14 DAY TRIAL // You may or may not be familiar with Sketchfab, but if you're the sort of person who likes to acquire 3D models and play with them, then it'll probably be of use to you to learn more about it right now.
Sketchfab is a website where you can upload a 3D model for yourself to see later from anywhere in the world. It also allows other people to see the file if you wish for it.
In other words, it's like YouTube but with 3D models instead of videos, as certain other people all too glibly compared them.
Unfortunately, the two websites were alike in another manner, specifically the impossibility to download the files once they were put up. And Sketchfab doesn't have the freelancing community to develop a downloader for that.
Sure, if you're the uploader it stands to reason that you're going to keep a copy of the file on your PC. But what if you want the file from someone else? Well, now you can get it.
What Sketchfab offers
For one thing, it lets you show off your three-dimensional files for the whole world to see, as we said. Well, the whole world with an Internet connection actually. You can also embed the files in articles or forum posts, assuming the websites you frequent allow for it.
The files can be found in a variety of formats, and there are even specific repositories belonging to companies for instance. Formlabs has an entire gallery all to itself. Kind of like you can find music mixes on YouTube actually.
Of course, you can choose not to put your own file up for download if you still want to protect it in preparation for a project you're just seeking feedback on. But the option is there now, which is the whole point.
And you can even export files directly from Photoshop, Blender and Modo, turning them into Sketchfab, HTC and Microsoft models.
It means that visitors won't find themselves restricted by unsupported file types if they happen to use a specific program for their additive manufacturing needs. Toy cars and action figure parts coming right up.
The current volume of models
Sketchfab is no Thingiverse yet, but there still are around 200,000 models. A few more than that in fact. Which is a significant jump from the 100,000 that were available there back in April. A fast rise for such a short period really.