From my interview with CEO Alban Denoyel, I learned that 3D model sharing site Sketchfab is really forward thinking, with the goal of reaching every relevant platform possible for embedding the 3D models uploaded to their site. The latest platform example is Volupedia, a mirror site of Wikipedia that Sketchfab has been using to show off how useful 3D models might be when researching topics on the open encyclopedia.
Since the beginning, Sketchfab has understood what the future of 3D will look like when everyone has access to 3D technologies. In the not so distant future, 3D models won’t be limited to CAD artists, as consumer 3D scanning will open up just about everyone to the 3D ecosystem and, soon, they’ll be sharing 3D scans of their newborns (as Alban himself has done) on social media. Hence, Sketchfab’s partnership with Facebook, which now allows Sketchfab models to be embedded directly onto the world’s largest social media site. And, now that Lenovo has announced the availability of the Project Tango 3D scanning smartphone this summer, that 3D future is just around the corner.
It’s no wonder, then, that Sketchfab has become such a popular site for sharing 3D models. This week, the site reached a huge milestone with 500,000 3D models uploaded onto the site in less than 1,000 days. Of course, not every one of these models is free and 3D printable. Some are animated. Some are annotated. But all of them demonstrate just how extensive Sketchfab has become and will continue to be.
So, congratulations, Sketchfab!
While the 500k model is free and 3D printable, I couldn’t help but include this scan of me, too. After all, it is one of the 500k models on the site! My wife captured this with the new Structure Sensor she bought me for Christmas and the itSeez 3D app.
