Collada

Collada - 3D Asset Exchange Schema

An XML-based schema that make it easy to transport 3D assets between applications to enable diverse 3D authoring and content processing tools to be combined into a production pipeline.

COLLADA defines an XML-based schema that provides for the comprehensive encoding of visual scenes including: geometry, shaders and effects, physics, animation, kinematics, and even multiple version representations of the same asset. COLLADA FX enables leading 3D authoring tools to work effectively together to create shader and effects applications and assets to be authored and packaged using the OpenGL Shading Language, Cg, CgFX, and DirectX FX.

COLLADA supports all the features that modern 3D interactive authoring applications and DCC (digital content creation) tools need to exchange and fully preserve asset and meta data. The COLLADA feature set incorporates technologies such as packaging programmable shader effects and controlling real-time physics engines. COLLADA enables powerful content creation pipelines that can automatically condition and scale 3D geometry and texture assets for real-time playback on a wide diversity of platforms. Key capabilities include:

  • Transport 3D assets between applications - enabling binding of diverse DCC and 3D processing tools into a production pipeline
  • An XML database schema for 3D assets - an intermediate language - not a delivery format and not a scene graph
  • Can be lossless - Retains all information - even multiple versions of the same asset
  • Comprehensive encoding of visual scenes - including geometry, animation, shaders and physics
  • An open, archive-grade format that retains meta information - when your DCC tool upgrades, you keep your assets

Essential Resources and Community

Thanks to the support of the Khronos membership and our developer community, there is a full set of well-supported developer information and educational resources to help quickly get you up and running with COLLADA. The Khronos Group is also host to the COLLADA community wiki where users and adopters from around the world visit to ask questions and share their COLLADA knowledge and test content. There are also a number of open source software projects that can help you to develop your COLLADA applications more quickly

COLLADA 1.5

COLLADA 1.5.1 is the latest specification, introduced as a revision of version 1.5.0 to address and correct its issues; however, the schema of 1.5.0 and 1.5.1 is the same. COLLADA 1.5.0 provides all of the features found in the stable COLLADA 1.4 schema plus several new features that enable users of CAD, GIS, and Automation applications to enjoy the benefits of open standard royalty free content format.

What's New in COLLADA 1.5

Core Feature Enhancements

  • B-rep geometry
  • Kinematics
  • Asset Geolocation
  • Compressed Archives (.ZAE Zipped Exchange Archive format)
  • Node proxies (Level of Detail and Streaming)
  • Improved XML Schema data typing and validation

COLLADA FX

  • OpenGL ES 2.0 Profile
  • Bridge Profile to external systems: DirectX FX and CgFX
  • Improved texture binding and full screen effects

COLLADA 1.4

COLLADA 1.4 is the stable release of the specification that has been widely adopted by the video game, digital entertainment, and GIS industries. This version of COLLADA supports geometry meshes, skinning, morphing, animation, physics, shaders and effects.

What New in Collada 1.4

Core Feature Enhancements

  • Mesh geometry
  • Skinning
  • Morphing
  • Animation
  • Assets
  • Data validation

COLLADA FX

COLLADA FX is the first cross-platform standard shader and effects definition written in XML. It targets high-end systems running OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) and Cg (HLSL coming), as well as resource-constrained systems (OpenGL ES 1.x profile). It provides:

  • Next generation lighting, shading and texturing
  • High level effects and shaders
  • Support for all shader models (1.x, 2.0, 3.0) under CG and GLSL profiles.

COLLADA Physics

  • Rigid Body Dynamics
  • Rag Dolls
  • Contraints
  • Collision Volumes
  • Enables data interchange between Havok, Bullet, ODE and other game physics middleware

COLLADA and glTF 3D Asset Formats

COLLADA and glTF 3D Asset Formats Positioning Statement

Learn about glTF

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