14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is putting 3D at the core of the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update, so it makes sense for the software giant to introduce a new file format in this regard.
The company has joined the 3D Formats working group at Khronos to collaborate on the GL Transmission Format (glTF) and officially add support for it in the Creators Update launching in early 2017.
“At Microsoft, we are committed to an open and interoperable 3D content development ecosystem. As 3D content becomes more pervasive, there is a need for a common, open and interoperable language to describe, edit, and share 3D assets between different applications. glTF fills this need as an expressive and capable open standard,” Microsoft explains.
Microsoft’s 3D efforts are spearheaded by the new Paint 3D app, which represents a modern version of the original Paint app offered in previous Windows operating systems.
Paint 3D puts the emphasis on touch and makes it possible for users to import and create 3D drawings just like in a professional solution, while also providing access to a growing online community where everyone can post their projects.
Google and NVIDIA also using glTF
Microsoft is not the only company that already embraced the glTF file format, as several other large companies already adopted it, including here Google, Oculus, and NVIDIA.
The Redmond-based software giant says it’ll bring its own contribution to improving this new format by focusing on open-source enhancements, such as moving development of glTF support in the open source frameworks such as BabylonJS.
“As the working group starts thinking about the next version, we are especially interested in joining discussions about some of the subjects that have seen the biggest community momentum in the public forums. Physically Based Rendering (PBR) material proposal is one of those topics,” Microsoft continued.
Those interested in having a glimpse into Microsoft’s 3D efforts can already give a try to the company’s new Paint 3D Preview app available here for machines running Windows 10 Creators Update builds.