Why can’t I send 3D files as email attachments?
The scene file is often small. The texture folder alongside it is not. A high-resolution texture image can take up hundreds of MB. Large lighting images and animation cache files add to the size. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook’s limit is about 20 MB.
If a texture is missing, most programs display the model in solid pink. Reducing the texture size avoids the pink model. It also reduces the sharpness of the final image. Splitting the folder into several parts leaves the recipient to put them back together.
The recipient should open the scene from the folder you sent.
| Method | What happens | For a scene that needs editing |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Attachments over 20–25 MB cannot be sent | Not suitable |
| Reducing texture size | Smaller file, softer image | Risky for final work |
| GLB only | Viewable, but the source scene is not included | Separate copy for viewing |
| Shared drive | Files may remain available; an account may be required | Use with care |
| SendGB link | No scene conversion; folder structure is preserved | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is a kitchen scene: a Blender file, two textures, a rotating preview, and a short note. Technical drawings and IFC are outside this page’s scope. Use the send CAD files guide for those.
Reducing file size vs. sending the folder unchanged
A texture is an image applied to a model’s surface. Reducing its size may be acceptable for a preview. It is not acceptable for the final image the client expects.
GLB is a copy that combines everything into one file. It is convenient for viewing. Rigs, materials, and scene structure needed for further editing may have been simplified. You make those simplifications when exporting. We do not create GLB files. Include the source scene in the same transfer.
| Reduced textures or GLB | Folder sent unchanged | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Viewing, adding to a website | Editing, rendering again |
| Textures | Reduced or packed into one file | At the resolution stored in the folder |
| Source scene | May not be included | Preserved |
| Pink model | Appears if textures are missing | Does not appear if the folder and paths are complete |
| What we do | We do not reduce textures or create GLB files | We do not open the file |
You record the preview video yourself. MP4 videos can be played on the download page. The scene file cannot. See the send video files guide for details on videos.
Include the texture folder
If a texture path points to a file within the folder, that path is preserved when the recipient downloads the entire transfer. If the texture is linked by an absolute path on your computer, it will not be found on the recipient’s computer. We do not fix that path.
| Item | Location | If missing |
|---|---|---|
| Scene file | Main file in the folder | The model is not sent |
| Texture image | In the textures folder | Most programs display the model in pink |
| Texture linked by an absolute path | On your computer | Cannot be found by the recipient |
| Animation cache file | Sent if it is in the folder | The simulation is recalculated |
| GLB or preview video | Copy you saved | Only the source is downloaded |
In Blender, you can pack textures into the file. Go to File, then External Data, then Pack Resources. You do this yourself. We do not. Even if you pack the textures, sending the folder too is more reliable.
Clicking a single texture downloads only that image. It does not set up the scene. If you have many small textures, the free limit is 500 files. See the send folders guide for details.
Add a password for an unpublished character or set. Send the password separately from the link.
Is 5 GB enough for a scene?
For a textured room or product, 5 GB is often enough. It may not be enough for a sequence with caches or a large environment. The limits apply to total size and file count, not the number of models. We do not guarantee how many will fit.
| What you are sending | Typical size | Which option is enough |
|---|---|---|
| Simple model | Often a few MB | Free, no sign-up, up to 90 days |
| Scene and a few textures | Hundreds of MB, sometimes 1–2 GB | Free |
| High-resolution textures | May be several GB | Free if within the limit |
| Large project with caches | May be tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| Project over 500 GB | One-time transfer | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 2,500 files and 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. It is suitable for studios that send scenes frequently.
SendGB Exceed requires no membership. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. You can send 2,500 files. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. It is enough for an occasional very large project.
If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when a download starts. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. If the same person downloads again, no new email is sent. The notification does not confirm that the download finished.
How to send
- 1
Add the folder
Keep the scene, texture folder, and preview video together. Add the folder to the upload box. The free limit is 5 GB in total.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to the studio or client, or copy and paste it into a message. Add a password for unpublished work. Send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when a download starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads the file
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. Blend, FBX, and OBJ files do not open on the download page. The preview video can be watched. The recipient opens the scene in their own software. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- We leave the file untouched. The model’s material settings and animation setup are preserved.
- BLEND, FBX, OBJ, GLB, and similar files are not converted.
- Texture paths are preserved when the entire folder is downloaded. Clicking a single file does not recreate the folder.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when someone starts downloading.
What we don’t do
- We do not open the scene, find missing textures, or package the model.
- The 3D file does not open on the download page. You add the video or image for previewing.
- A texture linked by an absolute file path on your computer will not be found on the recipient’s computer.
- A download notification does not confirm that the entire file was downloaded. If the same person downloads again, no second email is sent.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my 3D model appear pink?
A texture is an image applied to a model’s surface. If it is missing from the folder, most programs display the model in solid pink. If the texture is in the same folder and linked by a relative file path, that path is preserved when the recipient downloads the entire transfer. We do not fix absolute file paths.
Can I pack textures into the file?
You can do this yourself in Blender. Go to File, then External Data, then Pack Resources. The textures are packed into the .blend file. We do not run this command. Sending the folder separately is still more reliable.
Which files can I send?
Every file you upload is downloaded unchanged. This includes BLEND, FBX, OBJ, GLB, USD, C4D, and Maya files. We do not convert one format to another. We do not reject files because of their format.
Are rig and material settings preserved?
Yes, if they are saved in the file. We do not open or alter the scene. Externally linked textures and caches are separate files. If they are not in the folder, they are not sent.
Is GLB enough?
It is often enough for viewing or adding to a website. It is not enough for work that needs further editing. GLB is the combined copy you export. Keep the source scene separately. We do not create the GLB.
Can I send the preview video too?
Yes, if you put it in the same folder. You record the rotating preview yourself. MP4 videos can be played on the download page. The scene file cannot.
Can older software open the file?
A newer Blender file may not open in an older version of Blender. Save the file in a compatible version before sending it. We do not convert between versions.
How do I get around Gmail’s 25 MB limit?
Do not attach the scene to an email. High-resolution textures exceed this limit. Create a transfer and paste the short link. The file is not included in the message.
Why are files so large, and how many textures can I send?
The scene file itself may be small. Texture images and computed simulation files make it larger. We do not guarantee how many textures will fit. Free transfers are limited to 5 GB and 500 files. Many small textures can hit the file count limit before the size limit.
Which option should I choose if 5 GB is not enough?
A textured room or product often fits within 5 GB. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. A large scene with caches needs SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 2,500 files, 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year, with files kept for up to 1 year. For a single project over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership, a 1 TB transfer for €9.99, 2,500 files, and a code that can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days.
Send a download link, not a 3D email attachment
A textured scene may fit within 5 GB. A large project with caches can be sent with SendGB Extra up to 500 GB, or with SendGB Exceed up to 1 TB in a single transfer.
Start sending