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Getting Started with Captic

Captic lets you create interactive 3D worlds that run directly in the browser, with no downloads required. This guide walks you through creating your first world and adding a 3D model.

What you’ll need​

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A free account on w3dge.io
  • A modern desktop browser (Chrome or Edge recommended)
  • A 3D model exported as .glb
  • Basic familiarity with 3D tools like Blender, Unity, or Unreal

No local installation is required.

1. Prepare your 3D model​

For best results and performance, prepare your model using these guidelines.

Supported format​

  • .glb (binary glTF)

Materials​

  • Use PBR / Principled BSDF materials
  • Supported maps:
    • Base Color
    • Normal Map
    • Optional Roughness / Metallic

Performance Recommendations​

  • Texture Resolution: 1024×1024 (recommended), 4K (maximum)
  • Max Textures per Model: 8
  • Total Triangles per World: ≤ 200k
  • Lighting: Bake lighting and shadows into textures when possible.
tip

Optimizing assets is critical for mobile and VR performance.

2. Create a new world​

  1. Go to https://w3dge.io and sign in.
  2. On the home page, click Create New World. It is the first card in the Your worlds row (titled Create your own world until you have a world).
  3. On the Create your own world page, enter a World Name (leave it blank for a random name).
  4. Under Select Template, choose Blank Space or one of the templates.
  5. Click Launch New World. Your new world opens in the browser.
note

The free plan includes up to 3 worlds. To create more, upgrade your plan.

3. Open the editor​

Once inside your world:

  1. Click the Editor button (pencil icon) at the top left.
  2. The editor panel appears.

The editor is only available to the world owner and to members with the Admin or Editor role. See Roles & Permissions.

4. Upload your 3D model​

  1. In the editor, click Add (the + button).
  2. Open the Assets tab and click Upload.
  3. Select your .glb file (or drag and drop it) and click Upload.
  4. Wait while the model is processed. W3DGE creates three quality levels, a preview screenshot, and a collision mesh.
  5. Select the uploaded asset and click Add to World next to the quality you want:
    • Lite: max. 1K textures
    • Standard: max. 2K textures (a good default)
    • Ultra: max. 4K textures
  6. Select the model in the scene.

You can now move, rotate, and scale the model. When you are done, click Save changes.

5. Physics and interaction​

With the model selected, you can enable:

  • Physics: enables physics simulation (collision).
  • Initial Physics/Teleport: enables physics and teleporting onto the model, and prevents clicks through walls. Use this for your main model only. Physics must be enabled first.
  • Animation on Interact: plays the model's animation when users click or touch it.
  • Link/Portal on Interact: opens a URL when users click the model.
warning

If you enable physics and then scale the object, save your changes and reload the world for the collision updates to take effect.

6. Debug and performance testing​

You can append debug parameters directly to your world URL.

Show FPS and draw calls: ?debugFps=true

Show physics debug information: ?debugPhysics=true

Force high material quality: ?materialQuality=H

Force medium material quality: ?materialQuality=M

Force low material quality: ?materialQuality=L

Use these parameters during testing before sharing your world publicly.

7. World capacity​

  • Default capacity: 25 users
  • Free plan maximum: 25 users
  • Paid plans can raise the limit.

To change it, open Dashboard, find your world, click Edit, and set Maximum Users on the Manage tab.

caution

Capacity should be adjusted before an event starts. Higher capacity increases performance and bandwidth requirements for all users.

Best practices​

  • Test your world on multiple devices
  • Keep geometry and textures lightweight
  • Avoid real-time lighting when possible
  • Reload after major changes (especially physics)

Next steps​

  • Add additional models and props
  • Optimize assets for events or large audiences
  • Share your world link with collaborators or visitors