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Export formats and their capabilities

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When you export a file into another format, you may be able to choose which properties to export.  All of the supported formats can accept the basic 3D geometry of a part or assembly.  However, some formats go beyond the basic geometry.  With these formats, you have the option of exporting:

  • Textures. Some formats can use the bitmap graphic images that create surface textures.  When you export a part to one of these formats, you can also export the texturing information and graphic files that form the textures.  You can open the exported file in its native application and view a textured part similar to the original.

  • Colors. As with textures, some formats can accept the colors on the surfaces of a part.  

  • The environment. The "environment" is an umbrella term for three elements of the 3D scene: the camera, lights, and background image/colors.  When you open the exported file in its native application, you view the part from the same camera viewpoint as in the scene.  The lighting and background (if any) are also identical to that in the scene.

  • All the parts in the scene. You can export a single part or assembly into any format.  In many cases, though, you don’t have to select an item to export.  If nothing in the scene is selected, all the parts in the 3D scene are exported.

These choices are all optional.  For example, when you export to a format that can accept the environment settings, you might choose to export lights but not the camera.  

 

The following table summarizes the capabilities of the export formats.

 

Format

Texture

Color

Environment

Scene

3D Studio

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

AutoCAD DXF

No

Yes

No

Yes

POV-Ray

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Raw Triangles

No

No

No

Yes

Stereolithography

No

No

No

Yes

VRML

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Visual Basic

No

No

No

No

Wavefront OBJ

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

HSF

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

3D PDF

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

ACIS

No

Yes

No

No

Parasolid

No

Yes

No

No

IGES

No

Yes

No

No

STEP

No

Yes

No

No

Pro/E

No

Yes

No

No

Catia

No

Yes

No

No

Export capabilities by file type