New Feature: Share Models and Textures in Planoplan

Exchange your resources and find what you need within our user community

15 july 2025
93

Alexander Golovaty

Head of Visualization Department

Over time working in Planoplan, every designer builds their own library of useful models and textures. The Planoplan team introduces new functionality developed in response to user requests: the ability to share models and textures from your personal catalog with other users directly within the program.

Why is this feature needed?

Resource Sharing

Easily share quality materials or models from your catalog ("My Models", "My Textures") with colleagues.

Finding Missing Items

If you lack a specific object or texture, search within the "Community" catalog section.

Precise Search

Use an item’s unique ID for quick access. Share this ID with colleagues so they can find it instantly in the "Community" catalog.

Adaptation to Needs

Items saved from the "Community" can be freely edited: change colors, adjust sizes, or modify materials.

Time Savings

All models and textures in the "Community" catalog are pre-uploaded to Planoplan, moderated, and ready to use. Find what you need, save it to your catalog, and use it immediately.

Professional Recognition

Every shared item displays its author. Showcase your expertise and contribute to Planoplan’s professional community. Future updates will include usage statistics and a "like" feature.

How to access the feature?

To share your models/textures:

Requires an active Pro+ subscription.
Important: If your Pro+ subscription expires, your shared items will temporarily disappear from the "Community" catalog. They reappear upon renewal. Items saved by others remain in their catalogs. Items used in projects remain unaffected.

To use Community items:

Any active Planoplan subscription suffices. Search, save, and use items in your projects.

How to prepare models/textures for successful moderation?

Follow these guidelines to ensure your items pass moderation, are easily discoverable, and valuable to others:

Item Name (Critical for search):

Use precise, descriptive names with relevant keywords.
Ideal format:
[Manufacturer] [Series/Collection] [Model] [Color/Material] [Size].

Examples:
Laufen Kartell by Laufen Wall-hung toilet white D36xH50xW52
BoConcept Osaka 3-seater sofa, grey velour, W220
Natural oak parquet board, plank 120x15cm

Struggling to identify? Use reverse image search.
Remove special characters and file extensions (e.g., .jpg, _final, !).

General Quality Requirements:

Accurate physical dimensions: Model size/texture scale must match specifications.

Incorrect physical dimensions — Physical dimensions of the texture: Incorrect and Correct

Correct physical dimensions — Physical dimensions of the texture: Incorrect and Correct

Prohibited content: Automatically rejected: pornography, extremist symbols, solid-color textures (use our RAL library), broken models (inverted geometry, fragmented parts).

Texture Requirements:

Seamless tiling: No visible horizontal/vertical seams when repeated.

Seamless texture — Example of seamlessness: with and without joints

Sufficient resolution: Avoid blurry ("muddy") appearance at room scale or close-up.
Correct material type: Specify accurate types (e.g., semi-matte/matte, semi-gloss/gloss) to replicate real-world material properties.

Model Requirements:

Optimal polycount: Smooth appearance at standard angles without jagged edges. Avoid excessively low (angular) or high (performance-heavy) polycount.
Logical material groups: Organize paintable parts logically (e.g., frame, seat, cushions). Limit to ≤20 groups for usability.
Correct UV mapping: Predictable texture application without distortion/compression.
Proper spatial orientation: Correct alignment (e.g., legs down, front-facing).

How to get started?

To share (Pro+ users):

Open "My Catalog".
Select a model/texture to share.
Verify it meets all quality guidelines.
Click "Share" and submit for moderation.

To find and use:

Open the "Community" catalog.
Search by name or unique ID.
Save desired items to "My Catalog".
Use saved items like any catalog object. Modify as needed.

Summary

The model/texture sharing feature was created to support Planoplan's professional community. It enables you to:

Efficiently share verified resources
Quickly find missing models/textures
Expand capabilities through collective experience
Increase workflow speed and convenience

We hope this new feature becomes a valuable tool in your daily work. Share quality content, discover resources within our community, and create impressive projects in Planoplan.