---
title: "Alembic Export Settings"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/FALEMBICEXPORT-ABCEXPORT_GROUP.html"
section_path: "Configuration > Preferences > Import/Export > Alembic > Alembic Export Settings > Alembic Export Settings"
element_id: "FALEMBICEXPORT"
group_id: "ABCEXPORT_GROUP"
description: "This factor can be found at numerous locations throughout Cinema 4D when importing or exporting foreign formats. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the term …"
---

## Alembic Export Settings

### Scale

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_SCALE`

This factor can be found at numerous locations throughout Cinema 4D when importing or exporting foreign formats. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the term ,export’ is used if this factor is seen in an import function (this factor is explained as a whole here).

This factor lets you scale files upon import/export, i.e., practically all relevant numerical values saved in the file or those to be saved will be multiplied by this factor and then saved - or interpreted when loaded.

The unit at the right in turn defines how upon

- **Import** the numerical value saved in the file is converted to the current Cinema 4D unit. Example: if an X value of 1 is saved in the file and you define Feet, the X value will be converted to 30.48 cm in Cinema 4D (if centimeters are defined by default in Cinema 4D).
- **Export** numerical values are saved in the file. Example: an X value is set to 100 cm in Cinema 4D. If you define Feet for export, the exported file will save a numerical value of 3.281 (1 meter = 3.281 feet).

More information about units and scaling can be found in the [Project Scale](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/DDOC-DOCUMENT_GROUP_PROJECTSETTINGS.html.md) section.

### Selection Only

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_SELECTION_ONLY`

If enabled, only the selected objects and their Child objects will be exported.

### Global Coordinates

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_GLOBAL_MATRIX`

Selected objects will be saved with global coordinates (instead of local or Parent object coordinates, as is common for hierarchical objects).

### Cameras

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_CAMERAS`

All cameras in the Project will be exported.

### XRefs

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_XREFS`

Enable this option if you also want to export XRefs. If this option is disabled, the entire XRef hierarchy will be excluded (incl. all non-XRef objects in the hierarchy).

### Subdivision Surface

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_HYPERNURBS`

If enabled, the Subdivision Surfaces will be exported as low-res SDS objects (Alembic can read these). If disabled, the Subdivision Surfaces will be exported as subdivided mesh (as if you had made it editable).

### Subdivision Surface Weights

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_SDS_WEIGHTS`

Enable this option if you want to export Subdivision Surface Weighting.

### Splines (Curves)

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_SPLINES`

If enabled, all Splines in the Project will be exported, including their Vertex Maps and Vertex Colors, if available (as described in the Alembic section's Curves description) .

### Hair (Curves)

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_HAIR`

If enabled, a Hair object's Guides will be exported as Splines (curves). If the Hair object's [Type](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OHAIR-HAIRSTYLE_GROUP_RENDER.html.md) is set to Spline, the hairs can also be exported as curves.

### Particles

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_PARTICLES`

If enabled, all particles (without the related geometry) will be exported as vertex objects.

Note that the allocation into groups upon export will be made according to the assigned TP geometry objects.

### Particles (Geometry)

Parameter ID: `ABCEXPORT_PARTICLE_GEOMETRY`

Enable this option if you want to export the particles together with any related polygonal objects (only these will be rendered). When using Thinking Particles, make sure that you assign geometry using [TP Geometry](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/TP_PARTICLEGEOMETRY.html.md). This will ensure that subsequent Alembic imports will work better.