# DAE (COLLADA) Viewer

> Open COLLADA (.dae) files from SketchUp, Google Earth assets and older game pipelines, with textures and the units and up axis the file declares.

Page: https://printpal.io/tools/dae-viewer
Updated: 2026-11-12
Use it: open https://printpal.io/tools/dae-viewer in a browser and drop a file. Free, no account, files are processed locally and never uploaded.

COLLADA is an XML format from the Khronos Group for moving scenes between 3D apps. It declares its unit and up axis, and the viewer applies both, so a SketchUp model saved in inches shows at its real size and standing up.

SketchUp models are built from faces, not solids, so many are not watertight. The mesh check shows how many open edges there are; [Mesh Repair](https://printpal.io/tools/mesh-repair) can close them before you print.

## How to use the DAE viewer

1. **Open the file.** Drop .dae files with their texture images, or a .zip.
2. **Check size and orientation.** The model stands on the plate in millimetres. Switch to inches, or change the file units or up axis if it looks wrong.
3. **Run the checks.** Read the mesh check, pick your printer to see whether it fits, and use Measure (M) or Section (X) for a closer look.
4. **Save or convert.** Take a PNG screenshot, or save the model as STL, 3MF, OBJ, GLB, PLY or USDZ.

## What you can check

- Materials and textures (drop the images with the .dae)
- Real size and orientation from the file's unit and up axis
- Watertight check for printing
- Section view and measuring
- Save as STL, 3MF, OBJ or GLB

## DAE at a glance (COLLADA (Digital Asset Exchange))

COLLADA is a Khronos Group XML format for exchanging scenes between 3D apps. It is still SketchUp's main export and appears in older game and Google Earth assets.

- **Stores:** An XML scene: meshes, materials, textures, animation
- **Color:** Materials and textures
- **Units:** Declared in the file (SketchUp writes inches)
- **Up axis:** Declared in the file (Y or Z)
- **File size:** XML, larger than binary formats
- **Opens in:** SketchUp, Blender, Cinema 4D, older game pipelines

## Tips

- **From SketchUp?** Export with "Triangulate all faces" and "Export two-sided faces" off for a cleaner mesh.
- **Textures missing** Drop the texture folder's images with the .dae, or zip the export folder.
- **Faces only** Single faces have no thickness and won't print. Give them thickness in SketchUp or use a solid tool.

## FAQ

### What is a DAE file?

A COLLADA file: an XML 3D scene with meshes, materials and textures, most often exported from SketchUp.

### Can I 3D print a DAE from SketchUp?

Yes, if the model is a closed solid. Convert it with [DAE to STL](https://printpal.io/convert/dae-to-stl) and check the mesh first.

### Does it keep the SketchUp size?

Yes. The DAE declares its unit (SketchUp writes inches) and the viewer converts it to millimetres.

### Is the viewer free? Are there limits?

Free, with no sign-up, watermark or file limit. The practical limit is your device's memory: files of a few hundred MB open on most laptops.

### Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. Files are read by JavaScript and WebAssembly in your browser and never sent to PrintPal. Only the code is downloaded, and the STEP and IGES reader once, from a public CDN.

## Related

- [DAE to STL Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/dae-to-stl)
- [STL to OBJ Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/stl-to-obj)
- [OBJ to STL Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/obj-to-stl)
- [STEP to STL Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/step-to-stl)
- [STL to 3MF Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/stl-to-3mf)
- [GLB to STL Converter](https://printpal.io/convert/glb-to-stl)
- [STL Viewer](https://printpal.io/tools/stl-viewer)
- [3D model viewer](https://printpal.io/tools/3d-model-viewer)
- [3D model converter](https://printpal.io/tools/3d-model-converter)
- [Mesh Repair](https://printpal.io/tools/mesh-repair)
- PrintPal for LLMs: https://printpal.io/llms.txt