Blender Unreal Workflow Python Tools
Blender tool uses Python to export optimized meshes to Unreal and set them up in the engine
The tool has 3 components to it: Validation and Export inside Blender, and Setup in Unreal Engine, streamlining the process of the workflow between both the applications
Blender to Unreal Engine export and subsequent creation and assigning of Material Instances showcase
Blender and Unreal vary with their scale systems; Blender follows -Y axis, while Unreal follows +X, this can cause trouble with various props if not accounted; FBX files imported in Unreal Engine from Blender have world origin as designated pivot point
The two sub-components of the Blender tool for a. Validating Mesh b. Exporting Optimized Mesh
Validation Panel allows the user to pick and perform validation check that are visualized in the Results panel
Additional feature of the tool to create an instant Unreal Character size guide for scaling reference
The Unreal part of the tool takes care of importing the meshes and textures and assign everything as Material Instances from a given Master Material. This functionality is derived from the naming convention and can accommodate batch assets.
I created a set of two tools in Python to improve functionality in Blender to Unreal Engine 3D assets workflow. The Blender side of the tool addresses common mesh optimization features, and allows the user to export an .fbx file to Unreal Engine directory. Python, along with Unreal Editor Utility Widget allows the tool to pick up the reference and import it to Unreal Engine. Additionally, it takes care of automating simple yet tedious task of creating and assigning material instances to the newly imported static mesh - it can work with multiple meshes and materials at the same time.
.
Given the versatility of the tool, it can conveniently be expanded in either direction, allowing more checks and validation inside Blender or further setup and separation of imported assets.
.
This project not only gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn Python and tool creation, but also helped me understand the adaptability of the programming language and it's use cases.