3DV File

What are 3DV files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a 3DV file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your 3DV files.

What is a 3DV file?

A .3DV file is a Canoma Scene file.

Canoma Scene (".3DV") files are project files used by the Canoma software, a program for turning one or more photographs into simple 3D scenes using geometric primitives and texture mapping. These files store all the model components - primitives, camera settings, texture-image references, and alignment "pins" that tie the photos to the 3D geometry - allowing you to open, edit, or render the scene later. Canoma's goal with this format is fast, visual 3D prototyping and context-building, not detailed CAD-level precision.

The .3DV file is written by Canoma (version 1 and later) whenever you save your scene and is read by Canoma when you reopen that project. It captures your source photo(s) (with fixed aspect ratios), texture assignments, geometric primitives (boxes, planes, cropped pyramids, etc.), and camera calibration - all the data needed to return the project to its editable, interactive state. It can also serve as input when exporting to other formats like OBJ, VRML2, or QuickTime movie, or when adding further photographs or adjustments in Canoma.

Files of this kind begin with the ASCII signature "version1" at offset zero and include keywords like CALIBRATION, CAMERA {, CONTROLS {, SELECTION, ALPHA {, IMAGE, POINT, and state-variables like CX {, CY {, EX {, EY {, EZ {, X0 {, Y0 {, Z0 { recording respectively camera parameters and image point or pixel co-ordinates. These identifiers help Canoma reconstruct all aspects of the projection, texture mapping, and scene geometry.

How to open 3DV files

Important: Different programs may use files with the 3DV file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your 3DV file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the app ourselves yet, our users have suggested a single 3DV opener which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 16, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of 3DV files. Remember, different programs may use 3DV files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about 3DV file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.