If you are designing a science report, a marketing brochure, or an architectural proposal, flat 2D images can sometimes fail to convey the complexity of a physical object. To make your Microsoft Word documents significantly more engaging and professional, you can embed fully interactive 3D models directly onto the page. These models are not static pictures; anyone reading the document on a computer can click, hold, and rotate the model 360 degrees to view it from any angle.
How to Insert a 3D Model from the Online Library
You do not need to be a professional 3D artist to use this feature. Microsoft Word provides a massive, built-in library of free, high-quality 3D models covering everything from biology and geology to electronics and animated characters.
- Open your document in Microsoft Word.
- Place your text cursor roughly where you want the model to appear on the page.
- Click on the Insert tab in the main ribbon menu at the top of the screen.
- In the “Illustrations” group, locate the 3D Models button. It features an icon of a cube.
- Click the 3D Models button (or click the small arrow below it and select Stock 3D Models).
- A large online library window will appear. You can browse by category (e.g., Space, Anatomy) or use the search bar at the top to find a specific object (e.g., “Heart” or “Drone”).
- Click on a model to select it (a checkmark will appear in the corner of the thumbnail).
- Click the Insert button at the bottom of the window.
It may take a few seconds to download the model depending on your internet connection speed.
How to Rotate and Resize the Model
Once the model is inserted onto the page, you have full control over its presentation.
- Rotating: Click once on the model to select it. You will see a circular icon appear directly in the center of the 3D object. Click and drag this icon in any direction to rotate the object in 3D space.
- Resizing: Use the sizing handles (the small white circles) on the corners of the model’s bounding box to click and drag it larger or smaller, just like a standard photograph.
- Pre-set Views: If you are struggling to get the perfect angle using your mouse, look at the ribbon menu. A new 3D Model tab will have appeared. In the “3D Model Views” group, you can select mathematically perfect preset camera angles (e.g., Top, Bottom, Left, Right).
How to Insert Your Own 3D Files
If you have hired a designer to create a custom 3D logo for your company, or if you downloaded a model from an online marketplace, you can insert it into Word. Word supports several standard 3D file formats, including .fbx, .obj, .3mf, and .stl.
To insert a custom file, click Insert > 3D Models > This Device…, navigate to where the file is saved on your hard drive, and click Insert.