# Converting .stl files into segments for editing

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [July 26, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764 "2019-07-26T00:37:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@stl](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/stl)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/1 "2019-07-26T00:37:37Z")

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Operating system:Windows  
Slicer version: 4.10

Hi,

I have a group of .stl files that I have downloaded for a region of the body. I would like to convert them into segments that I can edit to further refine the model.

I am unable to take the .stl (model) files and import them as segments into a segmentation. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![fedorov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/fedorov/32/14_2.png) [@fedorov](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/fedorov)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/2 "2019-07-26T00:38:17Z")

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> [@stl](#):
>
> I am unable to take the .stl (model) files and import them as segments into a segmentation.

What do you mean? How did you try to load them into Slicer, and what happened?

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**Author:** ![stl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@stl](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/stl)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/3 "2019-07-26T01:00:49Z")

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Thanks for the quick response.

I can load the stl files and also view them. However I need to edit the files. I read that they need to be converted into segments and that’s where I’m getting stuck. I see no options to convert the stl files into segments in a segmentation.

Thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fedorov](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/fedorov/32/14_2.png) [@fedorov](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/fedorov)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/4 "2019-07-26T01:27:12Z")

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Did you see this documentation page, and the “Import …” section: [https://www.slicer.org/wiki/Documentation/Nightly/Modules/Segmentations](https://www.slicer.org/wiki/Documentation/Nightly/Modules/Segmentations)

Please let us know if this answers your question.

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**Author:** ![stl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@stl](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/stl)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/5 "2019-07-26T02:12:41Z")

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I did try that but there’s nothing under “Copy/Move segments” after I’ve loaded the stl files. I’ve included a screenshot.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/3X/c/b/cbd9bd18be0f5fd0bd4c39060d3d0ff491c1562d.png)

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**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/converting-stl-files-into-segments-for-editing/7764/6 "2019-07-26T02:18:23Z")

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You can import models using “Export/import models and labelmaps” section.

You may also load the STL file directly as segmentation (see instructions in [this post](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/3d-model-to-segmentation/5135/2)).