SCN File Format (.scn)
An SCN file, in the sense read by Assimp and other 3D tooling, is a Caligari trueSpace scene: the same tagged-chunk format as COB, holding an assembled arrangement of objects, lights and cameras rather than a single object.
SCN at a glance#
| Full name | TrueSpace scene |
|---|---|
| File extension | .scn |
| Category | 3D Models |
| Developer | Caligari Corporation |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads this format but does not write it |
What a .scn file can hold#
These are the things a SCN file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Embedded metadata | Yes |
|---|---|
| Textures and materials | Yes |
Strengths and limitations of SCN#
What SCN does well
- Shares COB's chunk structure, so a single parser handles both
- Stores an entire scene, lights and cameras included, rather than just one object
- Chunk tags stay identifiable even without the original trueSpace documentation
Where SCN falls short
- The .scn extension is heavily overloaded; other 3D and game tools use it for completely unrelated scene formats
- Caligari trueSpace was discontinued in 2009, so no current application produces new SCN files
- No official specification was ever published; import support comes from reverse-engineered readers
There's little reason to author new SCN files; it matters for opening a scene saved by a copy of trueSpace.
Convert SCN to FBX or glTF to bring a trueSpace scene into a modeller or engine that's still maintained.
How to open a .scn file#
A .scn file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts SCN into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | Caligari trueSpace (discontinued) |
| Web | FileFlip |
SCN questions people ask#
What is an SCN file?
This entry covers the SCN format Caligari trueSpace produces, an assembled scene of objects, lights and cameras stored in the same tagged-chunk layout as trueSpace's COB object format. The .scn extension is reused by several other applications for unrelated scene formats, so an SCN file from another program won't open the same way.
How is SCN different from COB in trueSpace?
COB holds a single object; SCN holds a full scene, meaning multiple objects along with the lights and cameras arranged around them. Both use the same chunk format and the same parser reads either one.
Is trueSpace still available to open SCN files?
No. Caligari trueSpace was discontinued in 2009 after Microsoft acquired and then shut down Caligari, so opening an SCN file today generally means a converter or a library such as Assimp rather than the original application.
Converting SCN files#
Convert SCN to another format
FileFlip does not write .scn files, so nothing on the site converts into this format. It works as a source only.
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.