STEP Model exports sometimes have colors, sometimes are monochrome

tom_cassidy

Can't seem to find a pattern to this.  Sometimes when I export I get all of the part colors, sometimes it just comes out monochrome.  If I keep re-exporting the same part trying different options and sequences it eventually seems to work but nothing seems to be consistent.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

3dcad

Good information. Thanks for posting @tom_cassidy

nav

Hi @tom_cassidy if you believe this is something to be reported to OS Use ?-menu and put in feedback. After uploading a step file you can always change the appearance (Color) of a single or multiple parts at once to match your preferences.

tom_cassidy

Hi, Nav, thanks for the reply.  But my issue has to do with exporting the STEP to another program (Altium Designer in my case.)  I'm creating models of electronic parts and want the colors to be represented.  I color the part within OS and export, and the colors disappear when I import the model into Designer, sometimes.  I'll report it to OS as well.  Thanks!

nav

Hi Tom my bad, you are right I answered for import and not export. Sorry, you should use Use ?-menu and send some feedback to OS regarding the issue.

3dexter

I would like the Onshape be able to color faces!

brucebartlett

@3dexter is coloured faces on @lougallo 's voting list ?
If not you should add it, I'll give it my vote

brucebartlett

"Coloured Faces on Parts" on the Improvement list for voting.

3dcad

Ah, just added Color by face and feature to voting.. 

And now I see there is also 3dexter suggestion already.. but I didn't see it in forum side @lougallo

tom_cassidy

Here's the answer from Onshape Support:

In Onshape, if you specifically assign an appearance to the part (right click -> Edit Appearance), that appearance is written into the STEP file and should carry over to any other programs you bring the STEP into. This will also increase the file size because it's more data that the model needs to handle.

However, if you do not specifically assign an appearance to the part and just allow Onshape to choose the appearance, even if it's the one you want, Onshape does not assign any color data upon export, so you'll see a smaller file, and Onshape will choose a random color from its color pallet when you re-import the model. Sometimes this will be what you want, but most of the time it won't.

3dcad

Good information. Thanks for posting @tom_cassidy

almaz_khamidullin

I set appearance for parts. But exported step file don't contain colors information. Import of previously exported file shows me random colors for every part. But I am pretty sure that I set appearance before exporting (right click -> set appearance)! That behaviour started today. Previously, export saved colors.  What can be a problem?

almaz_khamidullin

I just imported step file with its size of 569 kB. After opening I did nothing - only exported it. Resulted file's size is 476 kB. Color info is missed.

almaz_khamidullin

I set appearance for parts. But exported step file don't contain colors information. Import of previously exported file shows me random colors for every part. But I am pretty sure that I set appearance before exporting (right click --> edit appearance)! That behaviour started today. Previously, export saved colors. What can be a problem?

thibault_laine

I have exactly the same problem. And I'm sure I set appearance for all parts.

abefeldman

This is a known bug in export appearance - we'll hopefully have a fix for it soon.

3dcad

Care to share a list of known bugs?

t_cary

It seems that edited appearance and assigned materials don't get exported in any format.  Even if you use OneRender from within Onshape you have to re-apply materials to parts using their interface.  Why?  Why can't we manually match file names of textures to the default list of materials in OnShape?  I get that it's would add slightly to file size, but what a handy option instead of assigning materials and appearance to the same part multiple times in your workflow.  You could make it a toggle option in export, "include materials and appearances".  Right?

Christina_Cyr

I realize this post is quite old, but I ran into this problem myself today, trying to export an OnShape STEP file, then applying it to an Altium project, and having the color attributes not display in Altium.

I found the solution on the Altium side.

1. In Altium, click on the imported 3D body.
2. Go to the 3D Body [Properties] panel, and scroll to the bottom to find the <Display> section.
3. Uncheck "Override Color". Viola! The STEP file colors can now be displayed!