Supported applications

Shapeways accepts designs in STL, OBJ, X3D, Collada or VRML97/2. This page lists the 3D Authoring tools that are known to export those file formats. If your tool cannot export to one of these formats, try converting your files with one of the following tools:

  • MeshLab (Open Source, cross-platform)
  • AccuTrans (Windows, commercial software, free 30-day trial)

If you get stuck, mail your design to service@shapeways.com and we'll try to fix or convert it for you.

Please help us keep this list current

If you have any information that should be on this list (another 3D app, new exporter plugins, tutorials), please post it on the forum. Awesome.

3D Authoring Tool STL OBJ X3D Collada VRML97/2
123d native        
3D-Coat native native      
3dtin native        
3DS Max 2010 - tutorial native   Max 5,6: more info more info native
Alibre Design native        
Art of Illusion         native
AutoCad 2010 native     native  
Autodesk Inventor native        
Autodesk Revit via plugin, but reported to be problematic        
Blender - tutorial native native native more info native
Carrara 7       native  
Cheetah3D native     native  
Cinema 4D - tutorial native     native native
Claytools native        
Daz Studio       native  
Fractracer   tutorial      
Freeform native        
Google Sketchup 7,8 -  tutorial plugin     native, tutorial native
(Pro version only)
Groboto   native      
Hash Animation:Master native native      
Houdini   native      
Kubotek KeyCreator native       native,
no textures
Lightwave - tutorial more info     native  
Maya - tutorial more info   more info   tutorial
Maple     native native  
Mathematica native   native   native
Modo more info native native more info  
MoI 3D native        
OpenSCAD native        
Pro-engineer native        
Rhino3D native native     native
Sculptris native        
Softimage XSI plugin native plugin native plugin
SolidWorks - tutorials: 1, 2 native        
Strata 3D       native native
TopMod native native      
Tinkercad native        
TrueSpace 7.6 native - 7.6.0 only     native native
TurboCAD native native   native native
Vectorworks 2012 native        
Vellum Argon native        
Vellum Cobalt native        
Verto Studio for iPad and iPhone   native      
viaCad - tutorial native        
Wings3D native native   native native
Zbrush 4 more info native     more info