Modly is a free, open-source desktop application designed to generate 3D models from photos using local AI processing. The tool is intended for a wide range of creators, including indie game developers, 3D printing enthusiasts, artists, sculptors, product designers, VFX and motion designers, as well as AI and ML researchers. Modly addresses the need for privacy, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility in 3D model generation by running entirely offline on the user's NVIDIA GPU, ensuring that all images and data remain local and are never uploaded to external servers.
The application enables users to convert any photo into a 3D mesh through an automated process that requires no prior 3D expertise. Users simply drop a photo of an object into the app, where AI-powered background removal and 3D reconstruction are performed locally. The resulting mesh can be previewed in a built-in 3D viewer and exported in multiple formats, including GLB for game engines like Unity and Unreal, STL for 3D printing, OBJ for Blender, and PLY. Modly supports organizing generated models into collections for easy management within its workspace.
Modly incorporates open-source, state-of-the-art image-to-3D models, such as Hunyuan3D 2 Mini by Tencent (available) and plans to add models like Trellis by Microsoft Research and TripoSG by Tripo AI. These models are optimized for speed, detail, and geometric consistency, catering to different use cases from rapid prototyping to production-ready asset creation. The platform is fully hackable, allowing users to swap models, modify pipelines, and integrate their own tools, with open access to model weights and generation parameters.
The software is distributed as a lightweight desktop app, requiring an NVIDIA GPU for local neural inference. It is entirely free to use, with no subscriptions, account requirements, or usage limits. Modly positions itself as an alternative to cloud-based 3D generation services, offering unlimited generations, full privacy, and customizable parameters at no cost.
In the AI & ML space, Modly takes a focused approach. It enables users to generate high-quality 3D models from photos locally without cloud processing or privacy concerns. It is built as an open-source project for 3D artists and designers. Modly is open source under the Open Source license. Modly is available on the web, the command line, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Modly first shipped in 2026. Development happens publicly on GitHub with 4.1k stars and 218 commits in the last 90 days. PulseGate's similarity index finds few close equivalents — Modly occupies a relatively distinct niche. Key capabilities include 3D model generation, photo to 3D, and offline mode.
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