SIB File Format (.sib)
A SIB file is Silo's native scene format from Nevercenter, holding the subdivision surface mesh and modelling data built up inside Silo's polygon modeller and UV mapper.
SIB at a glance#
| Full name | Silo model |
|---|---|
| File extension | .sib |
| Category | 3D Models |
| Developer | Nevercenter |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads this format but does not write it |
What a .sib file can hold#
These are the things a SIB 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 SIB#
What SIB does well
- Preserves the subdivision cage rather than a pre-tessellated mesh, so the model stays editable when reopened
- Silo is still actively developed by Nevercenter, unlike most other formats in this niche
- Silo's focused, lightweight toolset keeps SIB scenes simple compared with a full DCC application's native format
Where SIB falls short
- Read almost exclusively by Silo itself; other applications rely on Silo's own OBJ, FBX or DAE export instead
- No published specification exists outside what importer authors have reverse-engineered
- Subdivision-specific data doesn't survive a conversion to a plain polygon format
Keep a model as SIB while it's still being sculpted or UV-mapped inside Silo, to preserve the subdivision cage.
Convert SIB to OBJ or FBX once the model needs to move into another modeller or an engine, since almost nothing else reads SIB directly.
How to open a .sib file#
A .sib file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts SIB 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 | Silo |
| macOS | Silo |
| Linux | Silo |
| Web | FileFlip |
SIB questions people ask#
What is a SIB file?
A SIB file is a Silo project, holding the subdivision surface mesh and modelling data from Nevercenter's Silo, a modeller focused on polygon and subdivision surface work with UV mapping. Silo also reads and writes a separate SIA project format alongside SIB.
Is Silo still available to open SIB files?
Yes. Unlike most applications with a format this obscure, Silo is still sold and actively updated by Nevercenter, with releases continuing well past 2020, so a current copy of Silo opens a SIB file without any special handling.
Can other 3D software open SIB files?
Not directly in most cases. Silo can export to more widely supported formats like OBJ, FBX and COLLADA, and that export is the usual way to move a Silo model into another application rather than that application reading SIB itself.
Converting SIB files#
Convert SIB to another format
FileFlip does not write .sib 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.