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Understanding the “Retain Instance-Level Naming” Import Option

How instance-level naming affects imported parts in KeyShot.

Issue

When importing files (e.g., CATPart, CATProduct, CGR), customers may see an import option called “Retain Instance-Level Naming” in the Materials and Structure settings. This option does not appear for certain formats such as STL. Users have asked what this setting means and whether part names inherit from the parent part names.

Environment

  • KeyShot Studio (Any version) 

  • Windows and MacOS

Cause

Some CAD applications support instances—objects that are duplicates of an original model but with their own names. For example:

  • Original object: Wheel

  • Instances: Wheel Front Left, Wheel Front Right, Wheel Rear Left, Wheel Rear Right

KeyShot can either:

  1. Keep the instance-level names (e.g., “Wheel Front Left”), or

  2. Revert to the original object name (e.g., all simply “Wheel”).

The “Retain Instance-Level Naming” option allows users to control this behavior.

Resolution

  • If enabled: KeyShot keeps the unique instance names defined in the CAD file (e.g., “Wheel Front Left”).

  • If disabled: KeyShot uses the original object name for all instances (e.g., all named “Wheel”).

 This option is only available for formats that support instancing (CATPart, CATProduct, CGR). It does not appear in formats like STL, which do not contain instance-level information.