Chapter 7 — Importing

Three things you can bring into DigitalClay3D from outside: another modeller's project file (Clayon .cc), a 3D mesh as a translucent template to model around (STL / OBJ), and an image whose silhouette becomes a parametric profile (covered in Chapter 2's Intelligent mode).

Clayon project import (.cc)

If you've used Eazao Studio / Clayon, you can bring its project files across via File → Import as Template → Clayon Project (.cc)….

What gets mapped:

What's lossy:

• Pattern enum — Clayon uses its own integer index (e.g. shape_2d_pattern: 14); DigitalClay3D uses the Texture2DType enum. Patterns are mapped to the closest equivalent via a lookup table. Anything we can't map drops to a sensible default and a status-bar warning explains what was substituted (e.g. "Eazao 2D pattern #18 has no direct equivalent — used Hexagonal instead").
• G-code blocks (GcodeHead, GcodeEnd) — ignored. DigitalClay3D generates its own G-code from your printer profile.
• Some experimental Clayon-only knobs (e.g. shape_doubledeck, shape_randomrtime, shape_rotateeffect) have no analogue and are silently dropped.

After import, the project loads with a status message like Imported 'Vase1.cc' — Eazao 2D pattern #14 has no direct equivalent — used Hexagonal instead. You can then tweak the substituted pattern in the Texture tab.

STL / OBJ as template (Reference mesh)

Sometimes you want to model a vase that fits an existing shape — a 3D-scan of a clay original, an STL someone else made — without losing the parametric workflow. The Template feature loads any STL or OBJ as a translucent blue underlay that you model around. The parametric mesh is unaffected; templates aren't part of the export.

Open via File → Import as Template → STL or OBJ….

What you get:

• The mesh appears as a translucent blue object behind the parametric model.
• The 👻 Template button appears in the toolbar; click to toggle visibility.
• A Template panel docks bottom-right with:
  • Opacity slider — 0.05 (just visible) → 1.0 (solid).
  • X / Y / Z translate sliders.
  • X / Y / Z rotate sliders.
  • Uniform scale.
  • ⊕ Center — snap the template's centroid to the world origin.
  • ⊥ Floor — snap the template's bottom to y = 0.
  • ⟲ Reset — clear all transforms.

The parametric edits never wipe the template; the template never bakes into the parametric mesh. Both render together but only the parametric model is exported.

Limits: STL files up to ~2 million triangles import in a few seconds. Larger meshes show a clear error suggesting decimation. Imported triangles aren't re-meshed; you're seeing exactly what was in the file.

Phase-2 conversion (planned, not shipped)

A future "🌀 Convert to Editable Profile" action on the Template panel will detect when the imported mesh is approximately a revolution body and auto-build a RevolutionProfile that matches it. You'd then drop the template entirely and continue with a parametric model that visually reproduces the import. Tracked in ../planning/PROJECT_STATUS.md as Phase 2 of the import workflow.

What to read next

• Chapter 8 — Export for getting your finished parametric model out as STL / OBJ.
• Chapter 6 — Library if you want to save a template-anchored design as a starting point you can reload later.