On this page
Click Menu, then Save as. Choose Paint 3D project to keep your work editable. Choose Image for a picture file, 3D model for a GLB or 3MF file, or Video for an animated clip. Use PNG for images with a see-through background, and JPEG for photos you want small.
This guide shows how to save in Paint 3D for every job, which format to pick, and the one limit that trips up 3D printing fans.
The two ways to save
Click Menu at the top left, then Save as. The page splits into two groups.
Save in Paint 3D project keeps everything editable. The app's own note says "You'll be able to edit this project in Paint 3D later." Your 3D objects stay separate, and you can come back and change them. A Name your project box opens. Type a name and click Save in Paint 3D. The app keeps the project inside its own storage rather than in a folder you pick. Our guide on where Paint 3D files are saved shows where that is.
Save as copy makes a normal file you can share or open in other apps. It has three choices: Image, 3D model and Video. A copy is a snapshot. It does not replace your project.
The best habit is to do both. Save a project so you can edit later, and save a copy in the format you need today.
Save as an image
- Click Menu, Save as, then Image.
- Open the Save as type list at the top right and pick a format.
- Check the preview. Change Width and Height under Preview if you want a smaller or bigger copy.
- Click Save, then choose a folder and a file name.
Which image format to pick:
| Format | Best for | See-through background |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Logos, cutouts, screenshots, anything with sharp edges or a see-through background | Yes, with Transparency ticked |
| JPEG | Photos you want to share or upload at a small file size | No, the format cannot store it |
| BMP | Old programs that ask for it. Files are large | Use PNG instead |
| GIF | Simple graphics with few colors. GIF holds a limited range of colors, so photos look rough | Use PNG instead |
| TIFF | Printing and archiving at full quality | Use PNG instead |
For a see-through background, pick PNG and make sure Transparency is ticked. The box sits under Preview. Our guide to a transparent background in Paint 3D covers the full setup.
The top left of this screen shows the size of the file and the picture. If you have 3D objects in the scene, Adjust angle & framing lets you pick the view that gets saved.
Save as a 3D model
- Click Menu, Save as, then 3D model.
- A Windows save window opens. In Save as type, choose GLB or 3MF.
- Pick a folder and a name, and click Save.
Those are the only two 3D formats the app can save:
- GLB is a single-file version of the glTF format. Web viewers, game engines and most modern 3D apps open it.
- 3MF is a format made for 3D printing. Use it when you want to print your model.
It cannot save FBX, OBJ or STL. If you need one of those, save as GLB, open the GLB in a free 3D app such as Blender, and export it from there. Our list of Paint 3D alternatives includes free options that can do this.
One more change worth knowing. Microsoft's 3D Viewer app was removed from the Microsoft Store too. To view your 3D files, open them in the app itself or in another 3D program.
Save as a video
Click Menu, Save as, then Video. Pick one of six animations, set the speed and the number of loops, and choose MP4 (video) or GIF (video). Our Paint 3D animation guide explains each setting.
What Paint 3D can open, and what it cannot save
The app opens more formats than it saves. This is where most confusion comes from.
| Can open | Can save | |
|---|---|---|
| Images | BMP, DIB, GIF, ICO, JFIF, JPE, JPEG, JPG, PNG, TIF, TIFF | PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF |
| 3D models | 3MF, FBX, OBJ, STL, PLY, GLB | GLB, 3MF |
| Video | None | MP4, GIF |
So you can bring in an STL or FBX file with Menu, then Open or Insert. When you save it, though, it comes out as GLB or 3MF.
A save routine that protects your work
The app gets no more updates, so it is worth being careful with anything you care about.
- Save a project early. As soon as a piece matters to you, save it as a Paint 3D project and give it a clear name.
- Save again as you go. Do it after every big step, such as adding a model or finishing a cutout.
- Keep an outside copy. Projects live inside the app. Export the finished result as a PNG or GLB into a normal folder too, so it survives even if the app is reset or removed.
- Keep the 3D version. If your scene has 3D objects, a GLB copy keeps them usable in other 3D apps, long after an image would have flattened them.
The Menu also has Print, which in the app's words lets you "choose a printer and print your work", and Share.
Common problems
My background turned white in the saved file. You saved as JPEG, or Transparency was not ticked. Save again as PNG with Transparency ticked.
I cannot find FBX, OBJ or STL in the list. The app does not save those formats. Save as GLB and convert it in another app.
I saved an image, and now my objects are stuck together. An image is always flat. Reopen your Paint 3D project if you saved one. If you did not, the separate objects cannot be recovered from the image.
I cannot find my saved project. Projects live inside the app's own folder, not in your Documents or Downloads folder. See our guide on where Paint 3D files are saved. If a project seems to have vanished, our guide to recovering lost projects may help.
FAQ
Where does a saved copy go?
Wherever you choose. Images, 3D models and videos open a normal Windows save window, so you pick the folder and the name. Only projects are kept inside the app.
Can Paint 3D export STL for 3D printing?
No. It saves 3MF instead, which is a format made for 3D printing. If your printer software needs STL, convert the file in another 3D app.
Does Paint 3D support GLB files?
Yes. It can open GLB files and save your scene as GLB.
Why is FBX not in the export list?
The app can open FBX files but was never able to save them. The only 3D formats it saves are GLB and 3MF.
How do I save a smaller file?
Lower the Width and Height under Preview in the image save screen, or pick JPEG for photos. The top left of the screen shows the file size before you save. Our guide on how to resize an image in Paint 3D covers every resize option.
Which format keeps my work editable?
Only a Paint 3D project. Every other format saves a finished copy.
Spotted something that does not match your screen? Email [email protected].
