# Save volume rendering as STL file

**URL:** https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** segmentation, faq
**Created:** [June 19, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524 "2017-06-19T05:03:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 21

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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: [November 9, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524/21 "2018-11-09T16:16:21Z")

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> [@avarghes23](#):
>
> Is there a way to export this point cloud to another program

Yes, of course! The point cloud is the 3D image volume file (usually saved in .nrrd file).

> [@avarghes23](#):
>
> program (like Meshlab) to generate a mesh and subsequently an STL?

MeshLab and other mesh editors operate on meshes, they cannot load or display volumetric image data.

> [@avarghes23](#):
>
> Rendering module converts the input image stack to a rendered cloud perfectly and if there was a way that we could generate an STL, i

STL is for storing surface mesh that you generate by segmenting a volume. Surface meshes can be printed using cheap plastic printers.

If you have access to a color voxel printer then [you can 3D print volume rendering directly, using images created by SlicerFab extension’s BitmapGenerator module](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/printing-volume-renderings-in-plastic/3017).

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