# How to convert .nii MRI mask files to 3D volume that could be meshed with 3D element types later?

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-convert-nii-mri-mask-files-to-3d-volume-that-could-be-meshed-with-3d-element-types-later/17231>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [April 21, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-convert-nii-mri-mask-files-to-3d-volume-that-could-be-meshed-with-3d-element-types-later/17231 "2021-04-21T16:49:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mohsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Mohsen](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Mohsen)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-convert-nii-mri-mask-files-to-3d-volume-that-could-be-meshed-with-3d-element-types-later/17231/1 "2021-04-21T16:49:40Z")

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Hello,

I am trying to convert a .nii MRI mask (binary 3D mask) file to a 3D volume mesh or any 3D volume format, so I could mesh the model with 3D element types and do Finite Element Analysis.

I would appreciate it if anyone could help me with that.

Thanks,  
Mohsen

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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:** [April 25, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-convert-nii-mri-mask-files-to-3d-volume-that-could-be-meshed-with-3d-element-types-later/17231/2 "2021-04-25T15:52:43Z")

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You can load the nii file as a segmentation and then use SegmentMesher extension to create a volumetric mesh.

If you want to use a different mesher software then probably you want to export the segmentation as a surface mesh (ply, obj, stl, vtk,…), as most volumetric meshers require this format as input.

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**Author:** ![Mohsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Mohsen](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Mohsen)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-convert-nii-mri-mask-files-to-3d-volume-that-could-be-meshed-with-3d-element-types-later/17231/3 "2021-04-30T00:18:09Z")

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Thank you so much for your help!