VRML (.vrml, .wrl) import/export

VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is a standard file format for representing 3-D interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind. It has been superseded by X3D.

Import

To open, import or insert a file

  1. From the File menu, click Open, Insert, or Import.

  2. In the dialog box, select a supported file type.
  3. Click Open and configure the settings.
    When you open a non-3dm file and save the model, its filename will be the default 3dm filename.

Note

  • Only VRML 2 files can be imported.
  • Spotlights, point lights and directional lights import.
  • Rhino imports PointSets in VRML as PointClouds.

Export

To save as or export a Rhino model

  1. On the File menu, click Export Selected or Save As.
  2. In the dialog box, the Files of type list displays the currently supported file types for export.
  3. In the Files of type box, select the supported file type.
  4. In the File name box, select or type a file name.
  5. Specify what is to be saved.
    6. Options

    Save small

    Though clearing the render meshes makes the file smaller, it will shade and render more slowly the next time you open the file.

    Save geometry only

    Saves geometry objects only. No layers, materials, properties, notes, or units settings are saved. This is similar to exporting the objects. A new file is made, but it does not become your active Rhino model.

    Save textures

    Embeds external textures used by materials, environments and decals into the model.
    Save plugin data Saves data attached to objects or the document by plug-in applications.
  6. If the export can be configured, click the Options button to specify export settings.
  7. Mesh file types export NURBS surfaces as meshes either with the specified meshing options, or the document render mesh settings.

VRML Export Options

Version

Try 2.0 first. If it does not work with your VRML viewer, try 1.0.

1.0
2.0

Options

Vertex normals

Only the polygon mesh vertex normals calculated from the NURBS surfaces export to the VRML file. This may improve the appearance of the objects in the viewer, and it will make the file much larger.

Texture coordinates

The uv texture mapping coordinates are exported to the VRML file.

Vertex colors

In order to get vertex colors to export select a mesh with vertex colors such as a mesh imported from VRML or an mesh with the ExtractAnalysisMesh command.

Always use these settings. Do not show this dialog again.

Saves the current settings and turns off the dialog display.

To turn the message back on

See also: ResetMessageBoxes command.

Note

  • The default Top view is exported.
  • Render color, shine, and transparency determine the render material properties exported to the VRML file.
  • The render background color exports as a background color to VMRL2.
  • Spotlights, point lights and directional lights export.
  • Material names assigned to objects in Material Properties export.
  • Some VRML clients are incompatible with the material shininess (specularity) set to zero. Using Cortona and Cosmo Player, objects with shininess set to zero shade completely white. If the shininess is zero, Rhino sets the shininess to something bigger than zero (we used 1, but the value does not matter) and the specular color to black. The Black specular color results in a matte surface in the VRML viewer.
  • Texture assignments are not exported.
  • Rhino exports PointClouds to VRML as PointSets. Point objects will not export because VRML does not have point geometry node. Details...
  • Bump map images in materials are converted to Normal map images.

See also

Wikipedia: VRML