QUICKLOOK and 3D file types?

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QUICKLOOK and 3D file types?

anyone have any links or technical information on how i might explore optimizing the ability to use quicklook with 3D files?

is there a way to figure out why some files provide a view in quicklook and others simply display the file type?

anyone know how it works or how it associates itself (if that is even the right word) with a preview type image?

do the files have to get OPENED in software on the mac before it will display a preview type image?

where do these preview images get stored?

thanks for any intel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:3D_graphics_file_formats

Posted on Dec 27, 2019 1:00 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 27, 2019 2:28 PM in response to hotwheels22

Mostly you've got it, Quicklook has built in things it can decipher, Gif, Jpg, Pdf, Bmp, Tiff, Mov, & so on, unfortunately there's never been an agreed upon 3-D format, & nearly all are proprietary, so if the App that handles the 3-D format doesn't make something the Finder/Quicklook/Quicktime doesn't know about then we're out of luck.

Oh, & there was Quicktime 3-D but I think Apple dropped it.

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Answer 2

hotwheels22 Author

Level 1

107 points

Dec 27, 2019 2:20 PM in response to BDAqua

thanks. so chances are if a file is not showing a preview it is not due to the actual file type not being compatible with quicklook it is rather the fact it has not been opened and had a little cache created for quick look to access?

or possibly one or the other i suppose...?

i mean i guess it is possible that an app would not create a preview that QL could interface with?

would be cool to know how quick look is working a little better i guess...

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Answer 3

hotwheels22 Author

Level 1

107 points

Dec 27, 2019 2:31 PM in response to BDAqua

THANKS!

so quicktime 3D was an attempt at one time to make 3D viewable in a mac specific software i guess?

ans i guess if the app i am using is not making 3D viewable in QL i would simply have to open it in a software that does make a preview i am realizing now...?

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Answer 4

hotwheels22 Author

Level 1

107 points

Dec 27, 2019 3:21 PM in response to BDAqua

roger. various software. rhino. some of it is older meshing software. i am actually trying to figure this out now since i used to work in PC a lot.

some software opens some file types some opens others and some i don’t have software to open yet.

and not being able to see it in QL has gotten super confusing for some reason...

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 27, 2019 1:46 PM in response to hotwheels22

Normally they'd need opening in an App, I can only assume some of those Apps create a little .mov or such to display in Quicklook.

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 27, 2019 3:40 PM in response to hotwheels22

Sometimes you can glean info about the file by looking at the 1st 8 to 512 Bytes of the Header...

https://ridiculousfish.com/hexfiend/

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 27, 2019 2:35 PM in response to hotwheels22

Well, as I recall QT-3D was released for Windows® also, I believe they were trying to set a Standard that could be used on the blossoming Internet... & to get some royalties for it.

Yes to QL not viewing it... what 3D SW is it you're using?

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QUICKLOOK and 3D file types?

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