topic Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL in Inventor Forum

No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

j_steenbergen — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 09:04:12 GMT

Looking through the forums this is an issue that's mentioned time after time but still not solved.

When exporting models to OBJ or STL format, the colors/textures are not properly exported. Some say it is exported but at least it doesn't follow the standards since they're not displayed when viewing the OBJ or STL in a 3rd party viewer. Then you just get a grey model. Note: I already made sure that the checkbox "export colors" is active! But it didn't made any difference. Also, the checkbox is only available when exporting to STL, not when exporting to OBJ.

At first I was very happy when I saw you could use 3D models in PowerPoint, but was really disappointed when I noticed that the colors are not there.

See other topics:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/inventor-2018-stl-export-colors-lost/td-p/7365318

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/export-to-obj-files-colors-materials-not-working-in-2019/td-p/8528506

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/help-with-textures-colors-inventor/td-p/7406050

There seems to be a ticket for it that's marked as solved: INVGEN-16100

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

dennis.schaperAKPCJ — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 10:49:42 GMT

Maybe this topic helps. This one also has a solution.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/color-texture-lost-export-to-stl/m-p/5658912#M548766

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

j_steenbergen — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 11:02:50 GMT

I already tried that, but it makes no difference unfortunately..

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

JDMather — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 11:18:24 GMT

@j_steenbergen wrote:
At first I was very happy when I saw you could use 3D models in PowerPoint, but was really disappointed when I noticed that the colors are not there.

Do you have an example assembly or part that you can Attach here?

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

j_steenbergen — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 11:24:22 GMT

Sure, see attachment. I've added the following files:

- source IPT (red color)

- exported OBJ and MTL

- exported STL

- PowerPoint presentation

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

JDMather — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 12:50:51 GMT

I used to teach a class on getting several 3D formats in to MS Office products, but I have to find my notes and I am tied up with other work at the moment.

I did try a quick *.dwfx example, but I forget how to manipulate while in SlideShow.

I have a vague recollection of "Publishing" the PowerPoint to use manipulation in SlidShow.

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

j_steenbergen — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:24:48 GMT

Thanks for your answer. But the way I wanted to insert the model in the presentation is by using insert>3D model. That way you can also use dedicated 3D animations like auto rotation. And it supports the whole set of picture formatting like borders, shadows, background colors and so on.

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

JDMather — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:40:44 GMT

I guess that you did not understand my response.

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

j_steenbergen — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:59:14 GMT

I thought you meant to show another way if importing a model into a PowerPoint presentation. Or am I missing the point?

What I'm saying is that your method (as far as I know) does not support powerpoint animations and formatting. I am not talking about manipulation of the model orientation using the mouse, I'm talking about object animations like 'turn table', 'swing', 'jump & turn'.

Re: No color when exporting to OBJ or STL

miguel_lopezUUP4Q — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:33:22 GMT

This problem is still not solved in Inventor 2023.

I create a simple model for my classrooms. Exported to .obj without colors/materials, works ok.

Then I add some colors to the faces (it's a very simple model). Exported to .obj and some of the colors are gone.

I attached the files in a zip in order to include the .mtl file that I get in the export process.

Some screenshots of the model in Inventor and in 3D Viewer.

Inventor1:

3D Viewer1:

Inventor2:

3dViewer: