:

<script type='module' src='https://unpkg.com/@google/model-viewer/dist/model-viewer.min.js'></script>
<model-viewer src='x.glb' autoplay camera-controls></model-viewer>

three.js

three.js is a popular JavaScript library for rendering 3D in your browser. Here's a simple demo that renders an animated GLB model.

Publish on stock sites

Many stock sites, including Sketchfab and Fab accept models in the GLB format.

Import in 3D modelling apps

Many 3D modelling apps, including Blender can import models in the GLB format.

Import in BluffTitler

Of course, BluffTitler itself can import models in the GLB format. This can not only make your shows less complex by replacing hundreds of layers by a single model layer, but also makes new effects possible like, for example, rendering a particle layer with 3D texts!

Import in photorealistic renderers

The BluffTitler app does a good job rendering your shows. But it can always be rendered more realistically. Rendering your show as a GLB file in a photorealistic renderer can help improving the result.

Limitations

The GLB format is much simpler than the BT format. In short, it only supports the PBR (Physically Based Rendering) lighting model and can only animate the positions, rotations and sizes.

This means that not all BluffTitler effects can be exported as GLB. Here are a few guidelines:

Layers

Try to limit yourself to the following layers: camera, light, text, vector, picture, sketch, model, container, waving flag & robotic arm.

Effects

Try to limit yourself to the AdvancedMaterials\PBR effect. The PBR effect is preferred because it's the lighting model the GLB format uses. For this reason it is also the default effect for the model layer.

Next to the AdvancedMaterials\PBR effect, the following effects are exported: NotLightened, Lightened, AdvancedMaterials\UVMapper & ProceduralTextures\RGB.

Properties

Do not use the Italic property of the text and vector layers.

Do not use the Writer property of the text and vector layers.

Textures

Only use textures in the PNG and JPG formats.

Transparency

The GLB format uses 3 transparency modes:

  • Opaque (no transparency)
  • Mask (fully opaque or fully transparent) Use a transparent texture and set the threshold with the FX Alpha test property of the AdvancedMaterials\PBR effect.
  • Blend (half transparent) Set the Transparency property to a positive value or use a transparent texture and set the FX Alpha test property of the AdvancedMaterials\PBR effect to 0.

Static pose

The current frame is exported as the static pose, so make sure there's something interesting to see when you choose FILE > Export as model....