Exporting and re-importing

If you want to use a ProBuilder mesh in another program, such as a 3D modeling application, you can use the Export action to save it to one of the supported formats. For example, you might be using a ProBuilder mesh as a placeholder while greyboxing, but eventually want to create or enhance a complex mesh.

You can also export your ProBuilder mesh to the Unity .asset format and re-import it to use as a Prefab or spawn it in the scene.

Caution: When you export a ProBuilder mesh to file, remember that if you want to re-import and use ProBuilder tools and actions on it, you need to ProBuilderize first.

This section provides information on which formats are available, how to export ProBuilder objects to file, and also some tips for re-importing back into Unity.

Supported formats

ProBuilder allows you to export GameObjects to the following formats:

Format Description
OBJ Wavefront OBJ. This is a widely supported model format. It supports multiple Textures and mesh groups.
STL A widely supported format, generally used in CAD software or 3D printing. It only supports Triangle geometry.
PLY Stanford PLY. Generally supported and very extensible. It supports quads and vertex colors, but not multiple Materials.
Asset Unity Asset format, only readable in Unity.

Export a ProBuilder mesh

To export one or more objects to one of the supported formats:

  1. Select the GameObject you want to export.
  2. Activate the GameObject tool context.
  3. Right-click in the Scene view to open the Scene view context menu.
  4. Select ProBuilderMesh > Export to open the Editor Settings window.
  5. Select the format you want to export to from the Export Format dropdown menu.
  6. If you're exporting an OBJ to use in Unity, disable the Copy Textures option.

    Tip: When you re-import the mesh, follow the instructions under Re-importing an exported mesh.

  7. When you are finished setting export options, select Export.
  8. Use the file browser to save the exported 3D Model.

Re-importing an exported mesh

When you import the OBJ format, select the 3D Model file from the Project view, and on the Material tab of the Model Import Settings window, set the following options:

  • In Location, select Use Embedded Materials.
  • Inside the Remapped Materials section, expand the On Demand Remap option group.
  • In Naming, select From Model's Material.
  • In Search, select Project-Wide.