TRELLIS 2 and CSM AI can both participate in an image-to-3D workflow, but a feature list is not proof that either one creates a better production asset. This page separates documented capabilities from claims that require actual exported files.
Quick answer
- Choose TRELLIS 2 on trellis2.com when you want the Microsoft TRELLIS.2 model, resolution and sampling controls, PBR-oriented GLB output, browser preview, and a transparent upstream code/model source.
- Evaluate CSM AI when its current hosted workspace, editing, organization, export, or team workflow better matches your production process.
- For geometry or texture quality, run the same images through both products and inspect the exported assets. Screenshots alone are insufficient.
What TRELLIS 2 documents
Microsoft describes TRELLIS.2 as a 4B-parameter image-to-3D model using O-Voxel and compact structured latents. Official materials document:
- output resolutions from 512³ to 1536³
- open-surface, non-manifold, and enclosed-interior handling
- base color, roughness, metallic, and opacity attributes
- GLB export in the reference implementation
- MIT-licensed model and code, with separate terms for some dependencies
The trellis2.com web workflow adds remote generation, browser GLB preview, download, and credit-based controls.
Primary sources: TRELLIS.2 project and GitHub repository.
What to verify in CSM AI
CSM is a separate hosted product whose features and pricing can change. Before choosing it, verify the current product directly:
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supported input modes
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export format
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material-map availability
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mesh cleanup/editing tools
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private versus public assets
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commercial-use terms
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storage and project history
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API or team features
Use CSM's current product site as the source of truth. This article deliberately avoids copying a price or generation-time claim that could become stale.
A comparison table that does not overclaim
| Decision | TRELLIS 2 on trellis2.com | CSM AI |
|---|---|---|
| Need the Microsoft TRELLIS.2 model | Direct fit | Verify current model options |
| Need source/model transparency | Official Microsoft code and model links available | Hosted product; verify published technical information |
| Need high-resolution TRELLIS controls | 512³/1024³/1536³ plus advanced controls | Verify current controls |
| Need a broader hosted asset workspace | Basic generation, preview, history, and download | Evaluate current CSM workspace |
| Need proof of output quality | Run a controlled benchmark | Run the same controlled benchmark |
Required benchmark
For a fair TRELLIS 2 vs CSM test:
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use the same source files without hidden preprocessing
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publish the selected settings and product versions
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record failures, retries, queue time, and generation time
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export the original model file
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inspect hidden surfaces, silhouette, polygon structure, UVs, texture maps, file size, and import warnings
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report cleanup time separately
Until this dataset exists, statements such as “cleaner topology,” “faster,” or “better textures” are opinions, not evidence.
Start with your actual pipeline
Use TRELLIS 2 premium generation for a TRELLIS-first GLB workflow. If you are evaluating several hosted models, use the image-to-3D converter and keep the source image and acceptance checklist constant.