Language3DS
3ds Max (3D Studio MAX) graphics
File type: 3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file
Files with 3ds file extension can be commonly found as 3D computer graphics created using 3D Studio Max software as well its successor product 3ds Max by Autodesk.
Found 2 different file type records with the same 3ds filename suffix.
What is 3ds file?
File type category:
3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file
Date updated: February 4, 2025
File extension 3ds is best known for it's use in in 3D Studio Max. 3DS was the default file format of the old Autodesk 3D Studio DOS, which was popular until its successor (3D Studio MAX 1.0) replaced it in April 1996.
Historically, 3ds is an ancient file format coming from the mid 1980s 16-bit era of home computing, in particular the Atari|ST computer and Tom Hudson's CAD-3D program. As such, it is not a good file format for modern data translation. It has no ability to convey all-important vertex normals (for geometry smoothing); it is limited to DOS 8.3 filenames for texture maps; each object is limited to only 64k polygons and vertices; all meshes must be triangles; object names are limited to only 10 characters and material names to 16 characters.
The 3ds file format is a merger of the old 1985-era Atari|ST computer's CAD-3D .3d2 file format (from Tom Hudson) and the Antic Animator file formats.
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).
MIME types used for 3ds Max files:
application/x-3ds
image/x-3ds
How to open 3ds file?
Primary use 3D Studio Max to open the 3ds files, or any other suitable application.
Third party applications such as Blender can open the *.3ds files as well.
How to convert 3ds file?
You can use 3D Studio Max or Blender to convert a *.3ds file in to other file format. Alternative would be to use some dedicated conversion program like PolyTrans|CAD+DCC.
Suggested software to open 3ds file:
Associated software actions with the 3ds file
Software applications that can open 3ds files:
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
CINEMA 4D (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
TurboCAD (Microsoft Windows)
ABViewer (Microsoft Windows)
MessiahStudio (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
TurboCAD for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Cinema 4D for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Meshlab (Multiplatform)
Clara.io (On-line services)
Software applications that can edit 3ds files:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
TurboCAD (Microsoft Windows)
ABViewer (Microsoft Windows)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
TurboCAD for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Meshlab (Multiplatform)
Clara.io (On-line services)
Software capable of saving 3ds files:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
TurboCAD (Microsoft Windows)
ABViewer (Microsoft Windows)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
TurboCAD for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Meshlab (Multiplatform)
Clara.io (On-line services)
Programs for viewing 3ds files:
Ultimate 3D Model Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Alteros 3D (Microsoft Windows)
3D-Tool (Microsoft Windows)
Afanche 3D Viewer for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
GLC_Player (Multiplatform)
Software apps that create 3ds files:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Software apps that convert 3ds files:
FBX Converter (Microsoft Windows)
Autoconverter (Microsoft Windows)
Software apps that import 3ds files:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
MilkShape 3D (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
assimp (Microsoft Windows)
AC3D (Microsoft Windows)
meshconv (Microsoft Windows)
CAD Exchanger (Microsoft Windows)
Unity (Microsoft Windows)
Vue (Microsoft Windows)
Poser (Microsoft Windows)
pCon.planner (Microsoft Windows)
3D-Tool (Microsoft Windows)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Meshlab (Multiplatform)
Metasequoia (Multiplatform)
3D Transform (On-line services)
Online CAD converter (On-line services)
Online 3D Model Converter (On-line services)
Software apps that export 3ds files:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
CINEMA 4D (Microsoft Windows)
MilkShape 3D (Microsoft Windows)
Blender (Microsoft Windows)
SketchUp (Microsoft Windows)
AC3D (Microsoft Windows)
Poser (Microsoft Windows)
pCon.planner (Microsoft Windows)
Blender for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
SketchUp for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Cinema 4D for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Blender for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Meshlab (Multiplatform)
Online CAD converter (On-line services)
Online 3D Model Converter (On-line services)
Nintendo 3DS ROM image
File type category:
Disk image (ISO) binary file
Date updated: July 20, 2021
File extension 3ds is related to the Nintendo 3DS, a handheld video gaming console developed by Nintendo and released in 2011.
A .3ds file contains captured ROM from Nintendo 3DS game cartridge.
How to open 3ds file?
Use Citra to open and mount .3ds ROM images.
How to convert 3ds file?
As far as we know, conversion to other formats is not possible for this type of .3ds files.
Suggested software to open 3ds file:
Associated software actions with the 3ds file
Software applications that can open 3ds files:
TronDS (Microsoft Windows)
Citra (Multiplatform)