Cloud import & export

Importing models larger than 100K triangles requires a Plus, Pro or Enterprise license. You can learn more about our paid licenses on our website and can start a free trial from Arkio to try this. 

Arkio supports importing and exporting of images, and 3D models from various tools. The simplest way to import and export models to Arkio is using the Arkio Cloud to share your files between devices like your PC and Arkio on your Quest, Mac, tablet, phone, or other supported devices.

To load Revit, Rhino and SketchUp files you need to first open your model in that software and use the free Arkio plugins included in our Windows Installer to prepare your active 3D view for Arkio.

The Arkio Cloud page does not require a user account, email, or license to upload files. You can directly create a group and upload files. A license is only required in Arkio if you wish to place larger imports that require a subscription.

Join the same Cloud Group

The Arkio Cloud portal allows you to upload and download 3D models and images directly to and from Arkio on your devices. You can access the cloud portal at cloud.arkio.is to create a new group and optionally give it a name. Once your group has been created you can join the same group in Arkio by entering the invite code provided.

If your original invite code has expired (valid for 15 minutes) you can create a new invite code. If you run into issues with your existing cloud group you can simply unjoin the cloud group on your device and create a new group to join instead. You can create, join and leave as many cloud groups as needed for your collaborations.

In Arkio you can join the group by selecting the opening the cloud panel in the create tool and adding the invite code. When joined, any file uploaded through the cloud portal will automatically be downloaded and shown on the main Arkio import tab.

You can also connect the Arkio Revit, Rhino, Unity and ACC & BIM 360 plugins to the same cloud group so you can upload your files directly to all connected devices.

If you join the same group on multiple devices, the files will automatically be shared with the devices the next time you run Arkio. Once your files are downloaded they will remain available offline to be placed in the scene. The Arkio cloud is used as a service for sharing files between your devices. Files uploaded to the cloud will expire after 30 days and you can also manually remove them from the cloud upload page so they won't be automatically shared with the connected devices again.

Import files to Arkio

The Arkio cloud portal supports uploading of images, OBJ and GLB models and exports from the Arkio plugins for Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Unity and ACC & BIM 360 Local exports made using Arkio's plugins can be found under \Documents\Arkio\Import\. You can multi-select files that belong to the same 3D model or zip the files before upload them as one file to your cloud group.

If you want to prevent old uploads from auto-downloading to your devices again you can either delete them from the Arkio cloud in your uploads page or you can leave and create a new cloud group as you can make as many cloud groups as you need.

Once your files are uploaded to the Arkio Cloud and your devices are in the same cloud group the files will automatically be downloaded and processed in Arkio, the assets will appear in your import drawer and can be placed in the scene. 

Note: Placing exports larger than 100K triangles or models exported from our Unity, Revit, Rhino and SketchUp plugins will require a paid license to be applied in Arkio. 

Imported models and images can be placed in the scene movable like Arkio props (Movable) This is useful for individual movable elements like trees, vehicles and building components. It also allows you to manually position imported buildings or environments in your scene and pin it yourself.

Imported models and images can also be locked as a non-movable reference (Pinned at origin) This will use the model's 3D origin point and pin the geometry on the Arkio table so it stays in place for round trips of Arkio placed and exported geometry back to your original tools.

You also can set the units for general imported 3D models (OBJ and GLB) that are not created using our Windows plugins for Revit/Rhino/Sketchup/Unity. And you can set if you want the placement of these models to be in the current Arkio scene or a new scene.

Model import size

Arkio supports importing of large models of up to 10-20M triangles mobile devices with limited processing power. If you want to load even larger files it's recommended to use a more powerful device (eg a gaming PC running Arkio in Meta Quest Air Link mode)

828K/10.9M loaded on Quest 3	5.4M/10.9M loaded on Quest PC airlink mode

You can learn more about working with large models on any device on this page.

Loading indicators

When loading files,  the following icons above the model will indicate if the files are being processed, loaded, or have issues. Models imported in Arkio are stored locally and are only shared with other meeting participants in a live Arkio meeting, this happens fully end-to-end encrypted. 

Loading from server	Too large for the device	File not found	Update available
Downloading model	geometry only partly shown	Click to remove	Click to replace

If you see a yellow or red warning cloud it means that the model you try to load is too large for your device and cannot be loaded. Try reducing the model size or using Arkio on a more powerful device like a PC with a VR headset in link mode.

Updating models

When you upload a new version of your model or image with the same name to the cloud, Arkio will download and process the model automatically and show a yellow notification in your scene to indicate a new version of that model is available. You can click this yellow icon to update the placed model with the new version.

Arkio will keep the older versions of your imported models around so you can always go back to a previous version by selecting the date in your placement menu and clicking "Update". This only works for replacing models that where placed pinned at origin.

Exporting files from Arkio

Arkio models are exported as active scene by selecting the correct export format in the scene viewer

When Arkio is linked to a cloud group you can export scenes and photos to the linked cloud group from the export panel. Just make sure to toggle the cloud export toggle on.

From the scenes export tab, you can choose to export photos taken inside Arkio from the last 48 hours or your current scene to our support 3D file formats or plugins. Files exported from Arkio via the cloud can then be found in the Arkio cloud portal under downloads. Exports for Revit and other Arkio plugins can be converted back to native geometry using the Arkio plugins that are included with the Windows installer.

The models get exported in metric (1 unit = 1 meter). OBJ's are exported from Arkio as one mesh that can be edited using mesh editing software. GLB exports will contain the correct hierarchy of mesh elements and include all textures in one file.

Managing your cloud groups

Arkio Clouds groups store files temporarily and you can make as many as you need to share files between devices. If you run into issues with a cloud group you can best unlink your device from this group and start a new group instead.

If you wish to manage or share files between different devices and users there are some features in place that can help you manage your Arkio cloud groups better. If you are still linked to an Arkio cloud group on your device that you somehow lost access to. You can generate a new invitation code from Arkio in the cloud panel using the "invite to group" button. 

This will generate a new temporary code that can be filled in on other devices or the Arkio cloud webpage to gain access again to all the uploaded and exported files from your current Arkio cloud group.

If you wish to bookmark your current cloud group webpage for later usage or wish to share the group page with other people you can also save a permanent hyperlink of your active Arkio cloud group from the "Manage Group" tab using "Copy Group URL" This will copy the URL to your clipboard.

This URL can be pasted into your browser and bookmarked under your favorites or shared with colleagues so others can also access and manage the uploads and Arkio exports that are saved on this Arkio cloud group.

Using this bookmark method you can switch between different cloud groups. This allows you to share only some files with a client who can then download and access the uploaded models on their device in the next 30 days or you can manage projects that should be separated by project team or use it to share company-wide Arkio content libraries or student work files to all connected devices.

FAQ

How long are my files stored on Arkio Cloud?

Files uploaded to cloud groups will be stored for 30 days after that the files will no longer be shared with your linked devices. Uploaded imports that were already shared to linked devices will remain available offline so they can still be loaded in Arkio even when not connected to the internet or original cloud group. Exports from Arkio shared to your cloud group will be available for download until you leave the group from your internet browser.

Can I have multiple cloud groups?

You can create multiple cloud groups but as uploads expire, groups are best used to share files between devices over shorter periods. You can always create a new group to manage and share new files. If you wish to switch between multiple cloud groups you can bookmark or share hyperlinks of cloud groups (see above) or use other devices/browsers and link codes to manage and switch between different cloud groups.

Who can access my files uploaded on the Arkio Cloud?

Only devices that are linked to an Arkio cloud group using the 15-minute generated invite code can access files uploaded to each unique cloud group. Group names are indicative and you can make as many groups as you like. If devices are no longer connected or if your uploads expire your files will no longer be accessible.

I lost access to my original cloud group how can I get access to my files again?

If one of your devices is still connected to the correct cloud group you can use that device to generate a new link code that you then can fill in on cloud.arkio.is or on the other devices that you like to connect to the same group. To prevent losing access to your cloud group you can also make a permanent hyperlink of your group for your web browser (see above)

Known issues

Uploading Files larger than 500 MB to the Arkio cloud portal via a web browser can fail and will show a warning. 

If you need to work with files this large you can best use our plugins to import the model locally to Arkio on PC or Mac first. These devices will be able to process much larger models. After processing the files can be placed in the scene and shared with less powerful devices using an Arkio meeting. Based on the rendering budget of your devices Arkio will then show the details your device can handle. You can learn more about working with large files on mobile devices on this page.