3DPrint
- Export scene to .obj format per https://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,4947.0.html
- Import file to Blender
File:Coh print 1.png
File:Coh print 2.png
- 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
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
Clean up costume
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
Recalculate normals outside
● Ctrl-N or Mesh > Normals > Recalculate Outside
Add subdivision surface modifier ● Tab to toggle out of Edit mode ● Click wrench icon in Properties window in right to bring up modifiers
● Click Add Modifier and choose Subdivision surface
● Set to Catmull-Clark method with 3 subdivisions for View and Render
Clean up any special geometry If planning to use color or displacement textures, do not add or remove vertices, edges nor faces. Edged Parts (example: glove fin, belt ampules) ● Toggle into Edit mode ● Chose Edge-select at bottom
● 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.
● 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.
● The same technique can be used to decrease the thinning caused by subdivision surface
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
● On the new object, set a Solidify modifier.
Edge creases can be used to add additional embellishments
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
Transparent textures (ex: Ghost Widow hair, tattered cape) Address obvious geometry issues Belt ampules - these didn’t intersect with the belt after subdivision surface
I made them thicker by selecting the edge loops (the magenta ones), setting pivot point to Individual Origins and making then using S (scale).
Scale objects ● In object mode, select all and apply Location, Rotation and Scale
● 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) Save file Export to X3D Repair mesh
Upload to Shapeways
Check for thin places
Correct thin places Thin walls
Thin pointy tips
Thin organic shapes
Options for WRL or MAX files Add color textures Save base TIFs as color / diffuse maps in PNG format Fix smears or other mapping issues Add displacement textures Add color first Save alpha layer of bump TIFs as displacement maps in PNG format Add simple subdivision surface modifier Add displaceme modifier
Rig & Pose Apply Rigify rig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiAd_08-0k Save to not-to-be-touched version Pose Save as new file for posing Hollow model Save as solid original Save as hollowed / shell copy Export If using displacement maps, remove second (simple) subdivision surface modifier Calculate shell Set Accuracy based on size of model and what memory will support - 0.4 mm is an OK starting point Set Shell thickness to Accuracy + material’s minimum wall thickness Set Smoothen result to false
Import shell Add escape holes Set up hollowed model Export and upload to Shapeways