# STL Import option in v 3.14

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [May 30, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810 "2019-05-30T19:47:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fillister](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/fillister/32/3300_2.png) [@Fillister](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Fillister)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/1 "2019-05-30T19:47:44Z")

</div>

Really excited about the ability to import the STL format in the latest 3.14 update.

I noticed the Supported Formats screen now shows a green check next to stl in the import column and also shows “reference only”. I expect this otherwise might be referred to as “Read Only” in that the underlying geometry in the STL file is brought into SHAPR and that point becomes basis for a SHAPR file.

An export to STL would create a new STL file from the native SHAPR file data. All work is done in SHAPR and none of the original STL is maintained inside of SHAPR. Am I understanding correctly?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/2 "2019-05-30T19:56:02Z")

</div>

Hi Fillister and welcome to the forum 🙂

The STL file format is a mesh based file format, that means that it’s not “proper CAD data”, just a bunch of triangles. A fairly good comparison would be vector graphics compares vs. raster graphics = CAD data vs. mesh data.

This is why it’s not possible to edit STL files like other data, because it’s a “lossy” file format. However in future releases you will be able to mix mesh bodies and CAD bodies (boundary representation is the technical term for it) in Shapr.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fillister](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/fillister/32/3300_2.png) [@Fillister](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Fillister)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/3 "2019-05-30T19:59:43Z")

</div>

Thank you. The reply is appreciated.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bizzaro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/bizzaro/32/3854_2.png) [@Bizzaro](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bizzaro)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/4 "2019-06-08T01:17:35Z")

</div>

I noticed talk of meshes in 3.15. Are we able to alter the .stl files with the current release or no?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DanielR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/danielr/32/582_2.png) [@DanielR](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DanielR)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/5 "2019-06-08T02:10:29Z")

</div>

You can do booleans. subtract, union and intersect them with solids. The result will be always mesh.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bizzaro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/bizzaro/32/3854_2.png) [@Bizzaro](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Bizzaro)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-import-option-in-v-3-14/4810/6 "2019-06-08T03:04:22Z")

</div>

The problem is I need to make a shell. If I have to do that as a subtraction method, which is not ideal, I will just use tinkercad for that.