How do you export and share your 3D models with others?

Do not use OBJ, this is an old file format from the 80s, and it can't even have Photorealism-Based-Rendering (PBR) materials or animations. Best to use GLB for mesh based models as it is designed to be viewed and transmitted on the web. Blender has the best GLB exporter.

Some of the useful ways that i found during my work practice is that i'll usually assess on what the other software requires and for what purpose they need the format for. Some software's such as Unity requires you to export in FBX as that will be easier to package it. But for some instances, you need to export as OBJ for other software. It is vital to know what you want to export it as and for what usage before you even do it.

Its best to export the whole object by itself but for architectural visualization, its best to make sure all of the models are in place and just group a building by building if you have many, and then only you export what you want. From what i've encountered, that way is easier and also it produces near to 0 problem. Even if you have one, it'll be a minor problem that you can solve. Doing it that way might preserve the orientation and scale of it too.

Invest time in creating custom export profiles or scripts. Most 3D software allows you to save your export settings as a profile, which can significantly streamline the export process for future projects. These profiles can include settings for geometry, texture mapping, and even specific client requirements. Sharing these profiles within your team can also standardize the quality and specifications of the exports.

There's different formats for different industries/purposes. The main thing to know is if you're building something real, use a CAD/BIM format like .3dm or .ifc that will retain the information you need for construction/fabrication. For rendering it's better to use formats like .usd and .glb.

Let’s add to this list Sibe. It’s free software for sharing and commenting. It works as others: you upload the model, invite the client, and they can view it. But they can also leave comments directly on the model.

You can't share 3D models on ArtStation and with CGTrader you can't actually view the model on 3D until you buy it. Sketchfab is a marketplace for 3D models, good for selling but not the best for collaboration. You can use web apps like Foveate for collaborating, presenting, or embedding 3D and AR experiences.

Utilize version control even for 3D models. While platforms like Sketchfab are excellent for sharing and visualizing, they don't inherently offer version control. Using a separate version control system can help you manage updates to your 3D model, preserving its history and making it easier to revert to previous states if required. This is particularly useful for models that undergo iterative changes.

glTF files can be shared easily without a need in a special software - iPhone and Window can open them straight away. Though, nowadays you'd better consider a platform to conveniently demonstrate your models in virtual or augmented reality as it is a main stream and helps to impress clients a lot. For instance architectural models can be shared in AR in one click from Revit with the Graffit platform - it exports glTF, uploads it and generates a simple link to see the building on the site.

On artstation you can share a Marmoset viewer . It's a very nice thing because it shows normals, albedo, glossines, the topology , and the final compo. Also you have a full view of the model since you can turn it in real time

.gltf/.glb or .usd is great for offline sharing. .usd retains lots of information at the expense of large file sizes but is designed to be universal. .gltf/.glb is more suitable for sharing finished assets.

glTF can be copied to a hard drive and opened easily on any Windows PC with standard preinstalled 3D viewer app. This format produces compact files and is very convenient.

a cloud storage service or email is not offline- it is the opposite. This AI needs some better training. In any case, if you're showing people in person, you'll want a tablet or laptop- preferably one with a low-glare screen, and consider touch- people who don't work in 3D are usually used to panning and orbiting using that, these days. 3D printing is okay, but you can definitely lose a lot of detail on most printers.

Look into QR codes or NFC tags as modern, intuitive ways for sharing 3D models offline. A QR code can be scanned to direct someone to a cloud storage location or a web-based 3D model viewer. NFC tags, when tapped by a compatible device, can trigger the download or viewing of your 3D model. These methods are especially useful in presentations, expos, or physical portfolios.

Create a pre-export checklist that includes steps such as geometry verification, texture validations, and licensing checks. This list can act as your final quality control measure to avoid common pitfalls or oversights. Additionally, keeping a post-export log can provide invaluable data on time spent, errors encountered, or client feedback, which could be analyzed for continual improvement.

There are some ways where i felt it would help is go to evermotion.com. There they do explain on the current design concepts, tips and tricks too and you get to download some of the models from there too. You can publish your work there as well for others to access it. Other than that, you can learn as well on some rendering techniques, import and exports of models to some softwares. Otherwise you can browse through some forums that discusses and share about what you know too. Those are the tips and tricks that i've discovered that would help too in modelling nor rendering my scene.

Contemplate the ethical implications of sharing 3D models, particularly those that are culturally sensitive or could be misused. Always ensure that your work respects the intellectual and cultural property of others, and be cautious when sharing models that could be replicated for unethical purposes.