3D posts on Facebook just got a lot better
Support for 3D imagery on Facebook is growing. Last October, Facebook introduced interactive posts of 3D objects to its news feed. The social network rolled out support for a new file format this week, which will make it even easier for users to share high-quality 3D images.
The format, glTF 2.0, allows for more realistic rendering of objects' textures, and more detailed 3D art.
Along with support for the new format, Facebook is rolling out new Graph API endpoints that will allow developers to build 3D sharing to Facebook directly into their third-party apps.
Currently, users can upload 3D content from Sony's 3D creator app and the Oculus Medium web gallery. Support for 3D objects from Google's Poly library is still in the works.
A new Open Graph tag will allow web developers to make 3D content on their sites appear in 3D when shared to Facebook as well.
What does this mean for you? Well, you may see more, and better, 3D images on your news feed, such as those above. You can also add more dimension (ha) to the creations you see by bringing them into Facebook Spaces, Facebook's social VR platform, the way you would a photo or a video. This means you could play virtual games with your friends in VR, or take selfies with your favorite objects.
Facebook announced in its blog post that it's committed to supporting even higher-quality 3D models in the future.
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
