Input file
PLY
- Full Name: Polygon Format
- Developer: Stanford University
Output file
STL
- Full Name: Stereolithography Format
- Developer: N/A
What is PLY file?
The .PLY file extension is an ASCII encoded Polygon Model File used primarily for storing mathematical models rendered in a 3D space. It is most often used in conjunction with 3D Studio Max, Maya and other 3D rendering software. The PLY format is open source and maintained by the Computer Graphics Laboratory at Stanford University. [ ⏩ ] PLY file extension
What is STL file?
The STL (.STL) file extension is one of the most widely used mesh formats. It was developed by 3D Systems Corporation for use with its proprietary STL-Format 3D Printer. The STL file format is a simple, of binary format which records the surface geometry of a 3D object as a series of colored facets. A binary STL file is typically composed of geometric facet information and some metadata, such as the RGB color values for the facets. The most common use for . [ ⏩ ] STL file extension
Software, that you can use to convert
How to convert the file from PLY to STL?
To successfully convert the PLY file to STL, you should install one of the applications from the list. After installing the software, open the program and select the file you want to convert (file-name.PLY). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case STL (usually converters allow you to convert to several different formats, so check out their features - maybe one of the available formats will suit you more than STL).
What is a file conversion?
A data conversion is normally an automated process to some extent. The effect of the operation of one program is automatically the input product of another application. If that does not happen we need to help the process a little bit and convert the file on our own, e.g. PLY to STL. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.
Program for converting PLY files to STL files is a kind of a "binary code translator" compensating for the differences in the code or translating it in such a way so that another application could use it. For us, as users, the visible change will be only another file extension. (After converting the file, it will be the extension STL, while before this step we had the PLY file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new STL file, or not.