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Export

The Export page allows you to write project content to external file formats. Exports enable data sharing with external applications, preparation for 3D printing, input for simulation software, medical imaging system integration, and documentation generation.

warning

Export operations work on the currently selected or active object. Before exporting, verify that the correct volume, mask, surface, or mesh is selected in the Object Browser.

Available Export Types​

Export TypeDescription
Volume ImageExport volume data to standard 3D formats
Volume Image as Image StackExport volume slices as 2D image sequences
Volume Image as VideoExport slice-through animation as video
Volume Image as DICOM ImagesExport volume data to DICOM format
Mask ImageExport mask/segmentation data to 3D formats
Surface ModelExport surface meshes to CAD/STL/3D formats
Volume Mesh ModelExport tetrahedral/hexahedral meshes
3D SceneExport scene including measurements and annotations

Exporting Volume Images​

Export the active volume to standard 3D volume formats for use in other analysis applications.

Workflow​

  1. Select the volume to export in the Object Browser
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Volume Image
  3. Click the large icon to open the file dialog
  4. Choose the output format and location
  5. Click Save to export

Supported Formats​

  • MetaImage (MHD/MHA)
  • NIfTI (.nii, .nii.gz)
  • NRRD

Exporting Volume as Image Stack​

Export volume slices as a sequence of 2D images. This is useful for documentation, external 2D image processing, or creating input for systems that accept image sequences.

Workflow​

  1. Select the volume to export
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Volume Image as Image Stack
  3. Click the large icon to open the export dialog
  4. Configure export parameters:
ParameterOptionsDescription
PlaneAxial/Top, Coronal/Front, Sagittal/RightSlice orientation
ScopeCurrent slice, All slices, RangeWhich slices to export
From/UntilSlice indicesStart and end for range export
IncrementInteger ≥ 1Skip interval (1 = every slice)
FormatBMP, JPG, PNGOutput image format
Base NameTextFilename prefix for exported images
  1. Select the output folder
  2. Click OK to export

Output Structure​

Images are named with the base name plus a sequential number:

BaseName_001.png
BaseName_002.png
BaseName_003.png
...
tip

The dialog displays a count of images that will be exported based on your settings. Verify this count before exporting to avoid generating excessive files.

Exporting Volume as Video​

Create a video that sweeps through volume slices—useful for presentations, documentation, or sharing with stakeholders who don't have volume visualization software.

Workflow​

  1. Select the volume to export
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Volume Image as Video
  3. Click the large icon to open the export dialog
  4. Configure export parameters:
ParameterOptionsDescription
PlaneAxial/Top, Coronal/Front, Sagittal/RightSlice sweep orientation
FPS1–240Frames per second
FormatAVI, MP4 (H.264)Output video format
  1. Select the output file path
  2. Click OK to export
  3. A progress dialog shows export status

Considerations​

  • Video duration = (number of slices) / FPS
  • Higher FPS creates smoother but faster playback
  • MP4 with H.264 provides better compression than AVI

Exporting Volume as DICOM​

Export volume data to DICOM format for integration with medical imaging systems or PACS.

Workflow​

  1. Select the volume to export
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Volume Image as DICOM Images
  3. Configure DICOM export settings (patient information, study details)
  4. Select the output folder
  5. Click OK to export
Medical Use Disclaimer

Volvicon is not a regulated medical device. DICOM exports from Volvicon should not be used for clinical diagnosis or treatment without validation by qualified professionals using approved systems.

Exporting Mask Images​

Export segmentation masks to 3D volume formats. Masks are exported as label maps where each label value represents a distinct region.

Workflow​

  1. Select the mask to export in the Object Browser
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Mask Image
  3. Click the large icon to open the file dialog
  4. Choose the output format (MHD, NIfTI, etc.) and location
  5. Click Save to export

Exporting Surface Models​

Export surface meshes for 3D printing, CAD integration, or visualization in other applications.

Workflow​

  1. Select the surface(s) to export in the Object Browser
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Surface Model
  3. Click the large icon to open the export dialog
  4. Select the output format
  5. Configure format-specific options if available
  6. Choose the output location and click Save

Supported Formats​

FormatExtensionUse Case
STL.stl3D printing, CAD import
3MF.3mfModern 3D printing with color/material
PLY.plyPoint cloud and mesh exchange
OBJ.objGeneral 3D graphics
U3D.u3dPDF embedding, 3D documentation
VRML.wrlWeb 3D, legacy visualization

Format Considerations​

  • STL: Universally supported for 3D printing; ASCII or binary variants
  • 3MF: Supports multiple objects, colors, materials in a single file
  • U3D: Can be embedded in PDF documents for interactive 3D viewing
  • PLY/OBJ: Good for graphics applications; may include vertex colors
tip

For 3D printing, verify that the exported mesh is watertight (no holes) and has correct normals. Use Diagnostics and Fixes before exporting if mesh quality is uncertain.

Exporting Volume Meshes​

Export tetrahedral or hexahedral meshes for finite element analysis or simulation software.

Workflow​

  1. Select the volume mesh in the Object Browser
  2. Navigate to File → Export → Volume Mesh Model
  3. Select the output format appropriate for your simulation tool
  4. Choose the output location and click Save

Exporting 3D Scenes​

Export the entire scene including multiple objects, measurements, and annotations to consolidated 3D formats. This is useful for creating interactive documentation or sharing complete analysis results.

Workflow​

  1. Set up the scene with desired visibility and arrangement
  2. Navigate to File → Export → 3D Scene
  3. Select the output format (3MF, U3D, VRML)
  4. Configure options if available
  5. Choose the output location and click Save

What's Included​

  • Visible surfaces with their current colors/materials
  • Measurements and annotations (where format supports)
  • Scene positioning and arrangement
note

Not all scene elements may be supported by all export formats. Complex annotations may be simplified or omitted depending on the target format's capabilities.

Best Practices​

Before Exporting​

  1. Select the correct object: Verify the intended object is selected/active
  2. Check object visibility: Some exports respect visibility settings
  3. Verify data quality: Run diagnostics on surfaces before export

Coordinate Systems​

  • Exports maintain the coordinate system used in Volvicon
  • Verify coordinate system compatibility with the receiving application
  • Document the coordinate convention when sharing data

File Naming​

Use descriptive filenames that include:

  • Subject/sample identifier
  • Data type (volume, surface, mesh)
  • Processing state (raw, segmented, smoothed)
  • Date or version number

Validation​

After exporting:

  • Verify the exported file opens correctly in the target application
  • Check that dimensions and scale are correct
  • Confirm that all expected data is present

Troubleshooting​

Export Produces Empty or Invalid File​

  • Verify an object is selected before exporting
  • Check that the selected object contains data
  • Try a different output format

Exported Surface Has Inverted Normals​

  • Run Diagnostics and Fixes to correct normals before export
  • Some applications can flip normals on import

Video Export Fails​

  • Verify sufficient disk space for the output file
  • Check that the output path is writable
  • Try a different video format

DICOM Export Not Accepted by Target System​

  • Verify the target system accepts third-party DICOM files
  • Check that required DICOM tags are populated
  • Consult with your imaging IT department for compatibility requirements