Use Verge3d with three.js

Hi Techmobo,

There is alot going on in your comments above so I will attempt to assist but may get some things incorrect base on what I am reading vs what you are really doing.

First and foremost, Verge3d is based on three.js. Because of this anything that can be done in three.js can be done using Verge3d but not necessarily using only native V3D puzzles. You might have to use some JavaScript etc. as well.

A pipeline using MAYA, MAX or Blender that starts off creating high res models and textures will require that those same models and textures be optimized in MAYA, MAX or Blender before being exported as V3D GLTFs. This may include but is not limited to, poly reduction, atlas map for shadows, normals, reflection and AO maps, etc. All optimization has to be done before the scene is exported to GLTF.
Not all materials/shader nodes and not all animation methods are supported in Verge3d so you will need to determine if all the items you are exporting are compatible. So when you say you start off with really big models in MAYA then export to GLTF and get really big GLTFs. You don’t want to do that, it will create really big GLTFs that are not usable. Browser memory allocation is very low and you have to manage your number of vertices, triangles, objects, materials, textures, etc. or you will just run out of memory.

Shaders are the easiest to diagnose as they will be black, or not visible at all. But if they are all black, you will want to determine if your HDR background (main light source) is loaded or if your lights loaded (I don’t recommend using any lights but that’s another subject).

Also, note you may have different methods of exporting the GLTF. You must have the Verge3d plugin installed and export using the Verge3d GLTF. It is uniquely different from other GLTF exporters. You can export a generic version of GLTF to Autodesk but it will have the same memory limitations as Verge3d. The fact you are getting black materials, it seems likely you have exceeded the memory allocation, missing lights or textures are too big to load.

Exporting standard GLTF models for use with three.js can be exported via Verge3d but it’s better to export from your 3D application. It will be much more efficient and will not contain the Verge3D overhead that is not needed in standard output. Not to mention it will be free since you already have the 3D application.

Try blender. Export to fbx then import to blender then export to gltf.