Mathematica Import/Export Format

POV (.pov)

MIME type: model/x-pov
POV-Ray 3D scene description language and format.
Used for storing 3D models and scene descriptions.
Native file format of the POV-Ray raytracing software.
POV-Ray is an acronym derived from Persistence of Vision Raytracer.
Plain text ASCII format.
Uses the syntax of the POV-Ray scripting language.

Export supports the POV format Version 3.6.

EXPORT

Export["file.pov", expr] exports a Graphics3D object to a POV file.

Export["file.pov", expr, elem] creates a POV file by treating expr as specifying element elem.

Export["file.pov", {expr₁, expr₂, ...}, {elem₁, elem₂, ...}] treats each expr_i as specifying the corresponding elem_i.

Export["file.pov", expr, opt₁->val₁] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.

Export["file.pov", {elem₁->expr₁, elem₂->expr₂, ...}, "Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.

See the reference pages for full general information on Export.

ExportString supports the POV format.

ELEMENTS

Data representation elements:

	"Graphics3D"	POV file containing 3D geometries, represented as a Graphics3D object
	"GraphicsComplex"	list of GraphicsComplex objects, each representing a geometry stored in the file
	"LineData"	lines represented as lists of indices, referencing the vertices as given by the "VertexData" element
	"LineObjects"	list of Line primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"PointData"	point data in indexed form
	"PointObjects"	list of Point primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"PolygonData"	polygon data in indexed form
	"PolygonObjects"	list of Polygon primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"VertexData"	list of vertex coordinates

Export uses the "Graphics3D" element by default.

OPTIONS

Advanced option:

"VerticalAxis"

{0,0,1}

orientation to assume for the coordinate system used in the file

By default, Mathematica assumes that in the coordinate system used by the POV format the vertical axis corresponds to the third coordinate.

With the setting "VerticalAxis"->{0, 1, 0}, Mathematica will apply the transformation {x, y, z}->{x, z, -y} to all graphics coordinates when exporting to POV.