Product 3D & AR Help

Product 3D & AR help

Show your products in 3D inside your product image gallery, and let shoppers place them in their room with AR.

Product 3D & AR is a BigCommerce app by PapaThemes. You upload a 3D file of a product, and the app prepares it for your storefront: a 3D view that shoppers can turn and zoom next to your product photos, and AR files so shoppers can see the product in their own room on a phone or tablet.

Private beta. The app is in a free private beta. Some parts are still being finished, and this guide says so where it matters. See Plan and usage for the beta plan.

What the app does

  • A 3D view in your product gallery. On a product page, shoppers open 3D from an extra thumbnail next to your photos (or from a button, depending on your theme and settings), then drag to turn the product and zoom in.
  • View in your space (AR). On iPhone, iPad and Android phones, shoppers open the product in AR and place it on the floor or on a wall. On a computer, a QR code opens the same product on their phone.
  • The right model for each variant. Give a product one default model, then show a different model, a different material, or no 3D at all for some options or variants (for example a color).
  • We prepare the files for you. The app checks your file, optimizes it for the website, and creates the AR files for phones and the preview images. If something in the file needs fixing, the app tells you what and links to the fix.
  • No theme editing. On most Stencil themes the app adds its script for you and fits 3D into your theme’s own image gallery.

Quick start

The app’s Overview page shows the same four steps in its setup guide (“Set up 3D on your store”). It takes about 5 minutes.

  1. Turn on 3D for your storefront. In the setup guide (or on Storefronts), click Turn on 3D next to your storefront. The app adds its script and picks the layout that fits your theme. More about storefronts
  2. Upload your first 3D model. Click Upload model and choose your file. GLB works best; glTF and OBJ (zipped with their textures), FBX and STL also work. How to prepare a file
  3. Add the model to a product. Search for a product, open it, choose the model and publish. Products and variants
  4. See it on your storefront. Click Open my storefront to open the product page, or Show QR code to try AR on your phone. About AR

The full walk-through is in Getting started.

Find what you need

Getting startedInstall, turn on 3D, first upload, first product. Preparing 3D filesFormats, sizes, scale, materials, AR needs. Processing errors and warningsWhat each code means and how to fix it. Products and variantsDefault model, variant rules, publish, restore. StorefrontsWhere 3D appears, theme fit, buttons, troubleshooting. AR (view in your space)iPhone, iPad, Android, the desktop QR code. Plan and usageLimits, 3D views, allowances, notices. FAQShort answers to common questions.

Where things are in the app

The app opens inside your BigCommerce control panel (Apps › My Apps › Product 3D & AR). Its menu has five pages and Help:

Page What you do there
Overview The setup guide; later, how 3D is doing: storefronts with 3D, models ready, products with live 3D, this month’s 3D views and anything that needs your attention.
Models Upload, rename, replace and delete 3D models; see each model’s status, its preview, AR files and versions.
Products Give products a 3D model, set variant rules, publish; set one model for many products at once.
Storefronts Turn 3D on or off per storefront and choose how it appears.
Plan & usage Your plan, 3D views, data transfer, processing allowances, notices and email settings.
Help Links to this guide, support by email, and the setup guide if you hid it.

You can also open a product straight from BigCommerce: Products › ⋯ › 3D & AR.