Building a Web App to Download and Display GLB Files Using the Sketchfab API

I built a web app that uses the Sketchfab API to download 3D models as GLB files and display them in the browser using Three.js. This article covers everything from the security-conscious architecture design to implementation. What I Wanted to Do Download 3D models from Sketchfab in GLB format Display downloaded GLB files in 3D within the browser Manage API tokens securely Tech Stack Next.js 16 (App Router) React Three Fiber / @react-three/drei TypeScript First Attempt: Client-Side Only Implementation Initially, I tried implementing it with just HTML + JavaScript. ...

January 28, 2026 · 15 min · Nakamura

Draco Compression of GLB Files - 87% Size Reduction and Impact on Precision

When delivering 3D models on the web, file size is a critical concern. This article describes a case where Draco compression was used to reduce a GLB file by 87%, along with precautions during compression (particularly regarding UV coordinates). https://3dtiles-viewer.vercel.app/glb-viewer.html Data Used Model: Rotunde Brunnen (a rotunda with a fountain) Source: Sketchfab Format: GLB (glTF 2.0 Binary) What is Draco Compression? Draco is an open-source 3D mesh compression library developed by Google. It is supported as a standard extension in glTF 2.0 as KHR_draco_mesh_compression. ...

January 17, 2026 · 11 min · Nakamura

I Built a Prototype IIIF 3D Viewer

! This article was generated by AI. Introduction In the field of digital humanities, the 3D digitization of cultural properties and historical materials is rapidly advancing. However, appropriate tools are needed not only for simply viewing 3D models but also for utilizing them in academic analysis and education. This article introduces “IIIF 3D Viewer,” a web application for viewing 3D models that complies with the IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) standard. ...

July 29, 2025 · 6 min · Nakamura

Trying the Aleph 3D Viewer

Overview This is a note about trying out Aleph, one of the 3D object viewers. https://github.com/aleph-viewer/aleph The 3D data of the “Ishibuchi Family Globe” published on the Kikuchi City Digital Archive is used. https://adeac.jp/kikuchi-city/catalog/e0001 Background While researching IIIF-compatible 3D viewers, I came across the following article. https://pro.europeana.eu/post/iiif-for-3d-making-web-interoperability-multi-dimensional Through this article, I learned about Aleph as one of the introduced viewers. Usage I forked the GitHub repository and deployed it to Vercel. ...

December 29, 2024 · 1 min · Nakamura