Export settings
EXPORT RENDER, near the right end of the toolbar, renders a still image and saves it as a PNG, JPEG or TIFF file. EXPORT TURNTABLE saves the camera circling the scene as an MP4 video, a GIF or a folder of PNG frames, and EXPORT LOOP, in the PLAYBACK column of Loop Studio, saves a Loop Studio animation in the same formats. In the full version, the EXPORT menu in the toolbar saves the selected objects as geometry. The look of each rendered picture comes from the settings in Render settings.
EXPORT RENDER
Click EXPORT RENDER in the toolbar, or choose EXPORT RENDER in the command palette. The sheet shows SIZE, FORMAT, BACKGROUND and RENDER SETTINGS, in that order. Orbit keeps the size, format, quality, background and pixel scale chosen here in its preferences, so the sheet opens with them the next time, in any scene.
| Label | Values and default | Effect | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIZE | 320 × 240, 640 × 480, 1920 × 1080, 2560 × 1440, 3840 × 2160, CUSTOM. Default 1920 × 1080. | The width and height of the render in pixels. Clicking a fixed size also copies it into W and H. | Always |
| W, H | Numbers in pixels. Default 1920 and 1080. | The size of a CUSTOM render. When the render starts, each side is held between 100 and 8000 pixels. | While CUSTOM is selected |
| PIXEL SCALE | ×1, ×2, ×3, ×4, ×6. Default ×1. | Saves the file larger than the render by turning each pixel into a square block, 2 to 6 pixels wide. The render and the picture in the sheet stay at SIZE. Above ×1, a caption such as SAVES AT 1920 × 1440 gives the size of the file. | A scale that would make either side of the file larger than 8192 pixels is dimmed, and its tooltip reads "Over 8192 px per side at this size." |
| FORMAT | PNG, JPEG, TIFF. Default PNG. | The file type SAVE IMAGE writes. PNG and TIFF keep every pixel as rendered, and TIFF files are the largest. JPEG discards fine detail for a smaller file. | While TRANSPARENT is chosen, a click on JPEG or TIFF leaves PNG selected and shows TRANSPARENT BACKGROUND REQUIRES PNG. FORMAT UNCHANGED. |
| QUALITY | 0 to 1. Default 0.92. | The amount of detail a JPEG keeps. A lower value makes a smaller file. | While JPEG is selected |
| BACKGROUND | SCENE BACKGROUND, TRANSPARENT. Default SCENE BACKGROUND. | TRANSPARENT leaves the sky and the ground plane out from behind the objects, so the file has a clear background. Objects keep their lighting and highlights, and reflective surfaces still reflect the sky and the ground. A caption below says so. | Choosing TRANSPARENT with JPEG or TIFF selected switches the format to PNG and shows TRANSPARENT BACKGROUND REQUIRES PNG. FORMAT CHANGED AUTOMATICALLY. Turntables and loops never use it. |
| RENDER SETTINGS | Five summary rows, described below | Shows the look the render will use | Always |
| EDIT RENDER SETTINGS… | Button | Opens RENDER SETTINGS on top of this sheet | Always |
| CANCEL | Button, Esc | Closes the sheet, or stops the render while one is running | Before the picture is finished |
| RENDER | Button, Return | Starts the render. The label reads RENDERING… until it finishes. | Dimmed while a render runs and while the scene has no objects. Lights alone do not count. |
The rows under RENDER SETTINGS show their values in mixed case.
| Row | Shows |
|---|---|
| PRESET | The name of the look, such as "Chrome 2000". RAY '95 appears as "Raytrace '95", and settings that match no look as "Custom". |
| SHADING | SPECULAR, REFLECTION and REFL DEPTH, as in "Blinn-Phong · Schlick refl · depth 2" |
| OUTPUT | GAMMA and ANTI-ALIASING, as in "Corrected gamma · AA off", with "· dither" added when DITHER is not NONE |
| EFFECTS | Whether ambient occlusion, glow and depth of field are on, as in "AO off · Glow off · DoF off". Lens flare is not listed. |
| GEOMETRY | The number of triangles the render will trace, such as 12.3K TRIS, counting each copy of an array. · ARRAYS EXPANDED follows when the scene has an array turned on. |
When the triangles Orbit has to prepare for the render pass one million, a line in amber warns that the render will wait at BUILDING SCENE before the first tile appears. A large array counts its original object once toward that figure, so GEOMETRY can read higher without the warning.
After RENDER, the sheet shows BUILDING SCENE… while Orbit prepares the scene, then RENDERING with a percentage as the picture fills in. When it finishes, a line under the picture gives the size, the look, the format and the render time, and the footer holds two buttons.
| Label | Effect |
|---|---|
| BACK TO SETTINGS | Discards the finished picture and returns to the settings |
| SAVE IMAGE | Return. Opens a save panel for the file, enlarged by PIXEL SCALE at this point. |
The X in the header stops any render in progress and closes the sheet. Render and save an image lists the steps.
EXPORT TURNTABLE
Choose File ▸ Export Turntable… (⇧⌘E), choose EXPORT TURNTABLE… at the bottom of the menu beside ORBIT in the controls panel of the viewport, or choose EXPORT TURNTABLE in the command palette. The camera circles the point it is aimed at once, starting from the current view, at its current height and distance. Frame 0 is not repeated at the end, so the file can play on a loop without a jump.
While the sheet is open, the viewport outlines the area the selected preset records and dims the rest, whether RENDER FRAME is on or off. The preset, PIXEL SCALE and the overrides return to their defaults each time the sheet opens.
PRESET
The preset sets the format, the size and the number of frames. MP4 1080p (1920 × 1080) is selected when the sheet opens.
| Preset | Format | Frames | Frames per second | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIF SMALL (320 × 320) | GIF | 96 | 24 | 4.00 s |
| GIF MEDIUM (480 × 480) | GIF | 120 | 24 | 5.00 s |
| MP4 240 SD (320 × 240) | MP4 | 180 | 30 | 6.00 s |
| MP4 480 SD (640 × 480) | MP4 | 180 | 30 | 6.00 s |
| MP4 720² (720 × 720) | MP4 | 180 | 30 | 6.00 s |
| MP4 1080² (1080 × 1080) | MP4 | 240 | 30 | 8.00 s |
| MP4 720p (1280 × 720) | MP4 | 180 | 30 | 6.00 s |
| MP4 1080p (1920 × 1080) | MP4 | 240 | 30 | 8.00 s |
| PNG FRAMES (640 × 480) | Folder of PNG files | 180 | 30 | 6.00 s |
| PNG FRAMES (1920 × 1080) | Folder of PNG files | 240 | 30 | 8.00 s |
An MP4 file is H.264 video. A GIF holds up to 256 colors in each frame, chosen separately for every frame, and repeats without end. PNG FRAMES writes a folder of numbered pictures, frame_0000.png, frame_0001.png and so on, each at the size of the preset.
Other controls
| Label | Values and default | Effect | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIXEL SCALE | ×1, ×2, ×3, ×4, ×6. Default ×1. | Enlarges each frame by turning its pixels into square blocks before the MP4 or GIF is encoded. Above ×1, the line below gives the encoded size, such as "Encodes at 1920 × 1440. Each render pixel becomes a 3 × 3 block." | A scale past 8192 pixels on either side is dimmed. PNG frames are always saved at ×1, whatever is selected. |
| SETTINGS | FRAMES, OUTPUT FPS, LOOP DURATION, DIMENSIONS, ESTIMATED | Summarizes the export. ESTIMATED is a rough time from the size, the frames and the number of objects and lights; it leaves out the look, ANTI-ALIASING and the effects. | Always |
| RENDER SETTINGS | The block described under The RENDER SETTINGS block | Shows and changes the look | Always |
| SHOW OVERRIDES, under ADVANCED | Closed | Opens FRAME COUNT and FPS and sets them to the values of the selected preset. The label then reads HIDE OVERRIDES, and closing it returns the export to the preset's values. | Always |
| FRAME COUNT | 12 to 360. Default the preset's frame count. | The number of frames in one turn. More frames turn the camera more slowly and make a longer file. | While the overrides are open |
| FPS | 24, 30, 60. Default the preset's rate. | The frame rate of the video. Water, wind and other effects that move over time advance by one frame's time at this rate. | While the overrides are open and an MP4 preset is selected. Other presets show GIF FPS LOCKED AT 24 · LEGACY DECODER COMPATIBILITY; the PNG FRAMES presets still export at 30. |
| CANCEL | Button | Closes the sheet | Before an export starts |
| EXPORT… | Button | Opens a save panel titled "Export Turntable", then renders. A PNG FRAMES preset names a folder. | Before an export starts |
During the export, the sheet counts frames as FRAME 12 OF 240 and shows the time left as ~1m 3s REMAINING, or ESTIMATING… until the first frame is done. CANCEL stops the export, and so does the X in the header (Esc), which also closes the sheet. The export ends with one of three messages.
| Message | What follows |
|---|---|
| EXPORT COMPLETE | The file name and size, SHOW IN FINDER, OPEN and DONE |
| EXPORT CANCELLED | "No partial file written." and DONE |
| EXPORT FAILED | The reason, such as a frame that could not be written, and DONE |
A file of the same name at the chosen place is replaced only when the export succeeds. The export takes the render settings as they are when it starts, so later changes in RENDER SETTINGS do not reach it. Turntables have no depth of field and no transparent background. Export a turntable gives the procedure.
EXPORT LOOP
In Loop Studio, EXPORT LOOP is at the bottom of the PLAYBACK column, to the right of the viewport. It offers the same ten presets as EXPORT TURNTABLE, and a click on one opens a save panel titled "Export Loop" and starts that export. Playback stops first.
The length of the file is the loop's DURATION, 2 to 60 seconds and 6.00 s unless changed. The number of frames is the duration times the frame rate, rounded to a whole frame. GIF presets run at 24 frames per second and the MP4 and PNG FRAMES presets at 30, with no way to change the rate here. A 6 second loop has 144 frames as a GIF and 180 frames otherwise.
| Label | Values and default | Effect | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRAMING | SQUARE, 4:3, WIDESCREEN. Default SQUARE. | Sets the shape of the frame in the viewport and puts a small square beside each preset of that shape. The presets still export at their own sizes. | Always |
| RENDER SETTINGS | The block described under The RENDER SETTINGS block | Shows and changes the look | Always |
| The ten presets | See the table under EXPORT TURNTABLE | Each one exports the loop in its format and size | Gray while the scene has no lanes and nothing that moves over time, such as moving water, glowing motes or plants swaying in the wind |
| PIXEL SCALE | ×1, ×2, ×3, ×4, ×6. Default ×1. | Enlarges each frame into square blocks before the GIF or MP4 is encoded. PNG frames stay at ×1. | While no export runs. A preset that the scale would push past 8192 pixels shows CAPPED ×4 or a similar badge and exports at that smaller scale. At ×6 this happens to MP4 1080p (1920 × 1080). |
PIXEL SCALE is not stored with the scene or in Orbit's preferences. FRAMING and DURATION are saved with the scene once it has a lane; Loop Studio controls lists them with the rest of the column.
While a loop exports, the column shows the frames done and the percentage, such as "36 / 180 frames · 20%", with an estimate of the time left and a CANCEL button that deletes the partial file. Afterward a line gives the file name, the reason for a failure or Cancelled. Like a turntable, a loop takes the scene and the render settings as they are when it starts, and it has no depth of field or transparent background. To export one, follow Export a loop.
The RENDER SETTINGS block
EXPORT TURNTABLE and the PLAYBACK column share a compact block headed RENDER SETTINGS. From the top, it holds these controls.
| Label | Effect |
|---|---|
| LOOK | Five buttons, RAY '95, TERRA '96, GLIDE '99, CHROME 2000 and RADIOSITY '96, that apply a look as the PRESET row in RENDER SETTINGS does. TERRA '96 can raise the TERRA PAIRS WITH FOG banner. |
| PRESET, SHADING, OUTPUT, EFFECTS | The summary rows described under EXPORT RENDER, without GEOMETRY |
| WIREFRAME | The same setting as WIREFRAME MODE. While it is on, swatches for the line color and the background and a WIDTH slider from 0.5 to 8 appear. The background swatch is hidden while TRANSPARENT is chosen for stills, though the export still uses its color. |
| EDIT RENDER SETTINGS… | Opens the full RENDER SETTINGS sheet |
Wireframe exports
With WIREFRAME MODE on in RENDER SETTINGS, or WIREFRAME checked in the block above, EXPORT RENDER, turntables and loops draw the edges of objects as lines in place of a traced picture. A still can have a transparent background. Turntables and loops always fill the background with the BACKGROUND color. The look, depth of field and glow do not apply to a line drawing, and water is not drawn. See Export a wireframe drawing.
Geometry export
Geometry export saves the selected objects as a file for Orbit or for another 3D program. It needs the full version. The toolbar's EXPORT menu has SELECTED AS OBJECT… and SELECTED AS OBJ (.OBJ)…, the File menu has Export Selected as Object… and Export Selected as OBJ…, and the command palette lists EXPORT SELECTED AS OBJECT… and EXPORT SELECTED AS OBJ… while something is selected.
| Command | File | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| SELECTED AS OBJECT… | .orbitobj | The selected objects and the members of selected groups, with their settings, deformers, materials and smoothing, ready to import into another Orbit scene. Group membership is not kept. Image textures are stored in the file; one that cannot be read is named in a warning. |
| SELECTED AS OBJ (.OBJ)… | .obj | Triangles with their normals, placed as they sit in the scene, with deformers, arrays and transforms applied. The file has no texture coordinates and no materials. Water, emitters and hidden objects are left out and named in a warning. |
Lights are never exported.
| Where | Availability |
|---|---|
| EXPORT in the toolbar | Dimmed in the free version, with the tooltip "Geometry export needs the full version. Renders and turntables stay free with a watermark." Also dimmed while no object or group is selected. |
| SELECTED AS OBJ (.OBJ)… | Dimmed when the selection holds only water or emitters, which have no mesh |
| The File menu commands | Grayed out in the free version. With nothing exportable selected, they make the Mac beep. |
| The command palette commands | In the free version they show an alert with the same message as the toolbar tooltip. |
Import and export objects covers both directions.
Default file names
Each save panel suggests a name that includes the date and time, written as in 20260929-142530, so exports do not overwrite one another.
| Output | Suggested name |
|---|---|
| EXPORT RENDER | orbit-render- with the date and time, ending in .png, .jpg or .tif |
| Turntable, GIF presets | Orbit-Turntable- with the date and time, ending in .gif |
| Turntable, MP4 presets | Orbit-Turntable-SD-, Orbit-Turntable-Square- or Orbit-Turntable-Wide- by shape, with the date and time, ending in .mp4 |
| Turntable, PNG FRAMES | A folder named Orbit-Turntable-Frames- with the date and time |
| Loop | The turntable names with Animation in place of Turntable, such as Orbit-Animation-Wide- for a widescreen MP4 |
.orbitobj | The object's name for one object, otherwise Objects- with the date and time |
.obj | The object's name for one object, otherwise Objects.obj |
Marks in the free version
In the free version, rendered files carry two marks, Made with Orbit 3D in the bottom right corner and Get Orbit 3D at www.orbit-3d.com across the middle. They are drawn into the picture before PIXEL SCALE enlarges it, so they grow with it.
| Output | Marks |
|---|---|
| Stills from EXPORT RENDER, wireframe drawings included | Both, also in the picture shown in the sheet |
| Turntables | Both, in every format |
| Loop Studio exports | Both, in every format |
| Geometry | No file. Geometry export is off. |
A mark wider than the picture is left out. The free and full versions shows the marks and lists the other places they appear.
Related: Render settings, Prepare renders for video and social media, Frame the shot and Loop Studio controls.