Overview
Meshy Text to 3D allows you to generate highly detailed 3D objects simply by describing them in natural language. Whether it's a product idea, a creature concept, a game asset prop, or something totally imaginative, just type your prompt and let Meshy bring it to life in 3D — no modeling experience required!
Text to 3D shines when you need something fast and usable without worrying too much about controlling specific visual details.
It's ideal for rapid experimentation, especially when you have a rough idea but haven't settled on a clear direction yet.
For higher-level control over visual details, or if you need models in a specific and consistent style, it's recommended to start with an image instead and use Meshy's Image to 3D mode. You can even generate an image directly within Meshy using AI, then use it as input!
How to generate with Text to 3D
Go to workspace at https://www.meshy.ai/workspace, and select "Text to 3D" from the workspace dropdown menu
Enter a detailed description of your model. Be specific—describe a single main object, its shapes, styles, and unique characteristics to guide our AI.
Select which version of Meshy to use to generate with, using the drop-down menu. Meshy 6 is the latest and recommended version. It's possible to generate with all versions but note that free users may be limited to legacy versions only when downloading.
Wait for the generation, when complete you can examine the mesh in the viewer to decide if it's suitable. If unsatisfied or if there are minor mesh errors, consider selecting "Retry". Note that paid plans offer a certain number of free retries per generation, you can find the details in our pricing page.
Note: Meshy 6 generates a single draft model. If you are generating with legacy Meshy 5, you will be presented with 4 draft options to select from.
If using it for 3D printing or if you don't require a texture, you can download your model directly from the draft stage by clicking the download button below. We recommend .STL or .3MF for 3D prints.
It's also possible to print in color! Or add a base to your model. You can find these options below the model in the viewer by clicking "Print". See tips for 3D printing with Meshy here.
If you would like a texture, select "Texture" below the model. This will take you to the texture window. You can select which AI version you'd like to texture with and click "Texture". Texturing is an extra step with its own credit cost.
Your model is ready! Select the download button below it and choose which format you would like.
Text to 3D Tips
Focus on describing a single object, not a full scene.
Focus on describing about three to six key descriptive details. Too many might dilute or confuse the final output.
Be specific: type "Smooth gold metal" instead of "looks beautiful."
Use reference terms: "Like motocross gear," "in the style of an ancient artifact."
For humanoid characters ready for rigging, use the A/T-Pose toggle in the generation settings, or add pose terms like "T-Pose" or "A-Pose" to your prompt.
If you find Text to 3D output direction unpredictable, try the Text → AI Image → Image to 3D workflow for more control: generate an AI image first, review and refine it, then feed it into Image to 3D. You can generate images directly within Meshy!
Examples of strong prompts:
"A sleek, retro-futuristic android head with a glowing eye"
"Humanoid Male wearing a motorcycle helmet and biker outfit, with faded denim jeans, T-Pose"
"A geometric sculpture of cubes and spheres, smooth and polished"
Avoid:
Complex or contradictory descriptions
Prompts that might attempt to create non-physical details in your generation, e.g. smoke, glitter, electric magic energy
Very abstract concepts without tangible visual references
Prompts likely to create ultra-fine details like individual strands of hair
Excessive use of adjectives that might dilute the core concept
Technical jargon that the model might not understand correctly
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What's the difference between Meshy 6 and Meshy 5?
Meshy 6 is the current default and recommended version. It generates a single, high-quality draft model. Legacy Meshy 5 generates 4 draft options to choose from. Meshy 6 generally produces higher-quality results and supports downloading directly from draft stage.
2. How many credits does Text to 3D use?
Credit costs vary by plan and Meshy version. Texturing is a separate step with its own credit cost. Visit the pricing page for the latest rates.
3. Can I use Text to 3D for free?
Yes — free users can generate with Text to 3D. However, downloading may be limited to legacy model versions on the free plan. See the pricing page for full details.
4. Why doesn't my model look exactly like my prompt?
AI generation is probabilistic, so results can vary. For more predictable output, try being more specific in your prompt, or use the Text → AI Image → Image to 3D workflow to review and refine a reference image before generating the 3D model.
5. What file formats can I download?
After texturing, you can download in GLB, FBX, OBJ, USDZ, and more. At the draft stage (without texturing), .STL and .3MF are recommended for 3D printing.
6. Can I rig or animate models generated with Text to 3D?
Yes! Models generated in T-Pose or A-Pose are well-suited for rigging in tools like Blender, Maya, or Unity. Use the A/T-Pose toggle in the generation settings or include pose terms in your prompt to get a rig-ready result.
7. What's the difference between Text to 3D and Image to 3D?
Text to 3D is the fastest path from idea to model — great when you don't have a reference image and want to iterate quickly. Image to 3D gives you more control over the visual outcome by using an image as input. If you need a consistent style or specific look, Image to 3D (or the Text → AI Image → Image to 3D workflow) is usually the better choice.