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What is an FBX File & How to Open it on Windows 10

Refine your editing skills by working with FBX files

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

FBXfile extensionsare a type offilesrepresenting3Dfilesand video-related content. Originally created by Kaydara and owned by Autodesk since 2006, the FBX abbreviation stands for Filmbox.

ManyWindows 10users struggle to find the best program to open and edit theFBXfiles, but we managed to come up with 4 software solutions we found to be really efficient in running the FBXfiles.

What are the best tools to open FBX files?

Microsoft Paint 3D

Paint3Dis Microsoft’s 2D-3Dhybrid graphics editor, and it’s been released with Windows 10 as an alternative to the existing graphics editors on the market.

In 2016,Microsoft Paint3Dwas announced and released as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update. The Windows app is popular among the less experienced editors, offering basic3Dmodels available for editing.

Mosttoolsoffered byPaintwere kept from its precedent versions and included:

Microsoft also added a specialtoolallowing users to transform 2D objects into3Dobjects. Standard3Dfeatures such as rotating and changing the object’s location on the3Daxis are also available.

Looking for a tool tocreate 2D digital pixel art on PC? Check out our dedicated guide.

There’s also an online service available, that allows users to upload their 2D/3D creations onto their Xbox Live profiles.MS Paint3Dalso has an option that allows its users to record the entire process of editing.

If you haven’t tried Paint3Dyet, be sure to do so, since it’s completely free.

⇒Get Paint 3D

Blender

Blender is a free open-source software used for creating the entire3Dpipeline.The softwareis used to create animated films, visual effects,3Dprinted models,3Dapplications, video games, and art.

How to open a FBX file in Blender?

Blender is a great tool to use to open FBX files with. Given the fact that it’s one of the most popular dedicated 3D editing software, it is very easy to use.

All you need to do is import the file into Blender, as you would with any other file format, and it will open on the screen within seconds.

1.Download Blenderfrom the official website, and then install it on your PC. If you already have it, skip to step 2.

Launch the Blender app.
Go toFile.
SelectImport. A drop-down menu will open with multiple file formats to choose from.
SelectFBX (.fbx) from the list.
In the Blender File View window, browse your PC for the FBX file and select it.
Finally, click on Import FBX. The file should now be opened in Blender, ready to be edited.

⇒Get Blender

Looking forsuper simple animation software? Check out our top picks.

Autodesk MotionBuilder

Autodesk MotionBuilder is a3Dgraphics editor mostly used for games, film, and television production. This3Dediting software has a Cleanup Scenetoolthat removes empty or unused assets from the scenes, thus reducing the file size.

Camera controlling has been made easier for MotionBuilder users. The cameras have their own separate pane and the CTRL+select camera option was created in order to make camera switching faster and easier.

In MotionBuilder, every scene can have many different and separate animation tracks. This feature is useful because the user won’t have to save each animation as an independent file.

Autodesk MotionBuilder offers its users a Storytoolthat allows them to add together a series of clips in order to generate a new animation. Using thistoolyou can also trim clips, align a clip to another and blend between clips.

⇒Get MotionBuilder

Mudbox

Mudbox is a digital sculpting program allowing its users to create and edit all kinds of 3D models. It is a very complex software offering a wide range of tools and features.

Some of the most commonly used features include:

Mudbox is quite a user-friendly program. Its interface has been very well thought out, quickly accommodating new users. The software developers implemented painting and texturing features, making users able to paint their models directly in3D.

Dynamic Tessellation is Mudbox’stooldesigned to make the user’s work much easier. It predicts the form of the model users wants to detail. The sculpting tools are able to tessellate the user’s mesh while he is sculpting.

⇒Get Mudbox

We hope that our list could provide you withsoftwareto fit your needs and managed to find out everything you wanted to know about FBX files. If this article was of help to you, please leave a comment in the comment section below.

What is an FBX File & How to Open it on Windows 10#

What are the best tools to open FBX files?#

Microsoft Paint 3D#

Blender#

How to open a FBX file in Blender?#

Autodesk MotionBuilder#

Mudbox#