Model export considerations

Model export considerations

Before exporting a 3D model from a 3D modeling application, such as Blender, there are some considerations that should be taken into account to ensure that the model follows the conventions and best practices for Godot.

3D asset direction conventions

Godot uses a right-handed, Y-is-up coordinate system, with the -Z axis as the camera’s forward direction. This is the same as OpenGL. This implies that +Z is back, +X is right, and -X is left for a camera.

The convention for 3D assets is to face the opposite direction as the camera, so that characters and other assets are facing the camera by default. This convention is extremely common in 3D modeling applications, and is codified in glTF as part of the glTF 2.0 specification. This means that for oriented 3D assets (such as characters), the +Z axis is the direction of the front, so -Z is the rear, +X is the left side, and -X is the right side for a 3D asset. In Blender, this means that +Y is rear and -Y is front for an asset.

When rotating an oriented 3D asset in Godot, use the use_model_front option on the look_at functions, and use the Vector3.MODEL_* constants to perform calculations in the oriented asset’s local space.

For assets without an intrinsic front side or forward direction, such as a game map or terrain, take note of the cardinal directions instead. The convention in Godot and the vast majority of other applications is that +X is east and -X is west. Due to Godot’s right-handed Y-is-up coordinate system, this implies that +Z is south and -Z is north. In Blender, this means that +Y is north and -Y is south.

Exporting textures separately

While textures can be exported with a model in certain file formats, such as glTF 2.0, you can also export them separately. Godot uses PBR (physically based rendering) for its materials, so if a texturing program can export PBR textures, they can work in Godot. This includes the Substance suite, ArmorPaint (open source), and Material Maker (open source).

Exporting considerations

Since GPUs can only render triangles, meshes that contain quads or N-gons have to be triangulated before they can be rendered. Godot can triangulate meshes on import, but results may be unpredictable or incorrect, especially with N-gons. Regardless of the target application, triangulating before exporting the scene will lead to more consistent results and should be done whenever possible.

To avoid issues with incorrect triangulation after importing in Godot, it is recommended to make the 3D modeling software triangulate objects on its own. In Blender, this can be done by adding a Triangulate modifier to your objects and making sure Apply Modifiers is checked in the export dialog. Alternatively, depending on the exporter, you may be able to find and enable a Triangulate Faces option in the export dialog.

To avoid issues with 3D selection in the editor, it is recommended to apply the object transform in the 3D modeling software before exporting the scene.

Note

It is important that the mesh is not deformed by bones when exporting. Make sure that the skeleton is reset to its T-pose or default rest pose before exporting with your favorite 3D editor.

Lighting considerations

While it’s possible to import lights from a 3D scene using the glTF, .blend or Collada formats, it’s generally advised to design the scene’s lighting in the Godot editor after importing the scene.

This allows you to get a more accurate feel for the final result, as different engines will render lights in a different manner. This also avoids any issues with lights appearing excessively strong or faint as a result of the import process.

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