# ALPACA & segmentation

**URL:** https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** slicermorph
**Created:** [October 31, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503 "2023-10-31T12:31:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Michal\_Graitzer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/michal_graitzer/32/68078_2.png) [@Michal\_Graitzer](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Michal_Graitzer)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503/1 "2023-10-31T12:31:51Z")

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Operating system: windows  
Slicer version:5.2.1

Does the use of “Alpaca” require prior segmentation?

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### Author: ![muratmaga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/muratmaga/32/3622_2.png) [@muratmaga](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/muratmaga)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503/2 "2023-10-31T14:58:58Z")

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ALPACA does not require segmentation, but it expects you will provide models that have comparable anatomy. If you don’t, performance will suffer.

So if your existing models are of the same anatomical region/content, no segmentation/cleanup is necessary.

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### Author: ![Michal\_Graitzer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/michal_graitzer/32/68078_2.png) [@Michal\_Graitzer](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Michal_Graitzer)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2023, 10:26am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503/3 "2023-11-08T10:26:23Z")

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Thank you for your answer.

I have a DICOM file, and I cropped the volume for my purposes, but I am not able to save it as a 3d file suitable for ALPACA, such as ply\* file that is recommended.  
What can I do?

Thank you for your help  
Michal

‫בתאריך יום ג׳, 31 באוק׳ 2023 ב-16:58 מאת ‪Murat Maga via 3D Slicer Community‬‏ \<‪[notifications@slicer.discoursemail.com](mailto:notifications@slicer.discoursemail.com)‬‏\>:‬

![image001.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/3X/f/b/fb13cfd92e1bf7553a206a418204cc218ac813da.png)

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### Author: ![muratmaga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/muratmaga/32/3622_2.png) [@muratmaga](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/muratmaga)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/alpaca-segmentation/32503/4 "2023-11-08T15:23:21Z")

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Process of making 3D models out of volumetric data is called swgmentation. You can read about it more here [Image Segmentation — 3D Slicer documentation](https://slicer.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user_guide/image_segmentation.html)

The tool to use is segment editor, after you can export your segmentation to ply nd use it with alpaca.