Documentation Center public:software:hexagon:2:referenceguide:import_export
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2026-04-20T02:47:59+00:00Documentation Center
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<h1 id="importsexports">Imports / Exports</h1>
<div class="level1">
</div>
<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2>
<div class="level2">
<p>
Hexagon allows you to communicate with other 3D software products for other
modeling operations or obviously for preparing materials, textures, rendering and
animations of the models created by Hexagon.
</p>
<p>
To do this, Hexagon can read and write several 3D file formats.
</p>
</div>
<h2 id="supported_formats">Supported Formats</h2>
<div class="level2">
</div>
<h3 id="car_format">.CAR Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
The <abbr title="Digital Art Zone">DAZ</abbr> Carrara native file format. Only export is supported.
</p>
<p>
Carrara is the natural companion of Hexagon for rendering and animation of
Hexagon models. The Hexagon to Carrara export is very complete.
</p>
<p>
Files created by Hexagon are compatible with Carrara 4.1 or later.
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, materials (Color, transparency, bump), UVs, shading domains, etc.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="obj_format">.OBJ Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
The Wavefront object format.
</p>
<p>
This format developed by Wavefront is becoming a de facto standard for exchanging
3D polygonal data. This is the recommended exchange file format to and from
Hexagon.
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, materials, UVs, shading domains</div>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, materials, UVs, shading domains </div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="ds_format">.3DS Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
The file format of the Autodesk's 3D Studio rendering and animation tools.
</p>
<p>
Like OBJ, 3DS is considered as a de facto standard. To be used only if OBJ does
not give good results
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups.</div>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="dxf_format">.DXF Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
Autodesk's Autocad clear text file format.
</p>
<p>
Used mostly for exchanging technical data sets (architecture, etc.).
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, lines.</div>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, lines.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="dwg_format">.DWG Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
Autodesk's Autocad native binary file format.
</p>
<p>
Used mostly for exchanging technical data sets (architecture, etc.). More compact than DXF.
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, lines.</div>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, lines.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="stl_format">.STL Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
Format used for stereolithography (rapid prototyping). Only export is supported.
</p>
<p>
This format produces only a list of triangles with normals and so should not be
used for other purpose than stereolithography.
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Export: object geometry as a set of triangles</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="a3d_format">.A3D Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
Native file format of Amapi Designer.
</p>
<p>
Hexagon is an evolution of the Amapi Designer product family and so supports
its file format.
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: objects geometry, dynamic geometry, names, scene and groups, lines.</div>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Exports: objects geometry, names, scene and groups, lines</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="ai_format">.AI Format</h3>
<div class="level3">
<p>
Native file format of Adobe Illustrator, version 3.2. Only import is supported.
</p>
<p>
Illustrator is a very well known 2D illustration program. Hexagon can read 2D
vector Illustrator 3.2 files and so can create models from curves and drawings recorded
in this format (such as logos, contours, etc.).
</p>
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li"> Imports: 2D lines and curves as Bézier curves.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>