> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://luw-ai.gitbook.io/luw.ai-studio/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://luw-ai.gitbook.io/luw.ai-studio/import-and-export/import.md). # Import Every way to bring existing work into Luw\.ai Studio, from room scans and floor plan images to .luw projects, DXF drawings and IFC models. You rarely start from nothing. There's a plan from the estate agent, a CAD drawing from the architect, a land survey, a model exported from Revit, a photo of the sofa you already own. Luw\.ai Studio can take all of these, either as a new project or into the project you have open. ## Pick the right route | You have | Use | Lands in | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | A Luw\.ai Studio project file (`.luw`) | Import dialog → **Project** | A new project | | A CAD drawing (`.dxf`) | Import dialog → **CAD drawing** | A new project | | A BIM model (`.ifc`) | Import dialog → **BIM model**, or the [IFC viewer](/luw.ai-studio/import-and-export/ifc-viewer.md) | A new project | | A floor plan as an image or PDF, and you want walls built for you | **Floor plan** → **Detect with AI**, or drop it on the canvas | The open project | | A floor plan or sketch you want to trace yourself | **Floor plan** → **Upload scan/floorplan** | The open project, as a guide | | A 3D scan (`.glb`, `.gltf`) | **Floor plan** → **Upload scan/floorplan** | The open project, as a scan reference | | A land or zoning document | Drop it on the canvas, or start from an image | The open project's site | | A photo of a piece of furniture | Drop it on the canvas, **Create** → **3D model**, or **Items** → **Photo → 3D** | The open project, as a 3D model | | A 3D model of an object (`.glb`, `.gltf`) | **Items** → **Upload** | The open project | | A link from another Luw\.ai app | Follow the link | A new project | {% hint style="info" %} Files from the Import dialog and links from other Luw\.ai apps always open as a **new project**, so nothing you already have is overwritten. Images, plans and scans go into the project you have open; undo with `Ctrl/Cmd + Z` if the result isn't what you wanted. {% endhint %} You need to be signed in for every route on this page: imports are saved to your Luw\.ai account, and uploads are stored with your project. ## The Bring in tiles in the Build tab At the bottom of the **Build** tab, under **Bring in**, three tiles cover the most common starting points. ### Scan your room Opens **Luw Floorplan AI is Ready!**, an introduction to scanning with the Luw\.ai iOS app, **Luw AI - Home Design App**. **Get started** opens its App Store page, and the QR code (**Scan to download Luw AI - Home Design App**) opens the same page on your phone. The app does the scanning; the Studio doesn't receive scans from it automatically. When you have the result as a file, bring it in with **Floor plan** (below). ### Floor plan Opens **Bring your floor plan** with three choices: | Choice | What happens | | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Detect with AI** | Choose a plan as an image (PNG, JPEG, WebP) or a PDF. A notice reads **Uploading your floor plan…**, then the **Edit with AI** tab opens and Archiagent.ai turns the plan into walls, doors and windows in your open project. For a PDF, only the first page is used. | | **Scan with AI** | The same iOS app introduction as **Scan your room**. | | **Upload scan/floorplan** | Lays your file on the current level as a reference to draw over. An image (PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF) becomes a guide image; a `.glb` or `.gltf` file becomes a 3D scan. A notice shows **Uploading {file}… N%**. If it fails, choose **Try again** or **Dismiss**. | **Detect with AI** uses Archiagent, so it needs a paid plan and uses chat credits. See [Archiagent.ai](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/archiagent.md). To line up, scale and trace over an uploaded plan, see [Guide images](/luw.ai-studio/building/guide-images.md). The same picker also opens from **Scan or import floorplan** in the **Scene** tab and from the **+** button in the **References** menu at the bottom of the screen. {% hint style="info" %} The two approaches combine well: let **Detect with AI** draft the walls, then upload the same plan as a guide image to check the draft against it. {% endhint %} ### DXF / IFC Opens the Import dialog, described next. ## The Import dialog Open it from the **Projects** dialog (click the project selector in the top bar, then **Import**) or with the **DXF / IFC** tile in the **Build** tab. The dialog is titled **Bring your work in.** and has four sections. Click the button in a section to choose a file. ### Project (.luw) A `.luw` file is a complete Luw\.ai Studio project, made with **Export** in the **Projects** dialog, by you or by someone who sent it to you. Files from the previous version of the Studio work too. The new project is named after the file. A file that isn't a valid project stops with a message starting **Invalid .luw file**. ### CAD drawing (DXF) A 2D architectural DXF comes in as a working model, not as flat lines. Walls are real walls you can edit, and rooms form wherever walls close. The Studio reads layers by their names, so the drawing needs sensible layer names: | Layer name contains | Becomes | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | `wall` (e.g. `WALL`, `A-WALL`) | Walls, from lines and polylines | | `door` (e.g. `DOOR`, `A-DOOR`) | Doors, from door blocks and door swing arcs | | `window` or `wind` (e.g. `A-WIND`) | Windows, from window blocks and small rectangles | | `opening` or `open` | Doors or windows, read the same way | | `pillar`, `column`, `col` or `post` | Columns, from their outlines | * A layer name containing `wall` always counts as a wall layer, whatever else it says. * Everything else is left out: layer `0`, dimensions, text, hatching, circles and other blocks. * A wall drawn as two parallel face lines comes in as one wall with that thickness. Single lines become walls 20 cm thick. Imported walls are 2.7 m high; change them afterwards if your storey is taller. **Units.** The Studio uses the units saved in the file. If the file doesn't say, it assumes millimetres. When the declared unit would make the building implausibly small or large, it picks the common unit that gives a believable size instead. **DWG files** can't be imported directly. Open them in your CAD program and save as DXF first. If nothing usable is found you'll see one of these: * **No wall geometry found.** None of the lines are on a layer with `wall` in its name. Move your wall lines onto a wall layer and try again. * **No walls could be built from this DXF.** * **The drawing measures under 50 cm at every unit we tried — it may be empty.** ### BIM model (IFC) IFC files from Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla and other BIM tools are converted in your browser. Storeys, walls, rooms, slabs, openings, stairs and columns come in as editable elements. Anything else stays in as imported geometry. Progress is shown in the dialog while the file converts. Exporters differ a lot, so expect some tidying up afterwards. **Preview and inspect first** opens the [IFC viewer](/luw.ai-studio/import-and-export/ifc-viewer.md) in a new tab, where you can look through the model before turning it into a project. If conversion fails you'll see **IFC conversion failed** with the reason, or **The IFC produced no usable geometry.** ### Floorplan image **Open Edit with AI** closes the dialog and opens Archiagent.ai. Attach your plan (a scan, a sketch, a PDF, a photo of a printout) and ask it to lay out the walls. Unlike the other sections, this works in the project you have open. ## Drop an image or PDF on the canvas The quickest route for pictures: drag a file from your computer onto the 3D view or the 2D plan. While you hold it over the view, a label reads **Drop your land, a floor plan or a photo of furniture**. PNG, JPEG, WebP and PDF files work; for a PDF, only the first page is used. The Studio uploads the file, looks at it (**Looking at your image…**) and suggests what to do: | The card says | Button | Result | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **This looks like land.** | **Set up my site** | Archiagent reads the parcel outline and any zoning rules and asks you to confirm the plot before designing anything. See [Site and parcel](/luw.ai-studio/building/site-and-parcel.md). | | **This looks like a floor plan.** | **Build walls from it** | Archiagent traces the plan into walls, doors and windows. | | **This looks like an object.** | **Make a 3D model · 3 credits** | A 3D model is made from the photo and placed where you dropped it. Paying customers can tick **Premium quality** for a higher-quality model at 8 credits. See [Photo → 3D](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/photo-to-3d.md). | If the guess is wrong, use one of the links below the button, such as **It's a floor plan — build walls**. If the Studio can't tell, it asks **What is this image?** with **Land**, **A floor plan** and **An object to model in 3D**. `Esc` or **Cancel** closes the card. Land and floor plans go through Archiagent, so they need a paid plan and use chat credits. ## Start from an image An empty project greets you with **How do you want to start?** once per session. Its **Start from an image** area takes a file by drop, paste or **browse**, and the hints on it say what it understands: **Land or zoning document → site**, **Floor plan → walls** and **Photo of furniture → 3D model**. You get the same choices as when you drop a file on the canvas. **Use a different image** goes back a step. See [Your first scene](/luw.ai-studio/getting-started/your-first-scene.md) for the other ways to start. ## Open from another Luw\.ai app Other Luw\.ai apps can send you to the Studio with an image, a PDF, a 3D model or a prompt attached. You always see **Start this with AI?** first, with the picture and an editable prompt, and nothing happens until you click **Run**. The run gets a new project of its own. The full sequence, including account switching and framing a 3D model, is in [The Luw.ai ecosystem](/luw.ai-studio/luw.ai-ai-tools/luw-ai-ecosystem.md). ## Related * [Export](/luw.ai-studio/import-and-export/export.md): take projects, plans and models out again. * [Projects and saving](/luw.ai-studio/getting-started/projects-and-saving.md): where imported projects appear. * [IFC viewer](/luw.ai-studio/import-and-export/ifc-viewer.md): inspect a BIM model before you open it.