Collada
Collada (COLLAborative Design Activity) is an interchange file format for interactive 3D applications. It is designed to allow 3D authoring tools to exchange digital assets among different platforms, such as video games, visual simulations, or CAD applications. Here is detailed information on Collada:
History
- Collada was initially developed by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2004 as a way to share 3D content across different software tools and hardware platforms.
- In 2006, it was handed over to the Khronos Group, a consortium that manages the development of open standards for graphics, parallel computing, vision, and dynamic media.
- The first version of Collada was released in October 2005. Since then, multiple versions have been released, with significant updates focusing on improving compatibility and functionality.
Purpose and Features
- Collada supports a wide variety of data types including geometry, lighting, materials, textures, shaders, effects, kinematics, physics, and animation.
- It uses an XML schema for its structure, which makes it extensible and adaptable to new features and requirements.
- The format aims to solve the problem of interoperability between different 3D content creation tools by providing a standard format that these tools can both import and export.
- Collada files have the .dae (Digital Asset Exchange) file extension.
Technical Aspects
- Collada can be integrated with various technologies like OpenGL, DirectX, and X3D, allowing for a wide range of applications in 3D graphics.
- It includes a physics model for simulating real-world interactions which is useful in video game development and simulation environments.
- The schema of Collada allows for custom extensions, making it possible for developers to add proprietary or specialized data to the format.
Usage
- Many 3D modeling, CAD, and game development software support Collada, including Blender, Autodesk Maya, and 3ds Max.
- It has been used in video games, virtual reality, augmented reality, and architectural visualization.
Challenges and Criticisms
- One of the criticisms of Collada is its verbosity due to the XML structure, which can lead to large file sizes.
- Not all software supports the full range of Collada features, leading to potential data loss or corruption when files are exchanged between different tools.
- There have been issues with consistency in how different applications interpret and implement the Collada specifications.
Current Status
- While Collada remains in use, newer formats like glTF (GL Transmission Format) have emerged, offering more efficient file sizes and better support for real-time applications.
- The Khronos Group continues to maintain Collada, but the development pace has slowed as attention shifts to glTF.
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