Installing Blender

Blender (3D) can be used for creating props for use in the Source Engine, but has some basic requirements before you can get started.

Prerequisites

Python Runtime
- Blender can run without Python, but if you want to make use of it's plugins (notably the import and export scripts), you will need to install the version of Python it was compiled against (2.5 for Blender 2.48, 2.6 for Blender 2.49)
  - the official Python home
  - Download mirror (provided by FileHippo)

Valve's Source SDK
- this is necessary for converting models and texture maps into a Source Engine compatible format.

Download and install Python
Click on "My Computer" with the right mouse button, then go to:
- Properties > Advanced > Enviromental Variables
Under "System Variables", click "New", and add the following values:
- Variable name: PYTHONPATH
- Variable value: C:\PYTHON25;C:\PYTHON25\DLLs;C:\PYTHON25\LIB;C:\PYTHON25\LIB\LIB-TK
  - If you've installed a version of Python other then 2.5, replace "PYTHON25" with that version number (ie, if you installed Python 2.6 you would use "PYTHON26")
- Hit "OK" when your done, then click "OK" again to exit the "Environment Variables" window. It may pause for a second before closes while it's updating the system settings. When it's done, close the "System Properties" window.

Next up, if you haven't already done so, download and install Blender
Download an SMD export plugin and copy it into the folder:
- C:\Documents and Settings\WINDOWS-LOGIN-NAME\Application Data\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts
  - or the folder:
- C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\scripts
  - Which folder you have to copy the script into depends on how you installed Blender. The folder Blender is using should already contain other Python scripts.