# Support export of PLY with external texture

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/support-export-of-ply-with-external-texture/16198
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** file-formats
**Created:** [December 22, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/support-export-of-ply-with-external-texture/16198 "2025-12-22T13:22:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![afavray.modjaw](https://discourse.vtk.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@afavray.modjaw](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/afavray.modjaw)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/support-export-of-ply-with-external-texture/16198/1 "2025-12-22T13:22:45Z")

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Hello,

I am using `vtkPLYReader` + `vtkPLYWriter` to import/export various PLY meshes in my project (python VTK 9.5.2).

I have a problem with some PLY file formats that use external texture : the `vtkPLYWriter` doesn’t write the external texture file name in the PLY file.

For PLY with external texture, a line needs to be present in the header to be able to read the mesh with its texture:

```auto
comment TextureFile <textureFilename>

```

Is it possible to add an option in `vtkPLYWriter` to allow external texture handling?

Thanks

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### Author: ![cory.quammen](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/cory.quammen/32/6751_2.png) [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/cory.quammen)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 11:19am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/support-export-of-ply-with-external-texture/16198/2 "2026-01-05T11:19:10Z")

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Out of curiosity, which software is producing external textures with PLY files?

> [@afavray.modjaw](#):
>
> Is it possible to add an option in `vtkPLYWriter` to allow external texture handling?

Seems possible - would you be willing to [contribute](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md?ref_type=heads) a merge request to VTK?

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![afavray.modjaw](https://discourse.vtk.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@afavray.modjaw](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/afavray.modjaw)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/support-export-of-ply-with-external-texture/16198/3 "2026-01-08T15:29:19Z")

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I’m dealing with intraoral scanners that produce 3D meshes of the upper and lower jaw.

I would be happy to contribute!  
I’ll try to free up some time to do it in a few days.