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Get Started
New to Inspire Studio? Learn the basics here.
File Import and Export
Learn how to import geometry and export results.
Import a File
Open a previously saved scene and merge it with the current one.

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What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire Studio? Learn the basics here.
- Altair Inspire Studio Overview
  Learn about Inspire Studio, the workspace, and the system requirements.
- File Import and Export
  Learn how to import geometry and export results.
  - Supported File Formats
    View a list of supported file formats for import and export.
  - Create or Open a File
    Create or open a file.
  - Import a File
    Open a previously saved scene and merge it with the current one.
  - Import and Apply Materials
    When you have a team where one person works on modeling while another works on materials, the Import and Apply Materials function can be used to import the materials and automatically apply them to the corresponding geometry in the model. This gives the team the flexibility to work simultaneously, so that the model can continue to be modified while the materials are being created and applied.
  - Save or Export a File
    Save a scene, a bundle, selected objects, a selected model, or a Studio set. You can change the autosave settings and turn on Safe save.
  - Export to Exchange
    Export selected objects to a common folder used to exchange data with other Altair products. For example, you can export a die design from Inspire Studio to Inspire Form to perform a stamping simulation.
- Select and Edit
  Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
- Construction History
  The software saves versions of your objects as you create them, enabling you to return to an earlier stage of an object, and modify or reuse the object from that stage.
- Adjust the View
  Change the view in the modeling window using the mouse or view controls.
- Take a Snapshot
  Capture an image of a model. The background is white by default, but you can make it colored or transparent. Arrows on curves are automatically turned off.
- Move and Snap
  Translate, rotate, and scale objects using the Move tool. These tasks can be accomplished with greater precision by using grids and snaps.
- Browse and Organize
  Browse and organize the objects, layers, lights, materials, and drawings in your scene using the Model Browser.
- Help and User Assistance
  Learn about the forms of help and user assistance available from the product.
- Units and Measurement
  Change the default units and measure geometry features.
- Tool Belts
  Inspire Studio has four different tool belts to help you quickly access the tools you need for 3D modeling, sketching, creating PolyNURBS, and rendering. You can use the tool belts with the default configuration of tools or you can customize the tool belts by adding and removing tools as required.
- Preferences
  Modify the workspace display, default keyboard shortcuts, and other settings.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire Studio with our interactive tutorials.
Sketching
Create and edit a 2D sketch curve. A sketch curve is any "wire" entity such as a line, rectangle, circle, or arc.
Curves
Create and edit 3D curves by extending, rebuilding, intersecting, splitting, and projecting the shapes.
Surfaces
Create and edit 3D surfaces and solids by creating primitives or editing existing curves and surfaces.
PolyNURBS
Create polygonal surfaces that can easily be converted into NURBS surfaces.
Modify
Create new objects by manipulating and modifying source objects.
Direct
Quickly modify objects that are not a part of Construction History.
Deform
Deform one or more objects with respect to an axis.
Analysis
Analyze curves and surfaces, import simulation data, or access the Design Table and Variable Manager.
Dimensions
Dimension a line, edge, bounding box, angle, and radius/diameter in order to create objects which must fit predefined dimensions.
Drawing
Create detailed 2D drawings of the selected parts of a complex 3D model from multiple perspectives.
Rendering
Adjust the materials, environment, and properties of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Animation
In Inspire Studio you can animate an object or group and the camera. There are two methods of animation: key frame animation and path animation.
Die Design
Create a draw die in Inspire Studio that you can export to Inspire Form to perform a stamping simulation.
Custom Plug-ins and Scripts
You can use C++ and Python to add custom operations and file formats.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.
SpaceMouse Support
Inspire Studio supports 3Dconnexion's SpaceMouse.

Import a File

Open a previously saved scene and merge it with the current one.

Tip: When opening/importing and saving/exporting IGES or STEP files, if the default import option CT doesn't work properly, try changing it to PS.

Do one of the following:
- Press Ctrl (Command) + M.
- Select File > Import.
Import ignores views configuration information from the incoming file. If the model contains rendering data such as environments or rendering properties, the Rendering Data window prompts you to choose how to join the data from the selected model with what is already in your scene:
- Skip: Imports only geometry, lights, and cameras from the selected library model, but not rendering data such as environments and rendering properties.
- Overwrite: Overwrites rendering data such as environments and rendering properties in your current model with those in the selected library model.
- Merge: Adds the rendering data from the selected library model to your current model. This data is only used if not currently specified in the scene.

Note: Geometry and possible cameras and lights are always added to the scene.