Canvas AR Studio/GLB vs USDZ

GLB vs USDZ

Look into putting a 3D model on a product page and two extensions turn up: .glb and .usdz. They do the same job for different platforms. Here is the difference and what it means in practice for an online store.

What GLB is

GLB is the single-file form of the open glTF standard. Geometry, materials, textures and any animation live inside one file, so there are no separate image files to carry alongside it. It was designed for the web, so files are small and open quickly in a browser. Android phones, desktop browsers and almost every 3D viewer read GLB.

What USDZ is

USDZ is the format read by Quick Look, Apple's AR viewer. Tapping a USDZ link on an iPhone or iPad opens the AR view directly, with no extra software involved. Android does not read USDZ, which is why one format cannot cover both platforms.

What is done in practice

Both are produced for each product and the page serves whichever the device needs. What matters is that they come from the SAME geometry: if scale information is lost in conversion, the same piece can appear at one size on an iPhone and another on Android. In a business where the size is the product, that is a silent error and a hard one to notice.

Scale and units

Both formats use metres. A 70 × 100 cm piece is stored as 0.7 × 1.0. The most common defect in files coming out of modelling software is scale: an object modelled in centimetres and then read as metres appears a hundred times too large in AR. This is why building models from catalogue dimensions beats estimating them from images.

Why file size matters

The model downloads over the customer's mobile connection. A heavy file means waiting after the button is pressed, and part of that waiting turns into abandonment. For simple geometry like wall art the file can stay in the few-hundred-kilobyte range; what usually drives the weight is the resolution of the artwork inside it, not the geometry.

Who produces these files

The usual route is producing them one by one in 3D software such as Blender — time and expertise. For products with defined geometry — canvas, framed prints, wood and glass panels — the model can instead be computed from the artwork and the dimensions. That is the route we use, and it is why the size comes out exact and why cost does not explode as the catalogue grows.

Frequently asked questions

Can one format cover both platforms?

No. Android and desktop read GLB, iPhone and iPad read USDZ. Both are produced and the page serves the right one.

What is the difference between glTF and GLB?

glTF is the standard; GLB is its single-file packaging. In glTF the geometry, textures and materials can sit in separate files, while GLB holds everything in one — which is more practical on the web.

How do I check a model's size is right?

Place it in AR and measure it with a tape measure. For flat pieces, a test pattern with a 10 cm grid gives a fast visual check.

Do I have to host the files myself?

Not necessarily. If the models sit with us there is no load on your server, and updating a file does not require any change to your product page.

Does the customer download these files?

The viewer loads the model into the browser; nothing is saved permanently to the device and no app is installed.

Let us handle the files

Formats, scale and conversion are our problem — artwork and dimensions are all we need.

Get a quote

Or try the live example on your own wall first.