Extract text from Zivid 3D point clouds (ZDF)
To convert ZDF point clouds to another format, you need Zivid Studio or other 3D software.
To convert other file formats to the "3D Camera Data" file type, you need software like Zivid Studio or a similar tool.
The .ZDF file extension primarily serves as a 3D point cloud and camera data container generated by Zivid 3D Cameras. Under the hood, these files use the HDF5 standard to store high-resolution 3D point clouds, 2D color images, and depth maps used in machine vision. Secondary uses include scientific simulation data (Zoltan Data File) for the OSIRIS PIC simulation code, and compressed data archives for Zimbra Desktop or Zoom Rooms.
Users often face severe limitations with .ZDF files. Because the Zivid implementation is highly specialized, you cannot natively preview these files in standard 3D modeling software or web browsers. They are also typically enormous in size. To manipulate them, you generally need the official Zivid Studio software. This creates a bottleneck when sharing 3D scans with clients or team members who do not have the proprietary software installed. Similarly, Zimbra data files use obscure packaging that standard email clients reject.
The best conversion targets depend on the file's origin. Zivid 3D files should be converted to standard point cloud formats like PLY (Polygon File Format), PCD, or XYZ for compatibility with CAD tools and standard 3D viewers. Converting to these formats usually strips out proprietary camera metadata but retains the essential 3D geometry. Zimbra .ZDF files, which are actually ZIP archives, can simply be extracted to access the raw data inside.
This file format is difficult to open or convert online because standard online converters fail to parse the specialized HDF5 structures or recognize the dual-nature of the extension. Often, only the original software can properly read or export the 3D data. However, just drag and drop your file onto convert.guru to identify the exact format, view its internal structure, and convert it when possible. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format - like a standard ZIP archive or readable HDF5 structures - viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your ZDF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted MPH, ERG and SCAN files.
If you want to convert ZDF file to , you can use Zivid Studio or similar software from the "3D Point Cloud Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to ZDF, try Zivid Studio or another comparable tool in the "3D Point Cloud Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our ZDF converter.