Blender 2.5 fixes for T3D
by Tod · 07/30/2011 (6:44 pm) · 11 comments
Blender has been my only tool for 3D modeling, well maybe except for Paintshop Pro and the occasional use of Photoshop. The recent 2.58 release of blender and the SVN version have some issues with exporting collada. A rainy afternoon while my wife and grandson were playing with his new train set, I decided to hunt them down and fix. I've submitted a patch to blender.org so hopefully these changes will make it into the release version.
I also added some changes that I have made over time in this patch. The biggest one is baking Inverse Kinematics into the exported animation. I hated the fact that IK constraints were completely ignored when exported to collada. I've also added a check that disables IK constraints when switching from the root pose to animation frames. This drove me nuts. The export is also faster by caching keyframe translations while the collada tree is walked.
Before the fix (Yikes!)
After the fix (Much better)
Video download here
I've compiled a windows x86 build that should work for most. I will also compile an x64 and Mac version and make those available if any one wants them.
Download Windows x86 binary
If you'd like look over my changes, by all means do so and share your changes :-)
Download the SVN Patch file
The patch is fairly simple if your familiar with SVN and VS2008.
Build instructions:
1. Google CMake and grab it.
2. For windows, follow these instructions. Be sure to check 'With OpenCollada when you generate the project with CMake.
3. Apply the patch using SVN.
4. Rebuild the project. (I use VS2008)
5. Done!
I also added some changes that I have made over time in this patch. The biggest one is baking Inverse Kinematics into the exported animation. I hated the fact that IK constraints were completely ignored when exported to collada. I've also added a check that disables IK constraints when switching from the root pose to animation frames. This drove me nuts. The export is also faster by caching keyframe translations while the collada tree is walked.
Before the fix (Yikes!)
After the fix (Much better)
Video download here
I've compiled a windows x86 build that should work for most. I will also compile an x64 and Mac version and make those available if any one wants them.
Download Windows x86 binary
If you'd like look over my changes, by all means do so and share your changes :-)
Download the SVN Patch file
The patch is fairly simple if your familiar with SVN and VS2008.
Build instructions:
1. Google CMake and grab it.
2. For windows, follow these instructions. Be sure to check 'With OpenCollada when you generate the project with CMake.
3. Apply the patch using SVN.
4. Rebuild the project. (I use VS2008)
5. Done!
#2
07/30/2011 (9:22 pm)
Nice work.. 
#3
07/31/2011 (11:27 am)
Excellent! Glad to see some Blender love. 
#4
07/31/2011 (1:38 pm)
nice fix, ty. 
#5
Can you tell me if on the new 2.5.x is there a way to export individual objects? Like "Export Selection" of the old 2.4.x.
07/31/2011 (3:23 pm)
Tod, good fix.Can you tell me if on the new 2.5.x is there a way to export individual objects? Like "Export Selection" of the old 2.4.x.
#6
I see support in the SVN version for this. I have not tried it yet, but I do see the code in the documentexporter.cpp file.
07/31/2011 (3:27 pm)
@AlfioI see support in the SVN version for this. I have not tried it yet, but I do see the code in the documentexporter.cpp file.
#7
07/31/2011 (4:33 pm)
Nice work! 
#8
08/03/2011 (12:36 am)
Very nice! 
#9
08/04/2011 (8:54 am)
This is good because I'm learning blender now to use with torque. 
#10
Now with it I can now to open collada animated files correctly in blender.
But your collada exporter does not work very well for me.
So I save my .blend and reopen it in blender 2.6
Is it possible to have a blender version with of your blender collada importer and the exporter of 2.6?
Thank you for your work!
12/07/2011 (2:25 am)
I do not use torque but I downloaded your version of blender.Now with it I can now to open collada animated files correctly in blender.
But your collada exporter does not work very well for me.
So I save my .blend and reopen it in blender 2.6
Is it possible to have a blender version with of your blender collada importer and the exporter of 2.6?
Thank you for your work!
#11
If you have new link please write here or if you find time send me to my email: settimox@msn.com
Thank you very much.
08/27/2012 (9:42 am)
Good work Mister Tod, i have test to download the resources but don't work the link..If you have new link please write here or if you find time send me to my email: settimox@msn.com
Thank you very much.
Associate Steve Acaster
[YorkshireRifles.com]
It's always good for people to know that there are cheap/free alternatives to using the very expensive "industry standard" of Max.
(I use an "older" version of Blender for the DTS exporter)