Blender

Blender (download) is a free and open source 3D modeling package that can be used to create models for Source.

SMD exporters

~NOTE~ The latest version of Blender (2.53 Beta as of July 31, 2010) is not compatible with any SMD importer or exporter listed here.

The only plug-in that can export reference, collision and animation SMDs is Dvondrake's.

Download Dvondrake's SMD exporter for Blender 248.1 (2.48a) or later

Support thread @ Facepunch - ModDB download mirror

• Dvondrake's exporter has been modified by windwakr to add flex animation (VTA file) export.
• There is an SMD Importer by Jon Moen Drange, but it does not support animations.

Installation

Note:Before you can use any Blender plug-in your system must have the appropriate Python runtime. Blender will tell you which version it needs when it starts up.

Extract the .py script files of your chosen plug-in to:

Vista

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts\

C:\ProgramData\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts\

XP

%userprofile%\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts\

C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts\

Linux

~/.blender/scripts

Under Windows, whether you install to %userprofile% or Program Files/ProgramData depends on which you chose to use when installing Blender. The active folder will exist and be filled with existing .py files.

Learning Blender

Blender has a very unusual interface that takes some getting used to. Matters aren't helped by its preference of hotkeys over of visible buttons. Nevertheless, learning it is quite achievable:

• Official help portal
• Blender 3D: Noob to Pro (Wikibook)
• Blender Basics- 3rd Edition (printable classroom textbook released under Creative Commons BY NC SA)

Blender and Source

• Dvondrake's SMD export video tutorial covers creating, texturing and exporting a simple static object
• The Blender Modelling Walkthrough is a complete, step-by-step guide to creating exporting a static model with Dvondrake's plug-in.
• See Animation in Blender to learn how to rig and animate in a way that survives SMD export.
• Blender renders both sides of a polygon, but Source only renders the front. You can bring Blender into line by:
  1. Making sure the Buttons window is visible.
  2. Switching to the Editing panel (F9)
  3. Under Mesh, un-clicking the Double Sided button.
  4. If you find you need to flip any polys, either use Ctrl+n to make everything point outward, or select those that need to change and press w,0.
• Because Dvondrake's exporter only exports the currently-selected object, you can store as many meshes are you like in the same .blend file. Use scenes and/or layers to easily manage the different elements of a model.
• This is simply a modeling tip: If you intend scaling the model or the armature, do this in Edit Mode. This can help not having problems with dimensions.

External links

• Blender homepage