Render Rhino 3DM jewelry files online

Why upload 3DM directly

Every export step is a chance to lose something. Converting a Rhino model to STL throws away layer names, and converting it to OBJ can split or merge parts in unexpected ways. Uploading the 3DM file itself keeps your model the way you organised it in Rhino, with the layer structure you already use to sort metal, stones and settings.

MatrixGold is built on Rhino and saves the same 3DM format, so MatrixGold designs upload the same way. Files can be up to 200 MB.

What the studio reads from a 3DM file

• Surfaces and polysurfaces, through the render meshes Rhino stores with them.
• Mesh objects, exactly as they are.
• Layer names, which decide whether a part starts as metal or as a stone.

Curves, points, dimensions and annotation are construction helpers, so they are not part of the render. You do not need to hide or delete them before uploading.

Save with render meshes

This is the single most important tip for 3DM files. Rhino displays surfaces by creating render meshes, and it saves those meshes inside the file. The studio uses these stored meshes. If a file was saved with File, Save Small, or the meshes were stripped, some surfaces have nothing to display and can appear to be missing.

Before you save for upload:

1. Switch a viewport to Shaded or Rendered mode so Rhino builds render meshes for every object.
2. Save with File, Save or Save As, not Save Small.
3. If a part is missing in the studio, open the file in Rhino, shade it, save it again and upload the new copy.

Mesh quality matters too. In Document Properties, Mesh, the Smooth and slower option gives round shanks and bezels clean curves. Jagged and faster settings can make a polished band look faceted in a close-up.

Name layers for automatic stones

When a 3DM model opens, the studio reads each layer name. Names that contain Diamond, Gem, Stone, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Opal, Topaz, Garnet, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Tanzanite, Center stone, Side stone, Pavé or Halo are treated as stones. Every other layer starts as metal.

A layer named Ruby or Sapphire is still only a hint. You choose the exact gem material afterwards in the Gem panel.

Keep files light

Large 3DM files are usually large because of history, hidden helper objects or very dense render meshes, not because of the jewelry itself. To slim a file down:

• Delete hidden construction objects and unused layers.
• Run the Purge command to remove unused blocks, materials and layers.
• Keep render mesh settings at Smooth and slower rather than extreme custom values.
• For very heavy pavé, consider exporting a GLB of the final model instead.

Units and scale

Most jewelry CAD is modelled in millimetres, and that is the right choice for production. For rendering, units do not matter. The studio frames the camera around the model automatically, so a 2 mm stud and a 60 mm pendant both fill the frame. Use the Scale control in the Position panel if you want pieces in a collection to appear at a consistent relative size.

When to export GLB instead

Upload GLB rather than 3DM when the 3DM file is over the 200 MB limit, when render meshes keep coming out faceted, or when someone else prepared the model in another tool. Recent Rhino versions can export GLB directly. See our GLB format page and the Rhino workflow.

Workflow from Rhino to finished render

Model in Rhino or MatrixGold, put stones on clearly named layers, shade the viewport, save, then upload the 3DM file. Open it in the studio, check that the stones picked up gem materials, choose a metal, lighting, background and pose, and export. Read the Rhino to render workflow guide for a detailed checklist.