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New Project

The New page allows you to create a fresh Volvicon project by importing data from various sources. The interface presents available data types on the left panel, with descriptions and import actions on the right.

note

Creating a new project will prompt you to save any unsaved changes in the current project. After confirmation, the scene clears and the import dialog for your selected data type opens.

Available Data Sources​

SourceFormatsDescription
3D ImagesMHD, NIfTI, NRRDStructured volume formats with embedded spacing and orientation metadata
3D Raw ImageRAW, VOL, ZRAW, BIN, IMGRaw voxel data requiring manual specification of dimensions, spacing, and data type
Image StackBMP, JPG, PNG, TIFOrdered 2D image sequences assembled into a 3D volume
DICOM ImagesDCMMedical imaging series with DICOM metadata for spacing, orientation, and patient information
Surface CAD/STL ModelsIGES, STEP, STL, PLY, OBJTriangle mesh and boundary representation geometry
Volume Mesh ModelsVarious FEM formatsTetrahedral or hexahedral meshes for simulation workflows
Blank ImageN/AEmpty volume with user-defined dimensions and spacing
Recent FilesVariousQuick access to recently imported data files

Creating a Project from 3D Images​

Use this option when you have structured volume files with embedded metadata (spacing, origin, orientation).

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select 3D Images from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the file browser
  4. Select one or more volume files
  5. The project opens with the imported volume(s) ready for processing

Supported Formats​

  • MetaImage (MHD/MHA): Header + raw data format common in medical imaging pipelines
  • NIfTI (.nii, .nii.gz): Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative format
  • NRRD: Nearly Raw Raster Data format

Creating a Project from 3D Raw Images​

Use this option for raw voxel data files that lack embedded metadata. You must specify dimensions, spacing, and data type manually.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select 3D Raw Image from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the Raw Image Import dialog
  4. Browse to select the raw data file
  5. Configure the required parameters:
    • Dimensions (X, Y, Z): Number of voxels in each direction
    • Voxel Spacing (mm): Physical size of each voxel
    • Origin (mm): Position of the volume origin
    • Data Type: Signed/Unsigned 8/16/32-bit integer, Float32, Double64
    • Endianness: Little or Big endian byte order
    • Components: Number of components per voxel (1-3)
    • Header Size: Bytes to skip at the beginning of the file
    • Use Compression: Enable for ZRAW-style compressed files
  6. Optionally apply axis inversion or intensity inversion
  7. Click OK to import
warning

The dialog validates that specified dimensions match the file size. Incorrect settings will prevent import. Verify the byte count displayed against your file size before proceeding.

Creating a Project from Image Stacks​

Use this option to assemble a 3D volume from ordered 2D image files (such as sequential slices from microscopy or industrial CT).

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select Image Stack from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the Image Stack Import dialog
  4. Add images using one of these methods:
    • Select Files: Choose individual image files
    • Select Directory: Load all images from a folder
    • Drag and Drop: Drag files directly into the dialog
  5. Arrange the slice order using Move Up/Down or Reverse Order if needed
  6. Configure spacing and origin:
    • Voxel Spacing X/Y/Z (mm): Physical dimensions per voxel
    • Origin X/Y/Z (mm): Volume origin position
  7. Apply transforms if needed:
    • Invert X/Y/Z Axis: Flip or reorder slices
    • Invert Intensity: Negate grayscale values
  8. Click OK to import
tip

Keep image stacks in dedicated folders with consistent naming conventions (e.g., slice_001.tif, slice_002.tif) to ensure correct ordering.

Creating a Project from DICOM Images​

Use this option for medical imaging data in DICOM format. The import dialog provides series selection, preview, and metadata handling options.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select DICOM Images from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the DICOM Import dialog
  4. Browse to the directory containing DICOM files and click Load
  5. Review the detected series in the Series table
  6. Select the series to import (multi-selection imports as 4D data if geometry matches)
  7. Preview slices using the slider control
  8. Configure options:
    • Anonymize DICOM tags: Remove patient-identifying information (enabled by default)
    • Do not import DICOM tags: Import pixel data only, skip all metadata
    • Use DICOM window and level: Apply window/level from DICOM tags
  9. Click Open to import
tip

Use Subrefine series if the directory contains mixed acquisitions. This adds filtering criteria (study description, trigger time, echo time, etc.) to separate series that share the same Series Instance UID.

For detailed DICOM import guidance, see DICOM Import.

Creating a Project from Surface Models​

Use this option for triangle mesh geometry from CAD systems or 3D scanning.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select Surface CAD/STL Models from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the file browser
  4. Select one or more surface files
  5. The project opens with imported surface objects

Supported Formats​

  • STL: Stereolithography format (ASCII and binary)
  • PLY: Polygon File Format
  • OBJ: Wavefront geometry format
  • IGES: Initial Graphics Exchange Specification
  • STEP/STP: Standard for the Exchange of Product Data
note

For CAD formats (IGES, STEP), import behavior can be configured in Preferences → Import to control geometry preservation and solid construction.

Creating a Project from Volume Meshes​

Use this option for finite element meshes intended for simulation workflows.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select Volume Mesh Models from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the file browser
  4. Select the mesh file
  5. The project opens with the imported volume mesh

Creating a Blank Image Project​

Use this option to create an empty volume for manual data creation, scripting, or testing.

Workflow​

  1. Navigate to File → New
  2. Select Blank Image from the left panel
  3. Click the large icon to open the Blank Image dialog
  4. Configure volume parameters:
    • Dimensions (X, Y, Z): Number of voxels
    • Spacing (mm): Physical voxel size
    • Origin (mm): Volume origin position
    • Data Type: Voxel data type
  5. Click OK to create the volume
tip

Size blank volumes generously for expected structures, but avoid excessive dimensions that increase memory consumption. The memory requirement scales with the cube of dimensions.

Using Recent Files​

The Recent Files option provides quick access to previously imported data files (not project files). Double-click an entry to create a new project from that file.

Best Practices​

  1. Verify spacing metadata: For raw data and image stacks, record the correct voxel spacing from your acquisition system to ensure accurate measurements.

  2. Check unit consistency: When importing CAD/STL models, confirm units match your workflow (mm vs. inches).

  3. Organize source data: Keep DICOM series and image stacks in dedicated folders with clear naming conventions.

  4. Save promptly: New projects start as "Untitled." Use File → Save immediately after import to establish a project file and enable auto-save.