3DPrint

File:Coh print warshade.jpg

1. Export scene to .obj format per https://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,4947.0.html
2. Import file to Blender

   File:Coh print 1.png

   File:Coh print 2.png

3. Delete everything but costume
   • Z toggles wireframe view
   • Numpad 5 toggles between perspective and orthogonal view
   • Numpad 7 changes to top view
   • Shift-B allows for box selection
   • Ctrl-I selects inverse
   • X deletes
   • Be sure to delete chest emblems and aura objects

   File:Coh print 3.png

4. Position costume upright and at the origin
   • Numpad 1 moves to front view
   • Numpad 3 moves to right view
   • A selects (or deselects) all
   • Object > Transform > Origin to Geometry moves each selected object’s origin to its center - do this for all parts
   • G grabs (moves)
   • R rotates
   • Use X, Y or Z button after G or R to limit movement to one axis

   File:Coh print 4.png

5. Clean up costume
   1. Remove double vertices
      • Tab key toggles Edit mode
      • A selects (or deselects) all
      • Click “Remove Doubles” from left tool bar or choose Mesh > Vertex > Remove Doubles

      File:Coh print 5.png

   2. Recalculate normals outside
      • Ctrl-N or Mesh > Normals > Recalculate Outside

      File:Coh print 6.png

6. Add subdivision surface modifier
   • Tab to toggle out of Edit mode
   • Click wrench icon in Properties window in right to bring up modifiers

   File:Coh print 7.png

   • Click Add Modifier and choose Subdivision surface

   File:Coh print 8.png

   • Set to Catmull-Clark method with 3 subdivisions for View and Render

   File:Coh print 9.png

7. Clean up any special geometry
   1. If planning to use color or displacement textures, do not add or remove vertices, edges nor faces.
   2. Edged Parts (example: glove fin, belt ampules)
      • Toggle into Edit mode
      • Chose Edge-select at bottom

      File:Coh print 10.png

      • Right click the edge in question, Shift-right click to select multiple. Currently active selected edge will be in white, other selected edges will be in orange.

      File:Coh print 11.png

      • Shift-E or Mesh > Edges > Edge Crease to set edge crease. Creases can be set between 0 (no crease) to 1 (hard edge). I find .25, .5 and .75 the most useful. Edges will get darker and then more and more magenta as their crease value increases.

      File:Coh print 12.png

      File:Coh print 13.png

      • The same technique can be used to decrease the thinning caused by subdivision surface

      File:Coh print 14.png

   3. Single-plane pieces (example: visor)
      • Select the single plane piece.
      • Ctrl-L will select all connected vertices to the currently highlighted ones
      • P > Selection will split off selected vertices into their own object

      File:Coh print 15.png

      • On the new object, set a Solidify modifier.

      File:Coh print 16.png

      • Edge creases can be used to add additional embellishments

      File:Coh print 17.png

   4. Skirts
      • These often have an inner layer of vertices that cause issues for subdivision surfaces.
      • Split out skirts and capes as their own objects using P > Selection, make them a single surface and then add a solidify modifier

      File:Coh print 18.png

   5. Transparent textures (ex: Ghost Widow hair, tattered cape) [WIP]
8. Address obvious geometry issues
   • Belt ampules - these didn’t intersect with the belt after subdivision surface

   File:Coh print 19.png

   • I made them thicker by selecting the edge loops (the magenta ones), setting pivot point to Individual Origins and making then using S (scale).
9. Scale objects
   • In object mode, select all and apply Location, Rotation and Scale

   File:Coh print 20.png

   • S for scale to appropriate factor (x15.24 will scale OBJ in feet to 1:20 scale in mm)
   • Apply Location, Rotation and Scale again
   • Verify all your solidifies are at a thickness of material's minimum or greater wall thickness (0.3 for frosted ultra detail, 0.7 for strong & flexible plastic, 2 for sandstone)

   File:Coh print 21.png

10. Save file
11. Export to X3D
12. Repair mesh - I use netfabb for this

    File:Coh print 22.png

13. Upload to the 3D print provider of your choice (I use Shapeways)

    File:Coh print 23.png

14. Check for thin places

    File:Coh print 24.png

15. Correct thin places
    • Thin walls

    File:Coh print 25.png

    • Thin pointy tips

    File:Coh print 26.png

    • Thin organic shapes

    File:Coh print 27.png

16. Options: for WRL or MAX files
    1. Add color textures
       • Save base TIFs as color / diffuse maps in PNG format
       • Fix smears or other mapping issues
    2. Add displacement textures
       • Add color first
       • Save alpha layer of bump TIFs as displacement maps in PNG format
       • Add simple subdivision surface modifier
       • Add displacemet modifier
17. Options: Rig & Pose
    • Apply Rigify rig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiAd_08-0k
    • Pose
18. Options: Hollow model
    1. Save as solid original
    2. Save as hollowed / shell copy
    3. Export
       • If using displacement maps, remove second (simple) subdivision surface modifier
    4. Calculate shell with netfabb
       1. Set Accuracy based on size of model and what memory will support - 0.4 mm is an OK starting point
       2. Set Shell thickness to Accuracy + material’s minimum wall thickness
       3. Set Smoothen result to false

          File:Coh print 28.png

       4. Import shell to Blender
       5. Add escape holes
       6. Set up hollowed model
       7. Export and upload to your 3D print provider