
modly-image-to-3d
Desktop app that generates 3D models from images using local AI running entirely on your GPU
- Installs
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --skill modly-image-to-3d- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads modly-image-to-3d automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Modly Image-to-3D Skill
Skill by ara.so — Daily 2026 Skills collection.
Modly is a local, open-source desktop application (Windows/Linux) that converts photos into 3D mesh models using AI models running entirely on your GPU — no cloud, no API keys required.
Architecture Overview
modly/
├── src/ # Electron + TypeScript frontend
│ ├── main/ # Electron main process
│ ├── renderer/ # React UI (renderer process)
│ └── preload/ # IPC bridge
├── api/ # Python FastAPI backend
│ ├── generator.py # Core generation logic
│ └── requirements.txt
├── resources/
│ └── icons/
├── launcher.bat # Windows quick-start
├── launcher.sh # Linux quick-start
└── package.json
The app runs as an Electron shell over a local Python FastAPI server. Extensions are GitHub repos with a manifest.json + generator.py that plug into the extension system.
Installation
Quick start (no build required)
# Windows
launcher.bat
# Linux
chmod +x launcher.sh
./launcher.sh
Development setup
# 1. Clone
git clone https://github.com/lightningpixel/modly
cd modly
# 2. Install JS dependencies
npm install
# 3. Set up Python backend
cd api
python -m venv .venv
# Activate (Windows)
.venv\Scripts\activate
# Activate (Linux/macOS)
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
cd ..
# 4. Run dev mode (starts Electron + Python backend)
npm run dev
Production build
# Build installers for current platform
npm run build
# Output goes to dist/
Key npm Scripts
npm run dev # Start app in development mode (hot reload)
npm run build # Package app for distribution
npm run lint # Run ESLint
npm run typecheck # TypeScript type checking
Extension System
Extensions are GitHub repositories containing:
manifest.json— metadata and model variantsgenerator.py— generation logic implementing the Modly extension interface
manifest.json structure
{
"name": "My 3D Extension",
"id": "my-extension-id",
"description": "Generates 3D models using XYZ model",
"version": "1.0.0",
"author": "Your Name",
"repository": "https://github.com/yourname/my-modly-extension",
"variants": [
{
"id": "model-small",
"name": "Small (faster)",
"description": "Lighter variant for faster generation",
"size_gb": 4.2,
"vram_gb": 6,
"files": [
{
"url": "https://huggingface.co/yourorg/yourmodel/resolve/main/weights.safetensors",
"filename": "weights.safetensors",
"sha256": "abc123..."
}
]
}
]
}
generator.py interface
# api/extensions/<extension-id>/generator.py
# Required interface every extension must implement
import sys
import json
from pathlib import Path
def generate(
image_path: str,
output_path: str,
variant_id: str,
models_dir: str,
**kwargs
) -> dict:
"""
Required entry point for all Modly extensions.
Args:
image_path: Path to input image file
output_path: Path where output .glb/.obj should be saved
variant_id: Which model variant to use
models_dir: Directory where downloaded model weights live
Returns:
dict with keys:
success (bool)
output_file (str) — path to generated mesh
error (str, optional)
"""
try:
# Load your model weights
weights = Path(models_dir) / variant_id / "weights.safetensors"
# Run your inference
mesh = run_inference(str(weights), image_path)
# Save output
mesh.export(output_path)
return {
"success": True,
"output_file": output_path
}
except Exception as e:
return {
"success": False,
"error": str(e)
}
Installing an extension (UI flow)
- Open Modly → go to Models page
- Click Install from GitHub
- Paste the HTTPS URL, e.g.
https://github.com/lightningpixel/modly-hunyuan3d-mini-extension - After install, click Download on the desired model variant
- Select the installed model and upload an image to generate
Official Extensions
| Extension | Model |
|---|---|
| modly-hunyuan3d-mini-extension | Hunyuan3D 2 Mini |
Python Backend API (FastAPI)
The backend runs locally. Key endpoints used by the Electron frontend:
# Typical backend route patterns (api/main.py or similar)
# GET /extensions — list installed extensions
# GET /extensions/{id} — get extension details + variants
# POST /extensions/install — install extension from GitHub URL
# POST /generate — trigger 3D generation
# GET /generate/status — poll generation progress
# GET /models — list downloaded model variants
# POST /models/download — download a model variant
Calling the backend from Electron (IPC pattern)
// src/preload/index.ts — exposing backend calls to renderer
import { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } from 'electron'
contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('modly', {
generate: (imagePath: string, extensionId: string, variantId: string) =>
ipcRenderer.invoke('generate', { imagePath, extensionId, variantId }),
installExtension: (repoUrl: string) =>
ipcRenderer.invoke('install-extension', { repoUrl }),
listExtensions: () =>
ipcRenderer.invoke('list-extensions'),
})
// src/main/ipc-handlers.ts — main process handling
import { ipcMain } from 'electron'
ipcMain.handle('generate', async (_event, { imagePath, extensionId, variantId }) => {
const response = await fetch('http://localhost:PORT/generate', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ image_path: imagePath, extension_id: extensionId, variant_id: variantId }),
})
return response.json()
})
// src/renderer/components/GenerateButton.tsx — UI usage
declare global {
interface Window {
modly: {
generate: (imagePath: string, extensionId: string, variantId: string) => Promise<{ success: boolean; output_file?: string; error?: string }>
installExtension: (repoUrl: string) => Promise<{ success: boolean }>
listExtensions: () => Promise<Extension[]>
}
}
}
async function handleGenerate(imagePath: string) {
const result = await window.modly.generate(
imagePath,
'modly-hunyuan3d-mini-extension',
'hunyuan3d-mini-turbo'
)
if (result.success) {
console.log('Mesh saved to:', result.output_file)
} else {
console.error('Generation failed:', result.error)
}
}
Writing a Custom Extension
Minimal extension repository structure
my-modly-extension/
├── manifest.json
└── generator.py
Example: wrapping a HuggingFace diffusion model
# generator.py
import torch
from PIL import Image
from pathlib import Path
def generate(image_path, output_path, variant_id, models_dir, **kwargs):
device = "cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu"
weights_dir = Path(models_dir) / variant_id
try:
# Load model (example pattern)
from your_model_lib import ImageTo3DPipeline
pipe = ImageTo3DPipeline.from_pretrained(
str(weights_dir),
torch_dtype=torch.float16
).to(device)
image = Image.open(image_path).convert("RGB")
with torch.no_grad():
mesh = pipe(image).mesh
mesh.export(output_path)
return {"success": True, "output_file": output_path}
except Exception as e:
return {"success": False, "error": str(e)}
Configuration & Environment
Modly runs fully locally — no environment variables or API keys needed. GPU/CUDA is auto-detected by PyTorch in extensions.
Relevant configuration lives in:
package.json # Electron app metadata, build targets
api/requirements.txt # Python dependencies for backend
If you need to configure the backend port or extension directory, check the Electron main process config (typically src/main/index.ts) for constants like API_PORT or EXTENSIONS_DIR.
Common Patterns
Check if CUDA is available in an extension
import torch
def get_device():
if torch.cuda.is_available():
print(f"Using GPU: {torch.cuda.get_device_name(0)}")
return "cuda"
print("No GPU found, falling back to CPU (slow)")
return "cpu"
Progress reporting from generator.py
import sys
import json
def report_progress(percent: int, message: str):
"""Write progress to stdout so Modly can display it."""
print(json.dumps({"progress": percent, "message": message}), flush=True)
def generate(image_path, output_path, variant_id, models_dir, **kwargs):
report_progress(0, "Loading model...")
# ... load model ...
report_progress(30, "Processing image...")
# ... inference ...
report_progress(90, "Exporting mesh...")
# ... export ...
report_progress(100, "Done")
return {"success": True, "output_file": output_path}
Adding a new page in the renderer (React)
// src/renderer/pages/MyPage.tsx
import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
interface Extension {
id: string
name: string
description: string
}
export default function MyPage() {
const [extensions, setExtensions] = useState<Extension[]>([])
useEffect(() => {
window.modly.listExtensions().then(setExtensions)
}, [])
return (
<div>
<h1>Installed Extensions</h1>
{extensions.map(ext => (
<div key={ext.id}>
<h2>{ext.name}</h2>
<p>{ext.description}</p>
</div>
))}
</div>
)
}
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
npm run dev — Python backend not starting | Ensure venv is set up: cd api && python -m venv .venv && pip install -r requirements.txt |
| CUDA out of memory | Use a smaller model variant or close other GPU processes |
| Extension install fails | Verify the GitHub URL is HTTPS and the repo contains manifest.json at root |
| Generation hangs | Check that your GPU drivers and CUDA toolkit match the PyTorch version in requirements.txt |
| App won't launch on Linux | Make launcher.sh executable: chmod +x launcher.sh |
| Model download stalls | Check disk space; large models (4–10 GB) need adequate free space |
torch not found in extension | Ensure PyTorch is in api/requirements.txt, not just the extension's own deps |
Verifying GPU is detected
cd api
source .venv/bin/activate # or .venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
python -c "import torch; print(torch.cuda.is_available(), torch.cuda.get_device_name(0) if torch.cuda.is_available() else 'no GPU')"
Resources
- Homepage: https://modly3d.app
- Releases: https://github.com/lightningpixel/modly/releases/latest
- Official extension: https://github.com/lightningpixel/modly-hunyuan3d-mini-extension
- Discord: https://discord.gg/FjzjRgweVk
- License: MIT (attribution required — credit Modly + Lightning Pixel in forks)
FAQ
What does the modly-image-to-3d skill do?
Desktop app that generates 3D models from images using local AI running entirely on your GPU
How do I install modly-image-to-3d?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --skill modly-image-to-3d in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/modly-image-to-3d/ (personal) or .claude/skills/modly-image-to-3d/ (project).
Which AI agents can use modly-image-to-3d?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is modly-image-to-3d safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains modly-image-to-3d?
It is published by reason-machines in reason-machines/trending-skills. It has 1,329 recorded installs.
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