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Modding:Creating and Exporting Meshes in Blender (edit)
Revision as of 14:20, 30 December 2023
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[[File:ScreenshotHowToImportIt.webp|thumb|This should show up in your File> Import menu if you have the addon installed correctly.]] | |||
In this tutorial we will assume you are generally knowledgable about how to use 3d software, so this will focus on things specific to Baldur’s Gate 3 exporter made by Norbyte. Remember, there are many general youtube tutorials about how to weight paint and edit meshes in Blender. | In this tutorial we will assume you are generally knowledgable about how to use 3d software, so this will focus on things specific to Baldur’s Gate 3 exporter made by Norbyte. Remember, there are many general youtube tutorials about how to weight paint and edit meshes in Blender. | ||
==Setup== | ==Setup== | ||
[[Modding:Tools|Check here for a list of tools.]] | [[Modding:Tools|Check here for a list of tools.]] | ||
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Make sure you install it correctly- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQSqRF7dLB8 this video is quite out of date] but should give you some example of how to install it. | Make sure you install it correctly- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQSqRF7dLB8 this video is quite out of date] but should give you some example of how to install it. | ||
You should also install [Https://www.nexusmods.com/baldursgate3/mods/346 Padme’s Addon, ‘Create LODs’]. | You should also install [Https://www.nexusmods.com/baldursgate3/mods/346 Padme’s Addon, ‘Create LODs’]. You may also find use of the 'Reset Transforms' tools as they are helpful when weight painting a model. | ||
==Extracting a model to work with== | ==Extracting a model to work with== | ||
Now open your modder’s multitool. Click ‘Search Index’. Filter by .GR2. Search something like HUM_F_ARM_ and browse the in game meshes available to regular size humanlike females. You may also wish to consult this table- [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16uyC9UIJUmg1ciwsFfjdhsAbJAz320g2ei65BUGrnZg/edit#gid=1726617676 Clothing and Armor models by Saku]. (This lists HUM F only but most outfits fit male and other races as well) | [[File:NewBodyBlenderScreenshotImported.webp|thumb|Imported meshes.]]Now open your modder’s multitool. Click ‘Search Index’. Filter by .GR2. Search something like HUM_F_ARM_ and browse the in game meshes available to regular size humanlike females. You may also wish to consult this table- [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16uyC9UIJUmg1ciwsFfjdhsAbJAz320g2ei65BUGrnZg/edit#gid=1726617676 Clothing and Armor models by Saku]. (This lists HUM F only but most outfits fit male and other races as well) | ||
You should at least extract HUM_F_NKD_Body_A (or whatever nude you are basing your outfit on) to fit your new outfit around. | You should at least extract HUM_F_NKD_Body_A (or whatever nude you are basing your outfit on) to fit your new outfit around. | ||
'''You generally cannot import a modded-in mesh without the plugin crashing Blender.''' Hopefully are sensible and you save your own work often and can re-export it from there, and have obtained permission to edit all the modded items you want to import anyway. | When you have found a t-posing model to your liking. Click the extract file/open folder. You should find the mesh in .GR2 and .dae form on your computer. Use the .dae- the Blender importer likes .dae format a lot more than it likes .gr2. [[File:MeshImportsWithLODSS.webp|thumb|A mesh importing. It has only 1 Lod.]]'''You generally cannot import a modded-in mesh without the plugin crashing Blender.''' Hopefully are sensible and you save your own work often and can re-export it from there, and have obtained permission to edit all the modded items you want to import anyway. | ||
==Importing== | ==Importing== | ||
It will be a fairly standard rig with an Armature modifier (see Modifier tab).Your armatures will import in at 90 degrees. This will cause it to export flat to the floor and follow a naked character around like a weird windsock, so you need to fix it. '''[Object Mode] Object > Apply> All Transforms''' on the armature, until the coordinates for its location all read '''0, 0, 0'''. You may need to do the same thing on the mesh as well. | |||
Your armatures will import in at 90 degrees. This will cause it to export flat to the floor and follow a naked character around like a weird windsock, so you need to fix it. '''[Object Mode] Object > Apply> All Transforms''' on the armature, until the coordinates for its location all read '''0, 0, 0'''. You may need to do the same thing on the mesh as well. | [[File:UrMeshImported90.webp|thumb|Your mesh will likely import this way- note 90 degree angle.]] | ||
The mesh will import in with 1 or more LODS. These are level of detail meshes, intended to be viewed at a distance so they are lower poly. You only need the best quality one as we are making new LODs later, so delete anything that has LOD in the name. | The mesh will import in with 1 or more LODS. These are level of detail meshes, intended to be viewed at a distance so they are lower poly. You only need the best quality one as we are making new LODs later, so delete anything that has LOD in the name. | ||
If your mesh you imported has a skirt, it may have an undetailed boxy thing called a ‘Cloth Mesh’. This has to do with Physics (see below). | If your mesh you imported has a skirt, it may have an undetailed boxy thing called a ‘Cloth Mesh’. This has to do with Physics (see below). | ||
== | ==Editing Meshes== | ||
If you wish to combine two meshes for whatever reason, remember that each mesh will have its own name for the UV map and colour maps. You need to rename the UV maps and Colour maps to be the same before you combine them, or one will be absorbed into the other. | If you wish to combine two meshes for whatever reason, remember that each mesh will have its own name for the UV map and colour maps. You need to rename the UV maps and Colour maps to be the same before you combine them, or one will be absorbed into the other. | ||
The UV map may seem bare when you tab into the UV slide, but BG3 meshes have an odd habit of not being on the actual UV square itself, as the UV tiles. So you may need to scroll out quite far to see the full UV. You can drag it back ('''Snap to Vertex''' can be useful with this) or keep it there, it usually does not matter. | |||
[[File:Screenshot Uv and colour map imports.webp|thumb|Your UV map and Colour maps, found in Object Data tab.]]Depending on what type of mesh you imported, it will not have all the bones- circlets for example may only import in with the head bone. | |||
If making a new full body mesh, it is generally a good idea to parent your mesh to a naked body, which does have all the bones, as this can avoid weighting issues. | |||
Remember that genitals are attached later via lsx code and aren't a part of the body mesh. | |||
==Vertex Paint== | ==Vertex Paint== | ||
Tab into '''Vertex Paint''' mode to look at the naked body. | |||
The game’s armour system works by vertex paint. It uses this, in combination with the .lsx code, to tell it what to hide and what to show. For example, an armour mesh may unload the torso as it will not be shown. The bottom half of a pant leg may not show when boots are equipped. You can use existing meshes as a reference for this. | The game’s armour system works by vertex paint. It uses this, in combination with the .lsx code, to tell it what to hide and what to show. For example, an armour mesh may unload the torso as it will not be shown. The bottom half of a pant leg may not show when boots are equipped. You can use existing meshes as a reference for this. | ||
[[File:BlenderVertexPaintUnderwearExample.webp|thumb|This underwear has its green vertex paint, which tells it to vanish when a top is equipped.]] | |||
[[Modding:VertexColorMaskSlots|Check here for a resource and Hex codes for the vertex paint.]] | [[Modding:VertexColorMaskSlots|Check here for a resource and Hex codes for the vertex paint.]] | ||
Keeping the HUM_F_NKD_Body_A in the scene is useful as reference here. For example, if you set an upper arm to be hidden for some gloves, you may wish to fit it around these seams to ensure there is no gap in the body showing. | |||
You can turn on the vertex paint to look at it in non-Vertex Paint modes by touching the Blender attributes menu. | You can turn on the vertex paint to look at it in non-Vertex Paint modes by touching the Blender attributes menu. | ||
You can also turn on Flat shading from the same menu, to get a better view of things if you are creating your own vertex paint for outfits. | |||
Generally outfit meshes are black in vertex paint, with some dark green on elements intended to disappear such as the pant legs. | Generally outfit meshes are black in vertex paint, with some dark green on elements intended to disappear such as the pant legs. | ||
If you intend to use part of an underwear mesh on an outerwear outfit, make sure you paint it black in Vertex Paint or it will hide when it’s not supposed to. | If you intend to use part of an underwear mesh on an outerwear outfit, make sure you paint it black in Vertex Paint or it will hide when it’s not supposed to. | ||
[[File:How2ViewVertyPaint.webp|thumb|How to view Vertex Paint in Object Mode]] | |||
= j = | |||
==Fixing meshes that import in wrong== | ==Fixing meshes that import in wrong== | ||
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCDGhz3RSr8 See this video] for how to fix meshes that import in with messed up normals.Sometimes meshes will import in stuck together, usually on skirt meshes. This is because the verts were too close together and the importer made a hiccup. You can also fix with '''[Edit Mode] Mesh> Clean Up> Merge By Distance''', and then put a solidify modifier at 00.1 thickness. | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCDGhz3RSr8 See this video] for how to fix meshes that import in with messed up normals like a blue/red checkerboard, and export looking like see through checkerboards. Sometimes meshes will import in stuck together, usually on skirt meshes. This is because the verts were too close together and the importer made a hiccup. You can also fix with '''[Edit Mode] Mesh> Clean Up> Merge By Distance''', and then put a solidify modifier at 00.1 thickness. | ||
==Physics== | ==Physics== | ||
Physics are set with red vertex paint. Hot pink vertex paint counterbalances the physics. You may need to delete the cloth mesh your mesh imported with, as it can cause to export badly. | Physics are set with red vertex paint. Hot pink vertex paint counterbalances the physics. You may need to delete the cloth mesh your mesh imported with, as it can cause to export badly. | ||
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[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TpdCBxYO1Q Here is a video of Padme’s addons being used.] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TpdCBxYO1Q Here is a video of Padme’s addons being used.] | ||
Using Padme’s addon tool, click the button to generate LOD and you will have your nice set of LODs. | Using Padme’s addon tool, click the button to generate LOD and you will have your nice set of LODs. You may need to edit the LOD0 it’s a new mesh, as it won't know what settings a should have. | ||
You may need to edit the LOD0 it’s a new mesh as it won't know what settings a should have. | [[File:Screenshot LOD Distance level Explained.webp|thumb|LOD order in BG3 settings. You can find this in your Object/Object Properties tab.]] | ||
[[File:Screenshot LOD Distance level Explained.webp|thumb|You can find this in your Object/Object Properties tab.]] | |||
'''-LOD Level''' is what level of LOD it is. Meshes generally have no more than 4-5 LODS, usually depending on how 'common' an asset it is. (A common peasant shirt will have many LODS while an armour intended only for the player may have only 1 LOD.) | '''-LOD Level''' is what level of LOD it is. Meshes generally have no more than 4-5 LODS, usually depending on how 'common' an asset it is. (A common peasant shirt will have many LODS while an armour intended only for the player may have only 1 LOD.) | ||
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Your mesh will export x-mirrored. Meshes import in from the multitool x-mirrored, so they are the right way around now! | Your mesh will export x-mirrored. Meshes import in from the multitool x-mirrored, so they are the right way around now! | ||
If you parented your mesh to the nude body armature, remember to delete the nude body! | |||
[[File:BlenderTtut3.6ExportSettings.webp|thumb|Default export settings for Blender 3.6]] | |||
==Testing in Game== | ==Testing in Game== | ||