BlockBlender: How to Turn Mesh into Minecraft Blocks in Blender

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to turn anything into Minecraft blocks in Blender? If so, you might be interested in BlockBlender, a powerful and easy-to-use addon that lets you do just that. BlockBlender is an addon that allows you to convert any mesh into a blocky version, using a variety of block categories and collections. You can also customize the color, texture, and noise of your blocks, and create stunning gradients and layers.

BlockBlender is perfect for creating Minecraft-style scenes, models, and animations in Blender. You can also export your creations to Minecraft using another addon. If you want to learn more about BlockBlender and how to use it, keep reading this article. You can also check out the product page on Blender Market for more details and screenshots.

How to Install and Enable BlockBlender

To use BlockBlender, you need to download the file block_on.py from Blender Market. This is the only file you need to install the addon. To enable the addon in Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons and click on the Install button. Check the box next to it to enable the addon. To access the addon, select any mesh object in your scene and go to Object > Block On. You should see a new panel with various options and settings.

How to Use BlockBlender

To use BlockBlender, you need to select any mesh object and use the Block On operator. This will convert your mesh into a blocky version, using the default settings. You can adjust the settings in the panel to change the appearance of your blocks. Here are some of the main settings you can tweak:

• Block Size: This determines how big each block is. You can use a slider or enter a value in meters.
• Resolution: This determines how many blocks are used to cover your mesh. You can use a slider or enter a value in percentage.
• Offset: This determines how much the blocks are shifted from their original position. You can use a slider or enter a value in meters.
• Category: This determines what kind of blocks are used. You can choose from Basic, Stone, Wood, Metal, Glass, Organic, or Custom.
• Collection: This determines what specific blocks are used within each category. You can choose from different presets or create your own custom collection.
• Color: This determines how the blocks are colored. You can choose from Palette, Vertex Paint, or Image Texture.
• Palette: This determines what color palette is used for the blocks. You can choose from different presets or create your own custom palette.
• Vertex Paint: This determines how the blocks are colored based on the vertex colors of your mesh. You need to have vertex colors assigned to your mesh before using this option.
• Image Texture: This determines how the blocks are colored based on an image texture of your choice. You need to have an image texture assigned to your mesh before using this option.
• Noise: This determines how much random variation is added to the blocks. You can use a slider or enter a value in percentage.

How to Make Gradients with BlockBlender

One of the coolest features of BlockBlender is that it allows you to create smooth color transitions between different blocks. This is done by using the gradient tool, which is located at the bottom of the panel. There are three types of gradients you can use:

• Gradient: This creates a linear gradient between two points of your choice. To use it, click on the Gradient button and then click on two points on your mesh. A gradient will be created between those points, using the colors of your palette or vertex paint.
• Radial Gradient: This creates a circular gradient around a point of your choice. To use it, click on the Radial Gradient button and then click on a point on your mesh. A gradient will be created around that point, using the colors of your palette or vertex paint.
• Custom Gradient: This creates a custom shape or pattern of your choice. To use it, click on the Custom Gradient button and then draw a shape or pattern on your mesh using left clicks. A gradient will be created along that shape or pattern, using the colors of your palette or vertex paint.

You can also adjust the smoothness and strength of your gradients using sliders in the panel.

How to Use Layers with BlockBlender

Another useful feature of BlockBlender is that it allows you to use layers to plan and organize your builds. Layers are like separate groups of blocks that you can manipulate independently from each other. To use layers, you need to enable them in the panel by checking the box next to Layer Option. Then, you will see a new section with different buttons and settings. Here are some of the things you can do with layers:

• Add Layer: This adds a new layer to your build. You can name your layer and assign it a color for easy identification.
• Remove Layer: This removes the current layer from your build. You can choose to delete the blocks or move them to another layer.
• Rename Layer: This renames the current layer to something else.
• Reorder Layer: This changes the order of the layers in your build. You can drag and drop the layers to rearrange them.
• Visibility: This toggles the visibility of the current layer. You can hide or show the blocks in that layer.
• Selectability: This toggles the selectability of the current layer. You can lock or unlock the blocks in that layer.
• Move to Layer: This moves the selected blocks to another layer of your choice.

How to Export Your Creations to Minecraft

If you want to export your creations to Minecraft, you need to know that BlockBlender cannot do that directly. However, there is another addon that can help you with that. It is called .schem Exporter, and it allows you to export your models as .schem files, which are compatible with Minecraft. To use this addon, you need to download it from GitHub and install it in Blender. Then, you need to select your model and go to File > Export > .schem File. You will see a new panel with different options and settings. Here are some of the main ones you need to pay attention to:

• Name: This determines the name of your .schem file. You can enter any name you want, but make sure it ends with .schem
• Size: This determines the size of your .schem file. You can use a slider or enter a value in blocks.
• Offset: This determines how much your model is shifted from the origin point. You can use sliders or enter values in blocks.
• Rotation: This determines how much your model is rotated around the origin point. You can use sliders or enter values in degrees.
• Flip: This determines whether your model is flipped along any axis. You can check or uncheck the boxes for X, Y, and Z axes.
• Blocks: This determines what blocks are used for your model. You can choose from different presets or create your own custom mapping.

Once you are happy with your settings, click on the Export button and save your file somewhere on your computer. Then, you need to import it into Minecraft using a program like WorldEdit or MCEdit. You can find tutorials on how to do that online.

Conclusion

BlockBlender is an amazing addon that allows you to turn anything into Minecraft blocks in Blender. It has many features and benefits that make it easy and fun to use. You can customize your blocks with different categories, collections, colors, textures, and noise. You can also create gradients and layers for more variety and complexity. And you can export your creations to Minecraft using another addon. BlockBlender is a must-have for any Blender user who loves Minecraft or wants to create Minecraft-style models and animations.

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