What is an STL file?Īn STL file uses a series of linked triangles (known as tessellation) to describe the surface geometry of a 3D design. Finally, click Export to save the file to your computer.

Set the Print To and Printer dropdowns to Local and STL File respectively.If you need to export the file for printing, select 3D Print Settings and click the Scene button to show the full design.You can now adjust the scale and depth of your model.In Layer Panel, choose your design and then 3D extrusion on the 3D tab.Click the Window tab on the top menu, then select Workspace and 3D.Open a new document and create your design using the Layers tool.This step-by-step guide shows you how to create an STL file for a 3D model with Adobe Photoshop: Once installed, you can right-click on your file and select Open With, then choose 3D Viewer. On Windows, you’ll first need to make sure that you have the 3D Viewer app installed.On Mac, you can use several online tools to view your STL file in a web browser, or you can download an STL viewer app to preview your design across devices.This includes details such as authorship, copyright, and location - all of which are essential to publishing.ĭepending on the operating system you use, there are multiple ways to open an STL file. Another disadvantage of STL is that the file can’t store metadata.For this reason, it’s mainly used for creating prototypes rather than the final product. While STL is great at printing complex shapes, it does have relatively limited capabilities in other areas - including color and texture.This makes STL a smart choice if you’re printing an object in a single color and material. Due to their lack of color and texture, STL files tend to be smaller in size yet faster at processing than other formats.Whatever shape you choose, it’s usually able to produce an accurate model. You can use an STL file to create a wide variety of objects - from lamps and plant pots to drone accessories and camera tripods.Because it’s pretty much universally recognized, it’s a reliable choice for designing and printing your 3D models or objects. Nearly all 3D printers can use and support the STL file format.Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of STL. However, several of its drawbacks also may mean it’s not always suitable for your needs. There are many advantages to using the STL file format.

How to print stl files for 3d