3MF

3MF, or 3D Manufacturing Format, is an open file format designed for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. It aims to provide a comprehensive and interoperable description of a 3D scene, including geometry, color, textures, materials, and printer-specific settings, all in a single file.

Technically, a 3MF file is a ZIP-based package that adheres to the Open Packaging Conventions. Inside the package, the core model data describes mesh geometry and object relationships, while additional resources can include textures, color information, material properties, and per-object print attributes. The format supports multiple objects, scenes, and transformations, enabling complex assemblies to be described without losing associated resource data.

The format is developed and maintained by the 3MF Consortium, a coalition of industry players including software, hardware, and service providers from the 3D printing ecosystem. The consortium’s goal is to improve interoperability between design tools, slicers, and printers, addressing limitations in older formats that lacked color, textures, or multi-material capabilities.

Adoption and use of 3MF have grown across CAD software, slicers, and printer workflows. It is commonly preferred when color, textures, or multi-material printing are required, or when a complete print-ready package is desirable. While STL remains widely supported, 3MF offers a richer data model and is increasingly supported as a standard option in modern 3D printing pipelines.

See also: additive manufacturing file formats, STL, AMF.