grayoak372939
Hi, who can help or explain how to make a character model in Blender 4 for Jedi Academy?
Character Modeling in Blender 4.x for Jedi Academy
A technical discussion regarding character modeling for JKA using modern Blender versions (4.1+). It covers the latest plugin releases, the importance of correct GameData pathing, and the challenges of using outdated tutorials with newer Blender interfaces.
Comms log
[2024-06-04 13:35] <grayoak372939> Hi, who can help or explain how to make a character model in blender 3-4. for the Jedi Academy? [2024-06-04 13:35] <mrwonko> do you mean 3.4 or "any version starting with 3 or 4"? [2024-06-04 13:36] <grayoak372939> 4 [2024-06-04 13:37] <mrwonko> there's a pinned message here with a link to the plugin for Blender 4.1. It comes with a manual that explains some of the technical requirements of the character model format, but doesn't explain much beyond that. There are some tutorials on https://jkhub.org and some YouTube videos, but I don't know where exactly the best place to start is. / Do you know how to use Blender in general? [2024-06-04 13:38] <grayoak372939> Yes [2024-06-04 13:40] <mrwonko> Good, then you can start by using the plugin to import an existing model and get a feeling for how the model format maps to Blender objects [2024-06-04 13:41] <mrwonko> and read the manual, it explains the limits of the format you need to keep in mind, and some peculiarities of the plugin itself (edited) [2024-06-04 13:41] <mrwonko> I have some plans to improve the export flow in the future, but I'm not getting around to it at the moment [2024-06-04 13:45] <grayoak372939> glm not imported with texture. And I don't know how to export? / [attachment: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103343134160728144/1247546652944764938/image.png?ex=6a02861c&is=6a01349c&hm=40e3dbf831da4fe375e35421fa8c1ace9ef5c6141e41f23d7a4fb4275822b858&] / [attachment: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103343134160728144/1247546653251076178/image.png?ex=6a02861c&is=6a01349c&hm=9619d852c6306e606292146ca6bb1f7daefa6d2f82db167cff17405380d0ef20&] [2024-06-04 13:55] <mrwonko> Try reading the manual, it explains what you did wrong [2024-06-04 14:00] <grayoak372939> Can you tell me where the manual is? [2024-06-04 14:02] <mrwonko> the download link is right next to the download for the plugin [2024-06-04 14:03] <mrwonko> hint: the keyword to watch out for is "GameData" [2024-06-04 14:11] <grayoak372939> https://github.com/cagelight/jedi-academy-blender-suite/blob/master/jediacademy_plugins_doc.pdf Is this a guide? [2024-06-04 14:12] <mrwonko> that's an outdated version of the manual I was referring to, you could arguably call it a guide [2024-06-04 14:12] <mrwonko> how'd you end up on cagelight's fork [2024-06-04 14:12] <mrwonko> where'd you download the plugin? [2024-06-04 14:14] <grayoak372939> https://github.com/cagelight/jedi-academy-blender-suite [2024-06-04 14:16] <mrwonko> how'd you end up there? [2024-06-04 14:17] <mrwonko> [attachment: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103343134160728144/1247554766029193276/IeAjLIAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC.png?ex=6a028daa&is=6a013c2a&hm=2d93e614078efb8238f256d415317e6ef24d06bec1e9461cf62c96458de6e0c1&] [2024-06-04 14:17] <mrwonko> try reading https://discord.com/channels/200934142278369281/1103343134160728144/1247544785951002754 again [2024-06-04 14:18] <mrwonko> actually, let me make it easier for you: https://github.com/mrwonko/Blender-Jedi-Academy-Tools/releases/tag/nightly [2024-06-04 14:18] <grayoak372939> https://jkhub.org/tutorials/modeling/frankenstein-or-kitbashing-models-in-blender-29x-for-jedi-academy-r174/ [2024-06-04 14:18] <mrwonko> I see. We need to update that tutorial. [2024-06-04 14:26] <grayoak372939> OK [2024-06-04 17:15] <vioxini> What do you want to do? Are you proficient in Blender? [2024-06-04 17:23] <grayoak372939> I own and want to create a character [2024-06-04 17:26] <vioxini> https://github.com/mrwonko/Blender-Jedi-Academy-Tools [2024-06-04 17:26] <vioxini> Need this [2024-06-04 17:26] <vioxini> I suggest also this [2024-06-04 17:26] <vioxini> https://github.com/Vioxini00/skeleton_tool [2024-06-04 17:28] <vioxini> Then you need to have all tags as in kyle, convention is recommended torso, head, hips, rl leg rl arm rl hand and everything assigned to skeleton_root as armature [2024-06-04 17:28] <vioxini> Everything must be weighted to bones [2024-06-04 17:29] <vioxini> Idk maybe if i have some time i will do a tut on following weeks. Too much knowledge that could help as FAQ to everyone joining this chanmel [2024-06-04 17:29] <vioxini> Writing i could be here 3000 messages [2024-06-04 17:44] <grayoak372939> ok [2024-06-05 02:19] <kirayamato4524> Yeah that's how I ended up here asking for help I found that tutorial and it was totally outdated and not working lol [2024-06-05 03:05] <tayst> Problem is blender changes so often [2024-06-05 03:06] <tayst> Version 2.8 tutorials which is most of the jka ones has not a lot of crossover to 4.1 due to all different interfaces [2024-06-05 03:06] <tayst> So you make a 4.1 tutorial and then it’s redundant when there’s blender 7.xx [2024-06-05 03:21] <i_am_noodle> If ou learn the fundamentals of blender it shouldn't be a problem really. I was very afraid of moving from 2.8 to 3.2 and it turned out to be very simple with some very minor things to adjust to [2024-06-05 03:21] <i_am_noodle> But if what you do is just repeating the steps that the tutorials say without understanding why, yeah, that can be an issue. [2024-06-05 03:50] <tayst> Yeah I still learnt to use blender from 2.8 tutorials but for a lot of people trying to figure out the different interfaces is enough to put them off trying at all [2024-06-05 05:42] <sakanade9615> ye reality is you watch a tutorial press something and it doesn't work because the UI or something else changed in between versions [2024-06-05 08:29] <vioxini> there are some actual changes to plugins and api however [2024-06-05 10:45] <grayoak372939> How do I export to glm? / [attachment: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103343134160728144/1247863957994344458/image.png?ex=6a025c1f&is=6a010a9f&hm=4c3147260d2389dceff6b5f5dcca56a1f9f56386d81ff2fb540fe8e227fd0c08&] / [attachment: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103343134160728144/1247863958476423209/image.png?ex=6a025c1f&is=6a010a9f&hm=9e78824f46a1ca71217c91fdc12988b3072d0bb8998730373c51b280cf9b56a7&] [2024-06-05 11:03] <mrwonko> https://discord.com/channels/200934142278369281/1103343134160728144/1247551310258245744 [2024-06-05 11:06] <vioxini> Just put a glm name lol [2024-06-05 11:07] <vioxini> oh was the menu changed? [2024-06-05 11:13] <mrwonko> it will not be able to deduce the basepath automatically [2024-06-05 11:14] <mrwonko> and the export dialog you're showing in the second screenshot does not correspond to the menu item you've selected in the first screenshot [2024-06-05 11:14] <mrwonko> that's the gla export, not glm
Transmission Thread
mrwonko
There's a link to the plugin for Blender 4.1 in the pinned messages. It comes with a manual that explains some of the technical requirements of the character model format, but doesn't explain much beyond that. There are some tutorials on JKHub and some YouTube videos, but I don't know where exactly the best place to start is. Do you know how to use Blender in general?
If so, you can start by using the plugin to import an existing model and get a feeling for how the model format maps to Blender objects. Read the manual; it explains the limits of the format you need to keep in mind and some peculiarities of the plugin itself. I have plans to improve the export flow in the future, but I'm not getting around to it at the moment.
grayoak372939
The .glm is not importing with textures. And I don't know how to export?
I found this guide: https://github.com/cagelight/jedi-academy-blender-suite/blob/master/jediacademy_plugins_doc.pdf
mrwonko
That's an outdated version of the manual I was referring to. How did you end up on cagelight's fork? Try reading the manual for the current version; it explains what you did wrong. The keyword to watch out for is "GameData".
Actually, let me make it easier for you: use the nightly releases here: https://github.com/mrwonko/Blender-Jedi-Academy-Tools/releases/tag/nightly
grayoak372939
I was following this tutorial: https://jkhub.org/tutorials/modeling/frankenstein-or-kitbashing-models-in-blender-29x-for-jedi-academy-r174/
mrwonko
I see. We need to update that tutorial.
vioxini
If you want to create a character, you need mrwonko's tools and I also suggest my skeleton tool: https://github.com/Vioxini00/skeleton_tool
You need to have all tags as in Kyle Katarn's model. The recommended convention is torso, head, hips, rl_leg, rl_arm, rl_hand, and everything assigned to skeleton_root as the armature. Everything must be weighted to bones. I might do a tutorial in the following weeks because there is too much knowledge required that could help as a FAQ for everyone joining this channel.
tayst
The problem is Blender changes so often. Version 2.8 tutorials, which are most of the JKA ones, don't have a lot of crossover to 4.1 due to the different interfaces. You make a 4.1 tutorial and then it’s redundant when there’s Blender 7.xx.
i_am_noodle
If you learn the fundamentals of Blender it shouldn't be a problem really. I was very afraid of moving from 2.8 to 3.2 and it turned out to be very simple with some very minor things to adjust to. But if what you do is just repeating the steps that the tutorials say without understanding why, yeah, that can be an issue.
grayoak372939
How do I export to .glm?
mrwonko
The export dialog you're showing in the second screenshot does not correspond to the menu item you've selected in the first screenshot. That's the .gla export, not .glm. Also, it will not be able to deduce the basepath automatically if you haven't set up your GameData folder structure correctly as mentioned in the manual.