Saving and exporting 3D files (Photoshop Extended)



To preserve the 3D content in a file, save the file in Photoshop format or another supported image format. You can also export a 3D layer as a file in a supported 3D file format.

Export a 3D layer

You can export 3D layers in all supported 3D formats: Collada DAE, Wavefront/OBJ, U3D, and Google Earth 4 KMZ. When choosing an export format, consider the following factors:

  • Texture layers are saved in all 3D file formats; however, U3D preserves only Diffuse, Environment, and Opacity texture maps.

  • Wavefront/OBJ format does not save camera settings, lights, or animation.

  • Only Collada DAE saves render settings.

To export a 3D layer, do the following:

  1. Choose 3D > Export 3D layer

  2. Choose a format for exporting textures:

    • U3D and KMZ support JPEG or PNG as texture formats.

    • DAE and OBJ support all Photoshop-supported image formats for textures.

  3. (Optional) If exporting to U3D format, choose an encoding option. ECMA 1 is compatible with Acrobat 7.0; ECMA 3 is compatible with Acrobat 8.0 and later and provides some mesh compression.

  4. Click OK to export.

Save a 3D file

To preserve 3D model position, lighting, render mode, and cross sections, save files with 3D layers in PSD, PSB, TIFF, or PDF format.

 Choose File > Save or File > Save As, select Photoshop (PSD), Photoshop PDF, or TIFF format, and click OK.