---
title: "Alembic Import Settings"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/FALEMBICIMPORT.html"
section_path: "Configuration > Preferences > Import/Export > Alembic > Alembic Import Settings"
element_id: "FALEMBICIMPORT"
description: "This page refers to the Alembic (.abc) import settings in Cinema 4D. They control how cached geometry and animation from other applications are brought in …"
---

# Alembic Import Settings

> **Note:** **What is it about?**
>
> This page refers to the **Alembic (.abc) import settings** in **Cinema 4D**. They control how cached geometry and animation from other applications are brought in — as referenced Alembic objects or editable geometry.

The following elements can be imported:

- Meshes with UV coordinates (when using multiple UV sets, these should each have unique names), polygon selections (FaceSets) and Normals (vertex and polygon Normals)
- Curves can be imported either as segmented Splines or as Hair objects (as long as all segments have the same size). Importing as Splines also supports Vertex Maps/Colors.
- Cameras
- Points / Particles are imported using a Thinking Particles **Geometry** object named **Emitter**.
- Points, Transforms, SDS (with correct **Type** and weighting)
- Vertex Colors
- [Level Of Detail (LOD)](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OLOD.html.md) (**LOD Mode** Child Object) will be imported by making the objects visible (make sure that the **Visibility** option is enabled on import) or if the respective export options (in Cinema 4D **Merge Generated**) are enabled, per morph.

Otherwise the following applies:

- Animations will not be displayed with keyframes in the Timeline but will remain in the Alembic file (but can be assigned a [Animation Settings](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OALEMBICGENERATOR-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html.md) in the Alembic object or Alembic Morph tag with new timing)