Files with ply extension can be found as various polygon  3D data files generated by many 3D modeling or CAD programs.

There are 4 other file types using
the PLY file extension!

empty icon.ply - Harvard Graphics presentation screen

empty icon.ply - MiDi PoWeR playlist

empty icon.ply - Men of War: Assault Squad 2 game data

empty icon.ply - Finale playback data

PLY file extension - Polygon graphics

What is ply file? How to open ply files?

File type specification:

3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file type icon 3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file type

PLY format represents a simple object description that was designed as a convenient format for researchers who work with polygonal models. Early versions of this file format were used at Stanford University and at UNC Chapel Hill.

A .ply file consists of a header followed by a list of vertices and then a list of polygons. The header specifies how many vertices and polygons are in the file, and also states what properties are associated with each vertex, such as (x,y,z) coordinates, normals and color.

The polygon faces are simply lists of indices into the vertex list, and each face begins with a count of the number of elements in each list.

The PLY format format is most often used today to convey data from 3D RGB color scanners. For example used by Petrosys or Cyberware.

Updated: November 24, 2023

The default software associated to open ply file:

Blender icon

Stichting Blender Foundation logoBlender  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Stichting Blender Foundation

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, animating, rendering, video editing and compositing.

It is available in versions for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and FreeBSD.

Help how to open:

Use Blender, AutoCAD, or similar alternatives to open and work with the *.ply files.

How to convert:

Generally speaking, polygon files can be exported to several CAD formats.

Find conversions from ply file:

ply to dwg

ply to jpg

ply to obj

ply to pts

ply to step

ply to stl

ply to txt

Find converter to ply file type:

dwg to ply

iges to ply

max to ply

obj to ply

stl to ply

txt to ply

wrl to ply

Related links:

PLY format full overview

Polygon data repository at Stanford University, Georgia Tech website

List of software applications associated to the .ply file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open ply file, edit ply file, convert ply file, view ply file, play ply file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting ply files.

Software that open ply file - Polygon graphics

Programs supporting the exension ply on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open ply file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with ply file by default:
Blender small icon Blender
Other suggested software:
AutoCAD small icon AutoCAD
3D Builder small icon 3D Builder

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Linux/Unix:

Multiplatform:

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