PRC (Product Representation Compact) is a
file format that can be used to embed
3D data in a
PDF
Portable Document Format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems ...
file.
This highly compressed format facilitates the storage of different representations of a 3D model. For example, you can save only a visual representation that consists of polygons (a
tessellation), or you can save the model's exact geometry (
B-rep
In solid modeling and computer-aided design, boundary representation (often abbreviated B-rep or BREP) is a method for representing a 3D shape by defining the limits of its volume. A solid is represented as a collection of connected surface e ...
data). Varying levels of compression can be applied to the 3D
CAD data when it is converted to the PRC format using
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is a family of application software and Web services developed by Adobe Inc. to view, create, manipulate, print and manage Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
The family comprises Acrobat Reader (formerly Reader), Acrobat (former ...
3D.
The 3D data stored in PRC format in a PDF is interoperable with
Computer-Aided Manufacturing
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) also known as computer-aided modeling or computer-aided machining is the use of software to control machine tools in the manufacturing of work pieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most ...
(CAM) and
Computer-Aided Engineering
Computer-aided engineering (CAE) is the broad usage of computer software to aid in engineering analysis tasks. It includes , , , durability and optimization. It is included with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) ...
(CAE) applications.
History
*June 12, 200
TTF Showcases PRC*April 21, 200
*December 15, 201
PRC now published as ISO 14739-1:2014
Software to create PRC
*
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is a family of application software and Web services developed by Adobe Inc. to view, create, manipulate, print and manage Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
The family comprises Acrobat Reader (formerly Reader), Acrobat (former ...
"Pro Extended" 8 and 9.
* Adobe Acrobat X and XI with 3D PDF Converter from Tetra 4D.
* CrossCad/Ware from Datakit: SDK for developers to add PRC writing functionalities to their software.
* CrossManager from Datakit: Software to convert 3D formats to PRC.
*
Feature Manipulation Engine.
* Geomagic Design.
* HOOPS Exchange libraries from Tech Soft 3D.
* PDF3D, version 2.0 and later.
* PROSTEP PDF Generator 3D.
*
SOLIDWORKS allows saving of files to 3D PDF containing PRC since release 2015.
* 4D Publish, a plugin for Cinema 4D.
4D Publish
/ref>
Viewer
* Adobe Reader
Adobe Acrobat is a family of application software and Web services developed by Adobe Inc. to view, create, manipulate, print and manage Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
The family comprises Acrobat Reader (formerly Reader), Acrobat (former ...
8 and later
See also
* Portable Document Format
*Universal 3D
Universal 3D (U3D) is a compressed file format standard for 3D computer graphics data.
The format was defined by a special consortium called ''3D Industry Forum'' that brought together a diverse group of companies and organizations, including ...
*Asymptote
In analytic geometry, an asymptote () of a curve is a line such that the distance between the curve and the line approaches zero as one or both of the ''x'' or ''y'' coordinates tends to infinity. In projective geometry and related contexts, ...
: Open Source PRC Writer
*glTF
glTF is a standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models. A glTF file uses one of two possible file extensions: .gltf (JSON/ASCII) or .glb (binary). Both .gltf and .glb files may reference external binary and texture resources. Al ...
- a Khronos Group
The Khronos Group, Inc. is an open, non-profit, member-driven consortium of 170 organizations developing, publishing and maintaining royalty-free interoperability standards for 3D graphics, virtual reality, augmented reality, parallel computatio ...
file format for 3D Scenes and models.
References
External links
Acrobat 3D PRC Specification (Version 8137 (latest))
Acrobat 3D PRC Specification (Version 7094)
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20091123055411/http://pdf.editme.com/files/PDFE/SC2N570-PRC-WD.pdf ISO/TC171/SC2 N 570 E3D use of product representation compact (PRC) format.
PRC (Product Representation Compact) Format FAQ
HOOPS Exchange libraries
from Tech Soft 3D
PDF3D SDK
PRC generation library toolkit from Visual Technology Services Ltd.
3D PDF Converter
from tetra4D supports the import and export of PRC files from multiple formats.
PROSTEP PDF Generator 3D
- A server-based solution used to automate the generation of 3D PDF documents with embedded PRC streams.
Document management—3D use of Product Representation Compact (PRC) format—Part 1: PRC 10001
The media9 LaTeX package
enables the production of PDF documents with embedded PRC files using LaTeX.
4D Publish
- A plugin for Cinema 4D that exports the scene as a PRC file and embeds it into a 3D PDF document.
Teigha PRC
library from ODA supports content creation and data access for PRC format and enables exporting a .dwg or .dgn file to PRC.
{{Vector graphics markup languages
3D graphics file formats
CAD file formats
Filename extensions