PRC (file format)

For other uses, see PRC (disambiguation).

PRC (Product Representation Compact; "précis" in French language) is a 3D file format that can be used to embed 3D data in a PDF 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 data). Varying levels of compression can be applied to the 3D CAD data when it is converted to the PRC format using the 3D PDF Converter plugin for Acrobat.

The 3D data stored in PRC format in a PDF is interoperable with Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) applications.

History

• June 12, 2002 TTF Showcases PRC
• April 21, 2006 Adobe Acquires Trade and Technologies France (TTF)
• May 24, 2010 Tech Soft 3D Reaches Agreement with Adobe to Develop Adobe 3D SDK Technology
• Adobe transfer responsibility, for providing new 3D CAD translation technology within Acrobat, to Tetra 4D
• In the future, PROSTEP will also assume responsibility for the continued development of the 3D server technology integrated in the LiveCycle ES platform.
• April 11, 2011 3D PDF Consortium launch

Creation

• Adobe Acrobat "Pro Extended" 8 and 9
• Adobe Acrobat X with 3D PDF Converter from Tetra 4D
• PDF3D version 2.0 and later, pdf3d.com

Viewer

• Adobe Reader 8 and later

See also

• Portable Document Format
• Universal 3D
• Asymptote: Open Source PRC Writer
• The media9 LaTeX package enables the production of PDF documents with embedded PRC files using LaTeX.

External links

• Acrobat 3D PRC Specification (Version 8137 (latest))
• Acrobat 3D PRC Specification (Version 7094)
• Acrobat 3D 8 documentation correction with PRC and U3D conversion formats
• ISO/TC171/SC2 N 570 E 3D use of product representation compact (PRC) format.
• PRC (Product Representation Compact) Format FAQ
• HOOPS 3D Exchange libraries from Tech Soft 3D
• http://www.pdf3d.com 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.