C3D format for motion capture
C3D (Coordinate 3D) files are designed to hold data and associated parameters within a single file that was designed to provide an accurate format for storing a variety of data and their parameters in an efficient manner while allowing the user to understand, examine, and if necessary modify the parameters.
The overall goals for the C3D file format were as follows:
- Minimize storage requirements
- Minimize the number of files required to store data and its associated parameters
- Optimize for speed and efficiency of access
- Provide a facility for incorporating parameter descriptions
- Provide the facility for the casual user to display and modify all parameters
- Provide flexibility to store different kinds of data and their associated parameter
C3D User Guide
This is the current release of the C3D User Guide which documents the C3D format in detail so that everyone can understand the details of the format and potentially write software to access or create C3D files. It is recommended that anyone working with C3D files reads this manual to understand the contents and structure of the C3D format.
Original C3D specification
This is a PDF version of the original text file that documented the C3D file format as written by Andrew Dainis for the AMASS software package, released in the mid 1980’s. This software description has largely been superseded by the C3D Technical User manual which should be used as a reference for all new applications. This document is included for historical reference purposes.
AMASS C3D Reference Chapter
This is the C3D format chapter from the ADTech Motion Analysis Software System (AMASS) Reference Manual, released in 1994, and containing the description of the C3D file generated by the AMASS applications running in the environment that generated the C3D file from the Oxford Metrics RSX system video data.