Skip to main content
Version: 2026.05

3D Visual Diff

3D Visual Diff lets you compare two versions of a 3D model in the platform and see what geometry was added, removed, or displaced, without opening the files in external CAD software.

Starting a Comparison​

  1. Open a 3D model file that has two or more versions.
  2. In the file details panel, select the Compare tab.
  3. In the version sidebar, choose the version to use on the left and the version to use on the right. Versions are listed by revision date.
  4. Use Switch to swap the left and right selections.

The comparison renders in the main viewport. You can orbit, zoom, and pan to inspect changes from any angle.

Supported Formats​

3D Visual Diff works with mesh-based model files in these formats:

  • OBJ
  • STL
  • GLB
  • glTF
  • 3MF

Both versions must be the same format. For example, you cannot compare an OBJ file against a GLB file.

View Modes​

Choose how the two versions are laid out:

  • Split view shows the two versions side by side.
  • Unified view combines the versions into a single overlaid model.

Comparison Modes​

In split view, you can switch how changes are colorized:

  • Structural highlights how the geometry differs between versions:
    • Green is geometry added in the right version.
    • Red is geometry removed from the left version.
    • Grey is geometry that is unchanged.
  • Displacement shows a heat map of how far surfaces moved between versions. Unchanged areas stay neutral, while surfaces that moved inward and surfaces that moved outward are shaded with distinct color ranges, so you can read both the magnitude and the direction of the change.

A legend in the corner of the viewport reflects the active mode's color scheme.

Ghost Overlay​

Enable Ghost overlay to show one version translucently over the other. When the overlay is on, two opacity sliders control visibility:

  • Primary sets the opacity of the main model.
  • Ghost sets the opacity of the overlaid reference model.

Slicing​

Enable Slice to cut a cross-section through both models and inspect internal or nested geometry:

  • Choose the slice axis: X, Y, or Z.
  • Drag the depth slider to move the slice plane through the model.

A picture-in-picture indicator shows the position of the slice plane.

Saving a Snapshot​

Use Download comparison image to capture the current view as a PNG.

Limits and Requirements​

  • Each file must be under 50 MB.
  • Both versions must be the same format.
  • If the files cannot be compared, the viewport explains why. This happens when the formats differ, when a file is too large, or when a model contains no geometry to compare.

For comparing non-3D file types, see Compare File Versions.