3D Model

Phials can preview 3D models so you can inspect meshes without leaving the app. When you select a supported model file, the preview shows an interactive viewer with lighting, an optional grid, view modes, and basic stats.

Prerequisites

The file must use an extension Phials recognizes as a 3D model (see below).
For Wavefront OBJ files, keep companion files such as .mtl materials and texture images in the same folder as the .obj when you can, so materials can load.

For where previews appear in the window, see File previews.

Supported formats

Phials loads these extensions as 3D models:

Extension	Format
`.gltf`, `.glb`	glTF / Binary glTF
`.obj`	Wavefront OBJ (optional `.mtl` materials)
`.stl`	STL
`.fbx`	FBX
`.dae`	Collada
`.ply`	PLY
`.3ds`	3D Studio

Other types use a different preview or the default preview.

Open the interactive viewer

Select a supported model in the file browser.
Open or focus the preview area (File previews).

The model is centered and scaled to fit the view. If the file includes animations, Phials plays them automatically when it can.

Fullscreen

Use the fullscreen control in the top overlay (icon button).
Press F while the viewer has focus (not while typing in a field) to enter or exit fullscreen when that control is available.
In fullscreen, press Escape to close the fullscreen preview.

By default, double-clicking a 3D model in the browser opens the fullscreen preview instead of launching another app. You can change per-extension behavior in Default behaviors.

Orbit and camera controls

Use the mouse, or the trackpad equivalent, to move the camera around the model:

Drag to rotate the view around the model.
Scroll to zoom in and out.
Right-drag (secondary button plus drag) to pan the view.

These shortcuts also appear in the fullscreen header bar.

At the top of the preview you can:

Material / Wireframe / Normals switches how surfaces are drawn: shaded materials, outlines, or normal visualization.
Grid shows or hides the ground grid (G).
Auto rotate slowly spins the model (R).
Fullscreen expands the preview (F) when it is offered.

Shortcuts are ignored while focus is in a text field. V cycles view modes when supported (Material → Wireframe → Normals).

Stats overlay

In the main preview, a small readout can show bounding size, vertex and triangle counts, mesh count, and how many animation clips were found. Use it as a quick sanity check when comparing files.

Thumbnails in the file browser

For 3D files, grid thumbnails use a 3D-style icon and a badge with the file extension (for example GLB, OBJ). They are not live rendered views of the mesh, which keeps browsing responsive. General thumbnail cache and size options may still apply; see Caches and thumbnails.

Tips

Textures and sidecar files: glTF, OBJ, FBX, Collada, and 3DS often reference images or other files by relative paths. Keep the whole asset folder structure intact when you move or copy files.
Very large models: loading may take longer, so wait for the spinner to clear. If loading fails, confirm the file is valid in another tool and that any linked assets are present.
Trackpads: zoom and pan should match your system’s usual “mouse” mapping, for example two-finger scroll for zoom where supported.