← All tutorials // 39 Save & export

Save / Save As / autosave.

On Chromium, after one Save As, every save is silent — no dialog, no clicks. Browser asks once; Layerpaint never bothers you again.

// What it does

Save As… (Ctrl+Shift+S) opens a file picker the first time. Pick a folder and filename. On Chromium, Layerpaint uses the File System Access API, so subsequent saves write the file silently in place. Other browsers fall back to a Blob download.

Save (Ctrl+S) writes to the current file.

Autosave toggle in the panel footer with a minutes input (default 3). Layerpaint runs Save automatically every N minutes.

.layerpaint files are gzipped JSON containing the welded mesh, all paint state, boundaries, palette, and symmetry. Re-opening restores everything exactly.

// When to use it
  • Save As at the start of any meaningful session.
  • Save (Ctrl+S) every 5 minutes at minimum, or rely on autosave.
  • Autosave on for longer sessions — silent on Chromium, costs nothing.
  • Always save .layerpaint files, not just exported 3MFs. The 3MF doesn't preserve auto-partition state, brush settings, or palette names.
// How to use it
  1. Type a project name in the top-bar input.
  2. Save As… (Ctrl+Shift+S) — pick a folder. Browser asks once; grant permission.
  3. Save (Ctrl+S) — silent updates thereafter on Chromium.
  4. Toggle Autosave in the panel footer. Set interval (default 3 min).
  5. Reload: drag the saved .layerpaint file back onto the viewport — full restore.
// Tips
  • Browser asking on every save? FSA permission denied or non-Chromium browser. Firefox/Safari fall back to Blob download.
  • file:// origin doesn't have FSA — use a local server or layerpaint.app.
  • Don't conflate 3MF with project file. Always save a .layerpaint alongside any export.

Try save / save as / autosave on the demo robot.

Open the painter and have a play.

Open the painter →