| Filename extension |
.3ds |
|---|---|
| Internet media type |
application/x-3ds, image/x-3ds |
| Magic number | 4D 4D (hex), MM (ASCII) |
| Developed by | Autodesk Inc. |
| Type of format | 3D file formats |
3DS is one of the file formats used by the Autodesk 3ds Max 3D modeling, animation and rendering software.
It was the native file format of the old Autodesk 3D Studio DOS (releases 1 to 4), which was popular until its successor (3D Studio MAX 1.0) replaced it in April 1996. Having been around since 1990 (when the first version of 3D Studio DOS was launched), it has grown to become a de facto industry standard for transferring models between 3D programs, or for storing models for 3D resource catalogs (along with OBJ, which is more frequently used as a model archiving file format).
While the 3DS format aims to provide an import/export format, retaining only essential geometry, texture and lighting data, the related MAX format (now superseded by the PRJ format) also contains extra information specific to Autodesk 3ds Max, to allow a scene to be completely saved/loaded.[1]