3dcoat PBR to Blender Principled BSDF Add-On

[Ballistic_Tension 76]

I will be using this ! Awesome for your time put into it.

[Haunted 21]

Hi all, thanks for the nice words!

I just updated the script to V 0.7, it now supports Eevee in Blender V 2.8 (Blender Dev build, can be found here: https://builder.blender.org/download/ )

I used Windows 64 bit (not the new compiler one). I guess it should work with any of these. Since Blender 2.8 is still in development, I can't guarantee the Add-on to be working forever.

Add-on download link: https://irrgeist.de/blender-3d-coat-pbr-import-add-on/

Just for testing. Here's a a test Eevee render:

 

Some technical/tester stuff:

The Add-on now checks for the Blender version to switch between old and new API. I tested it with both versions without problems. If you encounter an error, toggle on the console in Blender: 

Window => Toggle System Console

and post a screenshot. This can help me find the bug

 

Edit:

If you want to import your .obj with Blender 2.8 it will not work (for me at least). If you encounter the same problem, just import it with Blender 2.7 and save the .blend file. then open it with Blender 2.8  

Edited February 21, 2018 by Haunted
Corrected wording @ Download link

[Haunted 21]

Someone deleted the download link of the first post hehe  Guess it was mistaken with the Blender Dev Build link I also posted. I added the download link to my last post.

[digman 1,206]

quote "If you want to import your .obj with Blender 2.8 it will not work (for me at least). If you encounter the same problem, just import it with Blender 2.7 and save the .blend file. then open it with Blender 2.8 "

LOL, I found that out too. Why can I not import models into 2.8. Did some googling and found the same answer you did. It is just the current state of development I believe for 2.8, my guess that is... 

Thanks for the Eevee render plug in too, test sometime over the weekend.

Edited February 21, 2018 by digman

[Haunted 21]

4 minutes ago, digman said:

quote "If you want to import your .obj with Blender 2.8 it will not work (for me at least). If you encounter the same problem, just import it with Blender 2.7 and save the .blend file. then open it with Blender 2.8 "

LOL, I found that out too. Why can I not import models into 2.8. Did some googling and found the same answer you did. It is just the current state of development I believe for 2.8, my guess that is... 

Thanks for the Eevee render plug in too, test sometime over the weekend.

Yeah lol,

they changed a lot in the internal handling of scenes and layers and so on and I guess they did not update the Python binding so the import script produces an error at the moment .

Also interesting: https://code.blender.org/2016/12/the-blender-101-project-and-you/

Edit: And with the Blender Code Quest they are now trying to push the development and finish 2.8 until mid 2018  I just bought one of their rockets to support them: https://www.blender.org/2-8/quest/

 

Edited February 21, 2018 by Haunted

[unity2k 17]

This is amazing that you've taken this on, thanks. I also purchased a rocket and would love to support you in your endeavor to make our lives better.

Is there any news on the Applink integration?

[unity2k 17]

Forgot to click on "Notify me of replies" so I'm adding a kind of reminder post

[Haunted 21]

Hi @unity2k

thanks for the nice words

At the moment I am ill. Hope I am getting better soon, since I have two weeks off of work from tomorrow on  That means I can invest some more time into stuff like the AppLink, besides all the other stuff I am into.

Last weekend I took a deeper look at the existing one and the overall techniques behind it. I'll keep you updated on the progress! 

[Haunted 21]

I'll just leave this little teaser here:

 

It's nearly done. Have to work on the import to Blender a little bit more and check out how to best handle multiple object export/import.  

Workflows supported as of now: Metalness/Roughness and Manual. Manual will make the 3D-Coat import/export dialog popup. The other one won't.

The texture import will be based on the Principled BSDF shader and should work with any Node setup, there has to be a texture at the end of each PBR input somewhere though.

More soon .  

Edited March 28, 2018 by Haunted

[unity2k 17]

A million heart felt thanks for owning this and making it happen. Vielen Danke.

[Haunted 21]

40 minutes ago, unity2k said:

A million heart felt thanks for owning this and making it happen. Vielen Danke.

Ich bedanke mich vielmals für diese netten Worte!

I am also thinking about something like this:

You can create a new PBR material that is empty (leave fields empty) or select specific PBR maps. I even think about the user selecting one map, and the Add-On finds all the other maps by name in the same folder and fills it in automatically using the suffixes like _color, _normal, _roughness ect.

The use case I am thinking about is: 

You already created a model with textures in 3DC and exported it and want to tweak stuff in Blender. So you import the obj/fbx and create the material using this feature and render it with Cycles or do other fancy things with it, maybe bring it back to 3DC for Per-pixel painting. 

Could also be used to simply import existing texture maps as a new PBR material to an imported model you've found on the web.

Does this make sense?! 

[AbnRanger 1,537]

What would be great is if users could export from 3D Coat (FILE Menu > EXPORT TO > BLENDER) into the MyDocs/3DCoat 4.8/Exchange/Blender directory, but choose a sub-directory (project folder) there and point to that specific project folder in the Applink on the Blender side. Too many applinks only look as far as the EXCHANGE folder and thus you can have tons of different maps to have to sort through, because they are not neatly tucked away in their own subfolder.

Thanks for looking into this. Could be super helpful. I was just running some basic render tests with both Cycles and ProRender. With 2 GTX 10xx series cards, it's really amazing and fun to work with. Having a proper Applink will make it a much nicer experience.

[Haunted 21]

I am planning on adding a scene folder inside the Exchange/Blender folder. The folder name will always be the scene name of blender.

On the 3D-Coat side, you would have to manually export your stuff into the Exchange folder and rename your scene to the folder you created.

As of now it seems that 3D-Coat only shows an "Open in original App" menu entry, when first imported from Blender. After that 3D-Coat will always export the data for the specific Blender scene.

Workflow:

Open Blender, create model or import something > Export to 3DC > Paint or do something else > Export to Blender via "Open in original App"

Maybe I am missing something here, but using 3DC first, does not give me an export to Blender option:

[markzero 1]

Hi Haunted. Just wanted to say thank you for this awesome work! <3 

[digman 1,206]

@Haunted

Not sure why the blender export is not showing in your version of 3DC. Do you have an exchange folder setup, I think you might by your wording in the post but just making sure.

I also am very thankful that you continue to develop your plug-in.

 

Edited March 29, 2018 by digman

[Haunted 21]

42 minutes ago, digman said:

@Haunted

Not sure why the blender export is not showing in your version of 3DC. Do you have an exchange folder setup, I think you might by your wording in the post but just making sure.

I also am very thankful that you continue to develop your plug-in.

 

Mhh weird. My exchange folder ist set up: Exchange/Blender 

Using the latest stable release of 3DC :/

[digman 1,206]

I know it is a dummy question so sorry for that. Just being safe as you did not specify.

You have setup the exchange folder under Users/mydocuments/3D-CoatV48.

In Blender is your applink plug-in directed to use the Exchange folder. 

As I am not a coder just mentioning things I know that the current plug-ins use.

Hopefully some of this will help.

Edited March 29, 2018 by digman

[Haunted 21]

Hey @digman

don't worry, there are no dumb questions

Yes, my Exchange folder is located here (Windows 10): 

C:\Users\Irrgeist\Documents\3D-CoatV48\Exchange

I also create a Blender sub folder via script (AppLink plugin)

I also tried to capitalize my Blender folder. I don't get the "Export to" menu option. Maybe @Andrew Shpagin can help out here?

I am using 3D-Coat 4.8.10 (DX64)(educational)

Importing and exporting is working so far. 3D-Coat created the exchange folder and recognizes the files inside the exchange folder.

[digman 1,206]

Yes, that would be the best, Contact Andrew through e-mail with what you are doing. See if he has the answer or maybe he can update the exchange folder to handle sub folders that a plug-in will create. 

Edited March 29, 2018 by digman

[unity2k 17]

At some point they changed the name from Export (to Blender) to "BringVoxelsBackToApp" which will set things where you can click Import in Blender in the 3D Coat App and it will import the geometry. Likewise, if you hit Export in the App and then click 3D Coat the dialog will start so you can import the geometry from Blender. 

How when the geometry is originating from 3D Coat is the user "Bringing back" to Blender is beyond me?

[sHAYM4N 2]

Just a big thanks @Haunted for making this happen!  Have been doing this manually for the last few months, and testing it out now in cycles and works great.  Only thing I think I may have missed is there anyway for it to deal with multiple sub/materials?  On my test it just imported the one from the obj.  Just downloading 2.8 now to try out eevie - been meaning to try it out for a few weeks now, looks awesome!

[Haunted 21]

Hi @sHAYM4N,

thank you

As of now the PBR AddOn for blender creates a new material on the selected object. It imports all the textures that have the name of the .OBJ in it. 

I am planning to include a way to support multiple UV sets/materials in the upcoming AppLink AddOn though. This AddOn will also include the texture import AddOn.

I am in contact with Andrew to work things out ect

[tokikake 60]

Really cool!  thanks all your efort . Then I have same problem , about current 3d coat recent version and blender 2.79b.

I can not see menu "export to blender" for applink  export from 3d coat.

of course I edit,  Exchange folder.txt path, for 4.8  as same as up-date 3d coat version.

C:\Users\TAKE\Documents\3D-CoatV48\Exchange

and change blender add on / coat.py path too. It worked before.     So hope officially support and up-date blender app-link.

I could  export from blender, but  still not find way, after modify and export from 3d coat to blender.

("up-date" in blender 3d coat add on,  seems not work for the purpose.  )

And I really hope "multiple material" will  work with this plug in!   Because most of my mesh have mutlitple material_slot with material. (blender)

 

 

 

 

[Haunted 21]

Hi @tokikake,

thanks

The upcoming AppLink will correctly show the Export To > Blender dialog. The whole workflow is working as of now:

• Create with 3D Coat => Export To Blender (Blender has to be open)
• Create with Blender => Export to 3DC (3DC has to be open)

 I just need to implement some specifics like multi material and correct PBR texture creation and updates.

I hope I can post a beta soon, so y'all can test it and use it.

Edit: I will also post a video tutorial, when I am done, explaining the basics.

Edited April 13, 2018 by Haunted

[unity2k 17]

You cannot know how cool this is and how much it is appreciated that after so many years of neglect that the AppLink is being brought into modernity out of the stone age. Thanks and I'll definitely give it a hard workout when you drop it into beta.