Import a 3D model as a sculpture

Studio can create a brick sculpture from a 3D model.

Creating a sculpture

1. Use the menu entry File | Import | Import 3D Model…,
2. Studio opens a file dialog for you to choose an OBJ (.obj) file (also known as the Wavefront format) or an STL (.stl) file. 
   
   OBJ files can have colors in .mtl files next to the .obj file, and applied textures (images).
   STL files are colorless.
3. The sculpture settings dialog appears.
4. Studio then builds the model layer by layer in the viewport.
   
   

   A. Sculpture preview: Shows the 3D model converted into a LEGO sculpture. You can rotate the model by grabbing and dragging the right mouse button and you can zoom in and out with the mouse wheel.
   The total dimensions of the sculpture are shown at the bottom of the Preview.
   You can change the source model by clicking the Remove link at the bottom.

   B. Sizes

   1. • Base Size: Defines the maximum horizontal dimension the sculpture will take. The other dimensions will follow proportionally (you can see them at the bottom of the Preview).
      • Wall Thickness: Defines the width of the walls, in studs. Studio may still build thicker if needed.
      • Base Thickness: Defines the number of layers Studio will completely fill at the base of the sculpture.

   C. Bricks: These buttons allow to define which bricks Studio can use. You can choose to use only 1x1 bricks by checking the box on the right. Or you can choose the bricks to use by clicking on them (blue bricks are used, black bricks are excluded).

   D. Color: Here you can choose if the sculpture will be colored by layers (each layer will have its own color) or if it will use the material and color defined by the 3D model (in a .mtl file, as specified in the .obj, and placed along with the .obj file so that Studio can find it).

   E. Orientation: Applications don’t all agree on which axis points up, so Studio allows you to choose one to reorient the model if needed.

   F. Import options: Studio can put each layer in its own step, thus preparing building instructions. Studio can also put the whole sculpture in a submodel.

   G. Import: Click on this button to import the sculpture into the Building area.

   The sculpture is recalculated each time you change a value.

   Studio can use bricks in colors that are not available.

   
5. If Studio encountered problems while building the sculpture, it will propose you to check the connections by starting the Connectivity Check.