Exporting

Click the Share button in the toolbar to export your model. Gantry offers two export modes — choose the one that matches how the file will be used next.

Export Modes

Export (Preserve Authorship)

Writes the asset preserving its original USD composition — layers, references, payloads, and variants are kept intact. The resulting file can be re-imported into DCC tools and round-tripped without losing structure.

Use this when:

• You plan to continue editing the file in another application
• The asset uses USD variants or references you want to keep
• You are passing the file to another person in the same pipeline

Export Flattened

Collapses all USD composition into a single layer and embeds all referenced assets (textures, sub-layers) into one self-contained file. References and layer structure are removed.

Use this when:

• You are delivering a final asset for distribution or deployment
• The recipient doesn’t need to understand the internal structure
• You want a single portable file with no external dependencies

Flattening is one-way

A flattened export cannot be unflattened. If you may need to edit the asset again, keep a copy in Preserve Authorship form first.

Export Formats

Format	Extension	Description
USDZ Archive	.usdz	Self-contained ZIP-based archive. Best for Apple platforms, AR Quick Look, and Reality Composer Pro.
USD (auto)	.usd	Gantry chooses ASCII or binary encoding based on content.
USD ASCII	.usda	Human-readable text. Useful for inspection and version control.
USD Binary	.usdc	Compact binary (Crate format). Smaller file size, faster to load.

Texture Optimization

Before or during export you can optimize the textures embedded in your asset — controlling output format, compression quality, maximum resolution, and mipmap generation. See Optimizing Textures for the full workflow.

Sharing directly

The Share button also surfaces standard macOS sharing services — you can send the exported file directly to Messages, Mail, or AirDrop without saving to disk first.

Export to Image

Gantry can capture the current viewport as an image, letting you share a screenshot of your model without exporting the full 3D asset.

Choose File → Export to Image and pick an orientation. The image is saved at the viewport’s current resolution with the active environment lighting and background. Use this to share previews, create promotional shots, or document how a model looks before committing to a full USDZ export.

Set your environment and orientation first

Position and light the model in the viewport before exporting to image. The environment, exposure, and rotation settings all apply to the captured frame.

Best Practices

• Use USDZ + Export Flattened for sharing with Apple users or deploying to AR workflows
• Use USD + Preserve Authorship for continued editing in other 3D applications
• Run texture optimization before a final USDZ export to reduce file size for RealityKit delivery