The advantage of using FBX is that it encapsulates all the assets into a single file making the export > import pathway much more straightforward. To this end, so long as all the assets needed for the product were exported from Blender, only a single file likely needs to be loaded (there are exceptions, see animation/pose for example). Once you have an FBX file, in IMVU Studio, create a product as normal, an accessory for example. After your file is loaded, click the download icon in the upper left-hand corner of your IMVU Studio Screen. Now click the “Import FBX” option in the drop down menu.
Import
Once a new derived product has been created click the download icon.
A file explorer window will appear. Browse to and select the fbx file just exported then click Open. Studio will detect the assets you are trying to import, which will then be displayed. To make changes to the import settings, click Set Up FBX. Clicking on Skip will immediately load the FBX into the importer.
Clicking on Set Up FBX will go through the Import Settings. Click Next to check and cycle through the settings, and click Import at the final window. You can also change the settings as you go through them.
When the FBX file is loaded into the importer it will show each of the elements that were included at export — for example, a skeleton, mesh,and material (texture). Check what’s loaded to ensure the parts needed are available (click the checkbox next to unwanted entries to have them ignored).
Adjusting the Scale
When you export from Blender, the default scaling value will likely need changing
One of the first settings you can check is the scale. How this is done will vary depending on how you choose to compensate for the way FBX deals with object scale. Generally, Blender exports will be too large for an IMVU scene — its raw numbers are measured in meters, which are extremely large in IMVU!
There are three different ways to change the scale:
- On EXPORT from Blender, set the Scale value (under Main) to 0.01.
- On IMPORT to IMVU by setting the Scale value to 0.01.
- Again in Blender, adjust Units (found in Scene Properties) so Length is set to Metric and Length to 0.01.
This assumes assets are being exported/imported based on the available Starter Files.
You can do second option in the first window of the Set Up FBX window.
To correct and compensate for FBX scale differences change scaling to 0.01
Once scaling is set, go ahead and click Next.
Import Changes
Click Import in the FBX Import Settings window to complete import and conversion
At this point the FBX file has been converted and the components it contained are ready for use. To see them and the automatically assembled product click Preview as normal. The assets can now be edited and modified as necessary!
Although the assets may be imported make sure to click Preview to see them
Scaling Issues
The FBX format treats object scale differently than Blenders raw numbers, being measured in Metres, scale means something; assets exported from Blender without compensating for scale are usually very (extremely!) large in IMVU. Following the general export or import steps outlined above, this scale difference can be solved in one of three ways; On EXPORT from Blender setting the Scale value (under Main) to 0.01*. On IMPORT to IMVU by setting the Apply scale value to 0.01*. Again in Blender by adjusting Units (found in Scene Properties) so Length is set to Metric and Length to 0.01*.
[*] Assumes assets are being exported/imported based on the available Starter Files.