1. Prepare your reference image
Start with one object that is fully visible. A three-quarter view often shows more of the object’s shape than a straight-on photo. Leave a small margin around it, and keep the background simple.
- Use a sharp image. Blurry edges make the outline harder to interpret.
- Keep the entire object visible. Cropped legs, handles, or tips give the model less information to work with.
- Avoid overlapping subjects. A person holding an object can be interpreted as one connected shape.
- Watch difficult materials. Glass, reflections, hair, and very thin parts can produce ambiguous surfaces.
Only submit images that you have the right to use. Uploading an image to a generator sends it to that third-party service.
2. Choose a generator
TRELLIS.2 is an option for textured assets with physically based materials. Its public demo exports GLB. InstantMesh reconstructs a mesh from an image and offers OBJ and GLB outputs.
If your next tool needs OBJ, InstantMesh offers that export directly. If you want to inspect material response in a GLB workflow, start with TRELLIS.2. Try the same input in both when choosing for a specific project.
See the model comparison for documented differences.
3. Upload and generate
Open the selected demo on Free3DGen. Use the image upload control inside the demo, then follow its generation controls. The service may ask you to sign in to Hugging Face or wait for shared GPU access.
Keep the tab open while the job runs. A queue is not a measure of model quality, and processing time depends on the demo settings and resource availability. Free3DGen cannot read the job progress inside the third-party frame.
4. Download the model
In TRELLIS.2, generate the model, use Extract GLB, then select Download GLB. In InstantMesh, wait for the reconstructed output and use the download control for your chosen format.
Save the file before you close or reload the demo. A GLB normally packages geometry and materials in one file, which makes it convenient for browser previews. OBJ assets may need accompanying material and texture files.
5. Inspect the result from every side
Open the downloaded file in the GLB Viewer. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom, and right-drag to pan. Use the reset button if the model moves out of view.
- Front and back: look for inconsistent proportions or invented details.
- Underside: check for holes, disconnected pieces, and a usable base.
- Wireframe: inspect the mesh independently of the textures. Dense geometry can be costly in a game or web scene.
- Materials: compare light and dark backgrounds to spot unusual transparency or missing textures.
The viewer reports mesh, vertex, and triangle counts. These are geometry statistics, not proof of printability, animation readiness, or accuracy.
6. Import into Blender and make edits
In Blender, choose File → Import → glTF 2.0 (.glb/.gltf) to open a GLB. For OBJ, choose the Wavefront importer and keep related texture files available. Check scale, orientation, and material appearance after import.
Depending on your use, you may need to simplify the mesh, clean up disconnected surfaces, adjust textures, or create a new rig. For 3D printing, check that the model is watertight and has appropriate wall thickness; an attractive preview does not establish that.
Blender’s glTF import and export documentation explains supported materials and export settings.
Common problems and what to try
The demo is blank
Use “Open on Hugging Face” to load the original page. Browser privacy settings and third-party sign-in can affect embedded demos. If the original page is unavailable too, try the other model or return later.
The shape is distorted
Try a clearer view with one complete subject. Reduce background clutter. Compare the result from multiple angles before deciding whether the input change helped.
The model looks different in another tool
Lighting and material support vary between viewers. Confirm that textures are included and check the destination tool’s glTF support. Inspect geometry and materials separately.