Open a PDF, an image or a 3D model.
Open a PDF, a raster image, or a 3D model (STL, OBJ, PLY, glTF, GLB). 2D files render instantly; the 3D engine downloads only when you open a 3D file. Nothing is uploaded.
PDF & 3D Viewer is a browser-based document, image and model viewing application designed for users who need a fast, private and installation-free way to inspect digital files. The application combines several viewing technologies into a single interface, allowing PDF documents, raster images, vector graphics and 3D models to be opened directly inside a modern web browser.
Unlike traditional desktop software, the viewer operates entirely within the browser environment. Users can open files directly from their device without creating an account, installing plugins, uploading content to a remote server or subscribing to a service. This approach improves privacy, reduces waiting times and allows the application to work efficiently on desktops, laptops, tablets and modern smartphones.
Privacy is one of the core design principles behind the application. Every supported file type is processed locally on the user's device. Documents remain under the user's control throughout the entire viewing session.
When a PDF file is opened, the rendering process occurs inside the browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly technologies. When an image is opened, the browser's native decoding pipeline is used. When a 3D model is loaded, geometry data is parsed and rendered using local graphics APIs available through WebGL.
No document contents are transmitted to remote servers for rendering, conversion or analysis. The application therefore provides an attractive solution for users handling sensitive business documents, engineering drawings, architectural models, educational materials or personal files.
PDF remains one of the most widely used document formats in the world. Governments, businesses, schools and individuals rely on PDF files because they preserve formatting across devices and operating systems.
The viewer supports PDF rendering directly in the browser. Pages are displayed using technology derived from Mozilla's pdf.js project, which converts PDF page descriptions into browser-rendered content.
Supported capabilities include:
Because rendering occurs locally, performance depends primarily on the user's device and browser rather than on network speed after the initial application load.
In addition to PDFs, the viewer supports many common image formats used across the web, photography, publishing and design industries.
Supported image formats include PNG, JPEG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP and SVG. These formats cover the overwhelming majority of images encountered in everyday workflows.
PNG files are commonly used for screenshots, graphics and transparency. JPEG remains popular for photographs. WebP provides modern compression efficiency. SVG enables scalable vector graphics suitable for logos, diagrams and illustrations.
The application leverages native browser image decoding pipelines whenever possible, helping reduce complexity while taking advantage of highly optimized rendering engines already present in modern browsers.
Beyond traditional documents and images, the viewer includes support for multiple three-dimensional model formats frequently used in engineering, manufacturing, 3D printing, architecture, scientific visualization and digital content creation.
Supported formats include STL, OBJ and PLY directly within the core application. Additional support for glTF and GLB scenes can be enabled through the optional loader component.
These formats are among the most common standards used throughout the 3D ecosystem.
STL is one of the most popular file formats in additive manufacturing and 3D printing workflows. The format represents geometry through a collection of triangular facets and is supported by a wide range of modeling software and printers.
The viewer can load STL files locally and display them interactively. Users may inspect shapes, rotate models, zoom into details and evaluate geometry before proceeding to printing or manufacturing workflows.
OBJ is a long-established geometry exchange format used by numerous modeling applications. It supports vertex positions, normals, texture coordinates and related geometry information.
Because of its widespread adoption, OBJ remains a valuable interchange format for artists, designers and engineers.
PLY is commonly encountered in scientific visualization, scanning workflows and research projects. It supports polygonal geometry and can store additional per-vertex attributes.
The viewer can display PLY models directly in the browser, making it useful for educational and technical environments.
glTF and GLB are modern 3D transmission formats frequently described as the "JPEG of 3D." They are designed for efficient delivery of scenes, materials, textures and animations.
These formats have become widely adopted throughout web graphics, e-commerce visualization, virtual reality, augmented reality and game development workflows.
Through the optional GLTFLoader component, the viewer can load and display glTF and GLB assets while maintaining the application's local-processing philosophy.
Once a 3D model is loaded, users can explore the geometry using common navigation techniques. Orbit controls allow the camera to rotate around the object. Zoom controls help inspect fine details. Panning makes it possible to reposition the viewing target.
Additional options such as wireframe display and automatic rotation can assist with geometry inspection and presentation.
Three-dimensional rendering is powered by three.js, one of the most established and widely used JavaScript 3D frameworks.
Three.js provides an abstraction layer over WebGL, making it possible to create sophisticated 3D experiences while maintaining broad browser compatibility.
The library has been used for educational applications, scientific visualizations, industrial viewers, architectural presentations, product configurators and interactive entertainment projects.
By building upon three.js, the viewer benefits from years of community development, performance optimization and standards compliance.
Performance optimization plays an important role in the application's design. Many users only need PDF or image viewing functionality and never open 3D models.
To reduce bandwidth usage and accelerate startup times, the 3D engine is loaded only when required. This strategy minimizes the amount of JavaScript downloaded during the initial page visit.
Users working exclusively with PDFs or images therefore avoid the overhead associated with loading large 3D rendering libraries.
The viewer is built upon a collection of modern web standards that have transformed browsers into capable application platforms.
These technologies include:
Security has been incorporated into the application's architecture. Content Security Policies help reduce attack surfaces. External dependencies are minimized where practical. Client-side execution reduces exposure of user content to third-party systems.
Because files remain on the user's device, the application avoids many of the risks associated with server-side upload workflows.
The interface has been designed to remain approachable for both casual users and technical professionals. Controls are organized into logical groups, important actions remain visible and status information is displayed throughout the viewing process.
Responsive layouts help the application adapt to varying screen sizes, from mobile phones to large desktop monitors.
The viewer can be used across a wide range of scenarios including:
Browser applications have matured significantly over the last decade. Many tasks that once required dedicated desktop software can now be performed efficiently within modern browsers.
A browser-based viewer offers several advantages:
The architecture of the viewer has been designed with extensibility in mind. Additional file formats, rendering capabilities and inspection tools can be incorporated while preserving the application's core principles of privacy, performance and local execution.
As browser technologies continue to evolve, standards such as WebGPU, improved WebAssembly support and more advanced graphics capabilities may enable future enhancements while maintaining compatibility with modern web platforms.
PDF & 3D Viewer combines document viewing, image previewing and interactive 3D rendering within a single browser-based application. Through local processing, progressive loading, modern web technologies and support for widely used file formats, it provides a practical tool for users who need fast access to documents and models without uploading their data to external services.
PDF; raster images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP) and SVG; and 3D meshes in STL, OBJ and PLY. glTF and GLB are supported when the loader add-on is installed (see “Technology” below).
No. PDF rendering uses pdf.js, images render natively in the browser, and 3D models are parsed and rendered locally with three.js. Files never leave your device.
The 3D engine (three.js) is downloaded only when you open your first 3D file, so 2D viewing stays fast and lean. Subsequent 3D files reuse the cached engine.
assets/lib/three/.GLTFLoader.js from the three.js examples bundle, dropped into assets/lib/three/jsm/loaders/GLTFLoader.js. STL, OBJ and PLY use compact in-tree parsers and need no add-on.All trademarks belong to their respective owners.