# Volume rendering to obj or stl format

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 23, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512 "2017-11-23T15:18:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iplneuro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7ba0ec/32.png) [@iplneuro](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/iplneuro)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/1 "2017-11-23T15:18:16Z")

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Hi Sir/Madam,

I’m using 3d slicer nightly build version and I am new to slicer. I tried using the slicer sample dataset ct chest and used the volume rendering extension. Is there any way to create model from volume rendering.

Thanks and Regards,

Suba

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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 23, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/2 "2017-11-23T15:43:39Z")

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Main advantage of volume rendering is that you can display an image without creating a surface mesh. To create a surface mesh, use Segment editor module. See [Save volume rendering as STL file](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524) for more background information on this topic.

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**Author:** ![iplneuro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7ba0ec/32.png) [@iplneuro](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/iplneuro)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 10:46am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/3 "2017-11-24T10:46:47Z")

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Respected Sir,

Thank you for your reply. The link you have sent is very useful for segment editor module. Is there any way to get a mesh from volume rendering volume.

Thanks and regards,

Suba

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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 24, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/4 "2017-11-24T12:48:33Z")

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Volume rendering displays a volume without creating a surface mesh. It is not possible to save a mesh that does not exist. See detailed explanation here: [Save volume rendering as STL file](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/save-volume-rendering-as-stl-file/524)

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**Author:** ![cpinter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/cpinter/32/7995_2.png) [@cpinter](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cpinter)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/5 "2017-11-24T14:55:13Z")

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It may be time to create a wiki page titled “Why volume rendering cannot be saved as surface?”

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**Author:** ![iplneuro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7ba0ec/32.png) [@iplneuro](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/iplneuro)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 9:30am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/volume-rendering-to-obj-or-stl-format/1512/6 "2017-11-25T09:30:29Z")

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Hi,

Thank you for you valuable reply. The link was very useful.

Thanks and regards,

Suba