Why Imported 3D Models are always white?

[Betty19]

Every time I try to create a footprint and embed an .stl file of the actual mechanical CAD of the part, the color information seems to get lost.

When I select the footprint in the .PcbLib file, under Display >> 3D Color I do see the color that I want but the model still shows up glaring white.

I can move on, but this seems to be an issue for a while now and at some point it'd be nice to fix, especially as I ship off screenshots of the model.

I'm attaching an example of a voltage regulator.

I'm using Altium 2010 I believe.

[Alex]

It looks the screenshot is from Altium Designer. Please explain what models do you import and what program do you import in?

[sonali31]

I am also chasing the same solution.

[KevinA]

From Wikipedia "STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes. There are at least two non-standard variations on the binary STL format for adding color information: " I complied about the lack of color to TurboCAD and was informed of this fact. AutoDesk has STL_DCE that has material packing for the STL image, don't know of anyone else. I have found that STEP 214 works well and usually has color support. There are exceptions like the recent TE DB9 I just downloaded, solid color just like most STL images.
Finished first version of a PCB with three different USB connectors that I had to download the 3D images (all solid color) and build the patterns/components.

The headers have color...

usb1.jpg (44.52 KiB) Viewed 47594 times

What each connector will hook to

usb2.jpg (53.81 KiB) Viewed 47594 times

Got to use the differential pair routing!

usb4.jpg (228.98 KiB) Viewed 47591 times

[sonali31]

Can you export the 3d model from your mechanical CAD package as a step file (the AP 214 version), and import that into Altium?

These seem to retain colour information when importing into Altium.

[KevinA]

Of the three USB connectors one has no "COLOUR_RGB" in the STEP file, two have "COLOUR_RGB=The same color in the whole file" while the headers have "COLOUR_RGB" with two values as the image shows.
If you have a part that shows color in Altium but when you import it into DipTrace there is no color, show me.
To compare a $10K product to a $1K product is, strange. I gave up on Tango/Protel years ago, still have the last set of 3.5" floppies....

[semit]

Had this problem on some models, both were saved in STEP AP214 format, fist one was colored second one not.
I've managed to fix white one by opening it in Fusion 360 than exporting it as *.step (Fusion 360 did load the model with colors so there must be something wrong with my Diptrace 4.0.0.2).