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Blender Workflow Tutorial

This is a stub containing a simple outline of a Blender workflow. Disclaimer: I'm not modeling expert, there may be a better way to do this.

1. Open an existing Blender model or import a different format through the File menu (File > Import).
2. In the 3D view, drag out the secret panel from the right.
3. In that panel, select Display > Shading > GLSL.
4. Make sure you have a lamp in your scene while in this mode or your model will be dark.
5. Applying texture:
   1. In the UV/Image editor, click the image icon (Tooltip: Browse Image to be linked) to select your texture. If it's not there, click on Image > Open Image to browse for it.
   2. In the 3D View, select (right-click) your object and hit Tab to enter Mesh Mode.
   3. Hit A to select all your faces.
   4. In the 3D View, hit A to select all the faces there and select your image with the image icon. Assuming there's a UVMap, you should see your texture.
   5. If you don't see any faces you'll need to add the UVMap to a new texture:
      1. In the Properties view click on Textures (checkerboard icon).
      2. Click on Add New Texture (plus icon).
      3. Select Type = Image or Movie.
      4. Under Image, click on the image icon and choose your image file.
      5. Under Mapping, select Coordinates = UV.
      6. Under Influence > Diffuse, check Color and make sure it's 1.00.
   6. To add a normalmap:
      1. Repeat steps 5.1 to 5.5.
      2. Under Image Sampling, check Normal Map.
      3. Under Influence > Geometry, check Normal. Make sure it.s 1.00.
   7. You'll need to do this for each piece.
6. Piece hierarchy:
   1. Select piece A, hold shift and select piece B. Hit Ctrl+P and it will make piece A a child of piece B.
   2. Make sure all the pieces are descending from one single piece.
7. Setting piece origins:
   1. Select a piece.
   2. Place the 3D cursor where you want the origin to be (left-click).
   3. Click on Object > Transform > Origin to 3D Cursor.
   4. You can now rotate your pieces:
      1. Click on the dropdown "Pivot Center for Rotation/Scaling" and select Individual Origins.
      2. Rotate.
   5. Do this for all your pieces.
8. Preparing for Spring:
   1. Select your root piece.
   2. Press Shift-C to put the 3D cursor in the center of the world.
   3. Click on the dropdown "Pivot Center for Rotation/Scaling" and select 3D Cursor.
   4. Rotate your whole model so that it's -90 degrees. Unfortunately this appears to be only doable with the mouse (when using 3D cursor).
   5. Click Object > Apply > Rotation & Scale.
9. Save your model.
10. Select all the pieces of your model, ignore the lamp.
11. Click on File > Export > Collada.
12. Check "Export Only Selected" and export.
13. The dae file will be used as your object.