# I want to load a volume rendered image data from in matlab

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/i-want-to-load-a-volume-rendered-image-data-from-in-matlab/1026>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [September 9, 2017, 11:59am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/i-want-to-load-a-volume-rendered-image-data-from-in-matlab/1026 "2017-09-09T11:59:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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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:** [September 9, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/i-want-to-load-a-volume-rendered-image-data-from-in-matlab/1026/2 "2017-09-09T12:08:31Z")

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Volume rendering is a visualization technique. Output of volume rendering is a 2D color image. No data is generated that could be used for FEA. See detailed explanation in this topic:

> [@Save volume rendering as STL file](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524):
>
> Hello, I am a new user on 3D slicer. I was using the display preset feature under volume rendering, and I was wondering if there is a way to save what I was viewing as an .stl or 3D printable file. For example, I was viewing a sample MRI using the CT-cardiac3 preset display. When I tried to save that specific 3D preset displayed sample in a .stl file, the option was unavailable. I was only able to see .vp (volume property), .txt formats. Is there a way to accomplish what I desire in 3D slic…

For FEA, you need volumetric mesh or at least a surface mesh - represented as Model node in Slicer. You can create model from a volume by segment the volume using Segment Editor then export the Segmentation node to Model node.

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_[View the full topic](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/i-want-to-load-a-volume-rendered-image-data-from-in-matlab/1026)._