Render FBX jewelry models online

What an FBX file contains

FBX can hold meshes, object names, a hierarchy of parts, materials, textures, cameras, lights and animation. For jewelry rendering, the parts that matter are the meshes and their names. The studio sets its own lighting, camera and materials, so everything else in the file is simply not needed.

FBX files can be up to 200 MB, a higher limit than most formats, because FBX files from animation tools are often larger.

Names and hierarchy

Each mesh in an FBX file keeps its name. Parts whose names contain Diamond, Gem, Stone, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Pavé, Halo or similar words start as stones, and the rest start as metal. If your scene uses a hierarchy, for example a ring group with a head, a shank and stones inside it, the names of the individual meshes are what count. Name each stone mesh clearly before exporting.

Export settings that work well

• Binary FBX rather than ASCII. It is smaller and faster.
• Selected objects only. Leave out cameras, lights, helpers and background props.
• Apply transforms. Freeze scale and rotation so the model arrives the way it looks in your scene.
• Leave out heavy textures. Embedded textures inflate the file, and the studio applies its own jewelry materials.
• Turn off animation export for a static product model.
• Triangulation is optional. Either works, but make sure smoothing or normals are exported so curved parts stay smooth.

Tool by tool

Blender. Use the FBX exporter with Selected Objects turned on and Apply Transform enabled. For jewelry, a GLB export is usually smaller and just as complete, so many Blender users prefer it. See the Blender page.

ZBrush. Use the FBX export plugin that ships with ZBrush, and decimate heavy SubTools first. See the ZBrush page.

3ds Max, Maya and Cinema 4D. Use the built-in FBX export with selected objects only. Check the unit settings so the model is not exported at an extreme scale, although the studio frames the camera automatically either way.

Units and scale

Animation tools often work in centimetres, while jewelry CAD works in millimetres. A ring can therefore arrive ten times larger or smaller than expected. For rendering this does not matter, because the studio frames the camera around the model. Use the Scale control in the Position panel if you want a consistent relative size across a collection.

Common FBX issues

1. Parts missing. They were hidden, on a disabled layer or excluded by the selection. Check visibility before exporting.
2. Strange rotation. Different up axes between tools. Fix it in the studio with a pose or the rotation controls, or apply rotation before exporting.
3. Stones show as metal. Rename the stone meshes or apply a gem material to them in the studio.
4. File too large. Remove embedded textures and animation, or decimate dense meshes.

Workflow

Prepare the jewelry in your 3D tool, name each stone mesh, export a binary FBX of the selected objects with transforms applied, and upload it to your library. A preview is created automatically. Open it in the studio, check materials and export stills or video. Read preparing jewelry CAD for rendering for the full checklist.