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Exporting overview
Click Export above the viewport. The dropdown groups every format into three buckets:
- CAD / Engineering → STEP, DXF
- 3D / Web → GLB, DAE, OBJ, STL
- Image → PNG
The decision table
If you know what you're sending the file to, this is the shortcut.
| Downstream tool / use case | Best format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fusion 360, SolidWorks, FreeCAD, Onshape | STEP | Parametric CAD, colors preserved per surface. |
| AutoCAD, BricsCAD, draftspersons | DXF | The industry-standard 2D/3D interchange. |
| CNC, laser cutting, plasma cutting | DXF | Toolpath software all reads DXF. |
| SketchUp Free | DAE | Native import with colors. STEP is Pro-only. |
| SketchUp Pro / Studio | STEP | Parametric, faithful, scales perfectly. |
| Blender, Modo, Cinema 4D, Maya | OBJ + MTL | Classic mesh interchange with materials and textures. |
| Three.js, Babylon.js, web viewers, AR | GLB | The web 3D standard. Single file, full PBR. |
| 3D printing | STL | What every slicer expects. Geometry only. |
| Renderer (V-Ray, Corona, Cycles) | GLB or OBJ + MTL | GLB carries PBR; OBJ + MTL is the universal fallback. |
| Client emails / slide decks / Pinterest | PNG | Free. Looks great. |
| A fabricator or cabinetmaker who wants drawings | STEP (geometry) + PNG (intent) | STEP for the dimensions and per-surface colors; PNG so they know what you mean. |
What's free vs paid
| Format | Free for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Everyone, always | Free |
| All others (STEP, DXF, GLB, DAE, OBJ, STL) | Users who have topped up at least once | Free once unlocked |
The first time you click any non-PNG export, a paywall dialog appears explaining the gate. If you have not signed in, it walks you through Google sign-in. If you are signed in but on the free trial, it walks you through a top-up. Minimum top-up is $10 = 1,000 credits (see Top-up).
Once you've topped up once, the gate is open for life — there is no recurring subscription, no expiry, no per-export charge. The export itself is always free; the gate is a one-time check.
What travels between formats
Not every format carries every detail. The columns below say what survives:
| Format | Geometry | Color | Textures | Parametric | Animation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP | ✓ (B-rep solid) | ✓ (per surface) | ✗ | ✗ (baked) | ✗ |
| DXF | ✓ (3DFACE triangles) | ✓ (per layer, true RGB) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| GLB | ✓ (mesh) | ✓ | ✓ (full PBR) | ✗ | ✗ |
| DAE | ✓ (mesh) | ✓ (diffuse) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| OBJ + MTL | ✓ (mesh) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| STL | ✓ (mesh) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| PNG | ✗ (pixels) | ✓ (rendered) | ✓ (rendered) | ✗ | ✗ |
Nothing exports "parametric." Your sliders live in Prompt2CAD; the exported file is the geometry at whatever values were set when you hit Export. To send the same piece in two sizes, export it twice — drag the slider in between.
Units
| Format | Units |
|---|---|
| STEP | Millimeters |
| DXF | Millimeters ($INSUNITS = 4) |
| GLB, OBJ, DAE, STL | Meters |
| PNG | Pixels |
Everything inside Prompt2CAD is meters; the CAD exporters do the meters → millimeters conversion automatically. If your downstream tool reads the file as meters when it should be millimeters (or vice versa), check its import dialog — most CAD tools have a units override on import.
File naming
Exports are named <project-name>.<ext> — or <project-name>_<file>.<ext> if you have multiple files in the project. OBJ exports are bundled with their MTL companion into a single .zip.
Commercial use and third-party IP
Designs you export are yours. AI output, however, can sometimes resemble an existing protected design, trademark, or registered industrial design closely enough to create a problem. Before publishing, manufacturing, or selling anything Prompt2CAD generated, it is on you to check for third-party IP conflicts in your jurisdiction. See the Terms of Service §6 and §11 for the full picture. For anything load-bearing, pressure-holding, or code-regulated, get the design reviewed by a qualified professional before fabrication.
Per-format pages
- STEP — parametric CAD, Fusion / SolidWorks / FreeCAD.
- DXF — AutoCAD, CAM, CNC.
- OBJ + MTL — Blender and the classic mesh tools.
- GLB, DAE, STL — web 3D, SketchUp Free, 3D printing.