# The LabCanvas 3D Studio: adjustable 3D models of cells, nanomaterials and devices

> How to make 3D scientific renders in the LabCanvas 3D Studio: adjustable models of cells, viruses, nanoparticles, 2D materials, MOFs and devices, molecules from PubChem, proteins from the PDB, crystals from CIF files, and renders placed in figures.

Published 2026-10-18 by LabCanvas team. https://www.labcanvas.com/blog/3d-studio-scientific-3d-models

![The LabCanvas 3D Studio with MOFs, a carbon nanotube and a gold nanoparticle in the scene](https://www.labcanvas.com/shots/3d.webp)

The **LabCanvas 3D Studio** makes 3D pictures for science without 3D modelling. Its models are *generators*: a gold nanoparticle, a liposome, a virus, a cell cut open, a MOF or a battery stack is built from settings you change with sliders. Molecules come from PubChem, proteins from the RCSB PDB and crystals from CIF and POSCAR files. Renders go straight into your figures.

## Models by subject

The Add menu groups the models by subject, each with a small picture so you can see what you add. Here are a few from each group.

### Biology

:::grid
![Cell cutaway, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/cellcutaway3d.webp "Cell cutaway")
![Adherent cell cutaway, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/adherentcell3d.webp "Adherent cell cutaway")
![Cell taking up nanoparticles, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/celluptake3d.webp "Cell taking up nanoparticles")
![Neuron, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/neuron3d.webp "Neuron")
![Myelinated neuron with signal, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/myelinneuron3d.webp "Myelinated neuron with signal")
![Synapse, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/synapse3d.webp "Synapse")
:::

### Nanomaterials

:::grid
![Nanoparticle, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/nanoparticle3d.webp "Nanoparticle")
![Gold nanorod, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/nanorod3d.webp "Gold nanorod")
![Gold nanostar, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/nanostar3d.webp "Gold nanostar")
![Silver nanocube, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/nanocube3d.webp "Silver nanocube")
![Gold nanoparticle atoms, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/goldlattice3d.webp "Gold nanoparticle atoms")
![Icosahedral nanoparticle, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/icosahedral3d.webp "Icosahedral nanoparticle")
:::

### 2D materials, catalysis and devices

:::grid
![Graphene, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/graphene3d.webp "Graphene")
![h-BN, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/hbn3d.webp "h-BN")
![MoS₂, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/mos23d.webp "MoS₂")
:::

:::grid
![Pt111 with *OOH ORR, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/ptooh3d.webp "Pt111 with *OOH ORR")
![Pt111 with *H HER, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/pth3d.webp "Pt111 with *H HER")
![Cu100 with *CO CO₂ reduction, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/cuco3d.webp "Cu100 with *CO CO₂ reduction")
:::

:::grid
![3D bioprinter, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/printer3d.webp "3D bioprinter")
![Solar cell, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/solarcell3d.webp "Solar cell")
![Transistor FET, a 3D model rendered in the LabCanvas 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/fet3d.webp "Transistor FET")
:::

## What the 3D Studio can do

| Feature | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Adjustable models | Cells and organelles, viruses, antibodies, liposomes and LNPs, nanoparticles atom by atom, quantum dots, 2D materials, MOFs, zeolites, scaffolds, devices and shapes |
| Molecules and proteins | PubChem compounds and RCSB PDB structures, or your own PDB, mmCIF, SDF and XYZ files |
| Crystals | CIF and POSCAR files, Materials Project search, unit cells and supercells, ball-and-stick, space-filling or polyhedra |
| Molecule brushes | DNA, RNA, chromatin, helices, strands, collagen, actin, microtubules and polymer chains along a freehand stroke |
| Modifiers | Array, displace, distribute and gradient |
| Output | PNG at 1×, 2× or 4×, GLB, or a render placed straight into a figure |

## How to make a 3D render for a figure

1. Open the [3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/studio3d.html) and click **Add**.
2. Pick a model, for example *Nanomaterials › Gold nanoparticle*, and drag it into the view.
3. Change its shape, size and surface in the panel on the right.
4. Choose a lighting preset and a background (white, a colour or transparent).
5. Click **Add render to canvas** to send it to your figure, or export a PNG.

## Loading only what you use

The 3D Studio has hundreds of models, but it loads the code of a model only when you add it. The Add menu shows a small picture of every model, so you see the whole library without waiting for any of it to load.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need to know Blender to use the 3D Studio?

No. Models are made by generators with sliders: pick a nanoparticle, a cell or a crystal from the Add menu and change its settings in the panel. Move, rotate and scale with the toolbar or the W, E and R keys.

### Can I open my own 3D files?

Yes: GLB, OBJ, STL, PLY, FBX, 3MF, PDB, mmCIF, SDF, MOL and XYZ, plus CIF and POSCAR crystal files.

### How do I get a crystal structure?

Open a CIF or POSCAR file, search the Materials Project, or pick a ready-made MOF, COF, zeolite or mineral in the **Crystals** panel. Show it as ball-and-stick, space-filling or polyhedra, as a unit cell or a supercell.

### How do I put a render in my figure?

Click **Add render to canvas**. The render goes into the figure, slide or poster open in another tab, or into a new figure. You can also export a PNG at 1×, 2× or 4×.

### Does it run on a laptop?

Yes. The 3D Studio runs in the browser with WebGL; only the model you add is loaded, so the app starts quickly. Ray traced renders take longer on slower graphics hardware.

## Related links

- [Open the 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/studio3d.html)
- [Gallery of 3D models](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery): Every 3D model with its picture
- [Protein viewer guide](https://www.labcanvas.com/blog/protein-viewer-pdb-structures)
- [The Figure editor guide](https://www.labcanvas.com/blog/figure-editor-scientific-illustration)
- [Render a nanoparticle: tutorial](https://www.labcanvas.com/tutorials)