A platform for photorealistic 3D marketing content and configurators that speeds up the release of visuals for sales and advertising.
3DEXCITE is a Dassault Systèmes business area formed in 2014 on the basis of Realtime Technology (RTT) and CGI visualisation technologies. Today, this 3D product visualisation software is used by BMW, Audi, Porsche, Caterpillar and other international brands, while visualisation and configuration are created from ready-made CAD models in CATIA or SOLIDWORKS. This means the marketing team does not need to model the product again in 3D – engineering data becomes the basis for renders, animations and interactive content.
3DEXCITE is a Dassault Systèmes software platform for creating photorealistic 3D marketing content and interactive configurators from engineering CAD data. This can be done without an artist and without rebuilding the model. The platform supports CATIA V5, JT, STEP/STP, FBX and other common formats, while CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE data, previously known as CATIA V6, can be handled through the 3DEXPERIENCE ecosystem. Outputs include renders, animations, web 3D, configurators and VR/AR content. Unlike a traditional CGI pipeline, where a model is exported to 3ds Max or Cinema 4D and then manually prepared as a separate scene, 3DEXCITE allows engineering geometry to be reused and a substantial part of the preparation process to be automated.
| Parameter | Traditional CGI process | 3DEXCITE |
| Source data | CAD is exported and prepared separately for CGI | Existing engineering CAD data is used |
| Supported formats | Depend on the selected 3D package and conversion | CATIA V5/V6, JT, STEP/STP, FBX, VR/AR and other formats |
| Model preparation | Manual scene reworking is often required | Part of the preparation and optimisation can be automated |
| Output | Renders and animation | Renders, animations, web 3D, configurators, VR/AR |
| Production time | May take weeks with a complex pipeline | In some scenarios – several hours instead of several weeks |
Photorealistic visualisation makes it possible to create production-quality renders and animations from CAD models without a separate studio photo shoot. Realistic materials, lighting and environments can be configured for catalogues, advertising and video. This scenario is covered in more detail by 3DEXCITE: Commercial Content Creation.
A web configurator lets the buyer change colours, materials and configurations while seeing the result in 3D in real time. This type of 3D product configurator is suitable for cars, furniture and industrial equipment. These tasks are supported by 3DEXCITE: Sales Solutions, which connect visualisation with the selection and sales process.
Real-time 3D makes it possible to demonstrate a product without a physical sample. The model can be viewed in a browser, on a mobile device or through VR/AR. 3DEXCITE is suitable for virtual showrooms and presentations of products that are difficult to transport or have not yet been released.
Centralised management of 3D assets simplifies the production of materials for different channels and configurations. The system enables teams to:
As a result, the marketing team does not have to rebuild every product version, while engineering and visual data remain connected.
3DEXCITE is used in industries where a complex product needs to be presented before a physical sample exists: from cars and industrial equipment to electronics, furniture and aerospace products. Such solutions are particularly relevant in transportation and mobility, where digital models help manufacturers and OEMs work with a large number of product variants. For packaged consumer goods, 3D technologies also complement digital development by making it possible to present packaging and its variants clearly before serial production begins.
| Industry | Typical use cases |
| Automotive | Online configurators, virtual test drives, pre-launch advertising materials |
| Industrial equipment | Interactive B2B catalogues and presentations of complex machinery |
| Consumer goods and electronics | Visualisation of product variants and marketing campaigns |
| Furniture and interiors | Selection of colour, material and configuration in 3D |
| Aerospace | Interactive demonstration of complex products without a physical sample |
| Stage | Before 3DEXCITE – traditional CGI | After implementing 3DEXCITE |
| Render package preparation | 4–6 weeks on average | In some scenarios – several hours instead of weeks |
| Working with the model | Export and manual preparation | Work based on source CAD data |
| Team | Separate team of 3D artists | Part of the preparation and repetitive operations is automated |
| Design change | Content is updated manually after CAD changes | Visual materials can be updated together with the engineering model |
Integration with 3DEXPERIENCE links engineering data and marketing materials within a single digital process. As a result, 3DEXCITE helps keep visual content synchronised with the current product design and update it more quickly after changes to the CAD model.
A 3D configurator is an interactive application in which the user selects product parameters and immediately sees the result on a three-dimensional model. It can display colours, materials, equipment packages or modules. In 3DEXCITE, it is built on a prepared engineering model. Parameters are limited by predefined product logic, so the user sees only valid combinations. This is useful for cars, furniture and equipment with a large number of model variants.
Not always. Importing, geometry optimisation and some repetitive operations can be standardised or automated. Product Communicator is also designed for designers, technical sales specialists and marketers. However, a 3D specialist remains useful for complex lighting, materials, animation and advertising staging. When producing large numbers of variants, the time saved on repetitive steps becomes particularly noticeable. 3DEXCITE reduces technical routine but does not remove the creative work.
DELTAGEN 2026x supports CATIA V5 CatPart/CatProduct, SOLIDWORKS, JT, STP, NX, Rhino, AutoCAD, IGES, STL, 3DXML and FBX. The exact set depends on the product and licence. This makes it possible to work with both native CAD and intermediate exchange formats. Before implementation, it is worth checking a typical company assembly, especially if the model contains thousands of parts, a complex structure or important metadata.
Yes. 3DEXCITE is used for web 3D and interactive configurators. Implementation requires defining model detail, the list of options, performance requirements and integration with a CMS or e-commerce platform. Analytics, order buttons and transfer of the selected configuration to a CRM or another sales system are configured separately. This makes it possible to connect the customer’s visual selection with the subsequent order-processing workflow.
Through its connection with engineering data. A CGI studio usually works with an exported scene separately from the PLM process. As 3D product visualisation software, 3DEXCITE builds content around the reuse of product data, variants and design changes. GEO-MENTOR helps integrate this approach into the Dassault Systèmes ecosystem so that the 3D product configurator, engineering, marketing and sales rely on one digital foundation rather than several disconnected versions of the model.
