Modifying STL files in Blender

Follow up from a previous video looking through some further tips and tricks to make the process easier.
Previous video (its an oldy): • How to import and edit...
Check out the Patreon: / artisansofvaul
You can find the STL used in the video here:
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/...
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/...
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00:00 Intro
00:55 Fixing and importing
03:15 Viewport tips
04:20 Removing triangulation
06:39 Quick methods to add detail
09:47 Mirroring
11:09 Tricks with "unfixed" models

[@SnarkySolarGuy]

I learned more in this video than in the last 3 months as a noob. TYVM!

[@ArtisansofVaul]

😁 That's awesome to hear. Thanks for watching and commenting and I'm glad I could help 😁

[@herculeholmes504]

This channel continues to be a tiny little gem! I'm so glad I found it.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

😁 Thanks so much man. 😁

[@theunaimedarrow4903]

I just started working with STLs last week. Great timing, and excellent content. Thanks.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

No problem. I hope it helps and feel free to ask if anything comes up.

[@jadersanctem]

This was exactly what I needed to see, thank you for the consideration of us beginners!

[@ArtisansofVaul]

No problem at all 😁😁😁

[@javksmolton3830]

Exactly what I was looking for. Love your videos 👍

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks so much and glad it's helpful. The previous one had been really popular so it seemed like it should get an "update" with some more ideas.

[@AnthonyHortin]

Some super helpful tips here. Thank you for this 🙏

[@ArtisansofVaul]

😁👍🏻 Cheers

[@funwithmadness]

Fabulous tips. You just saved me a bunch of headaches.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

That's great to hear 😁

[@Thiccron]

Great video as always 👍🏻

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks Mike 😁

[@richardokeeffe8375]

Ads are still rolling but I’m so pumped to watch this. It’s the info we really need!

[@ArtisansofVaul]

If you want to watch without the adds you'd need to watch the videos on the Patreon itself. They are all there without the ads (and in advance by a week)

[@richardokeeffe8375]

@@ArtisansofVaul honestly I’m so used to just watching in YT Vs Patreon. Happy to support by Patreon but this is just my habit now 🤷‍♂️ I guess this does also give your 0.0001p ad revenue too

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@richardokeeffe8375 😁 Cheers Richard.

[@Orviel74]

great vod as allways

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks so much 😁👌

[@Starflight_Miniatures]

Great as always, thanks

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Cheers 😁👍🏻

[@TitusKrakenDesigns]

Another great video! Thank you

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Really appreciate it and it helps "feed" the algorithm. It really helps out 😁

[@michaelmessuri7746]

Fantastic video. I am new to blender (less than a day of user under my belt) and I do most of my work using CAD software along with Vectric Vcarve Pro (I have both a 3D printer and a CNC machine) and this typpe of information is very valuable to me. Plus, you explained everything in a way that was not only able to follow but also easily understand. Now I am off to check out your tyoutube channels offerings as I am looking for ways to take a 2D image (say of a chartoon character) and add some organic shaping to it [Not looking to make it full 3D but rather a 2.5 D Relief for carving on my CNC machine]. Thanks again

[@ArtisansofVaul]

😁👍🏻 Great to hear its helpful. You can definetly do what you're looking for. Try looking at my videos on adding text as it will include a lot of the same tricks to help. Let me know if you can't find the video 👍🏻

[@ryansgarage214]

Just found this channel and its amazing! I am into 3d Printing so this really helps alot. Subscribed :)

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks so much Ryan. Glad you're enjoying it 😁 What sort of things do you 3D print?

[@ryansgarage214]

@@ArtisansofVaul - mostly I print functional stuff I use F360, For Blender I plan to design like interior sets for RC cars like seats, dashboards, roll cage. I wonder if this is a good tool for those. I cant draw a car seat in F360 without it looking like a box LOL

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@ryansgarage214 So doe things like seats its a bit advanced but there are functions that are often used for things like pillows that could be great for leather seats and things like that.

[@unasapres]

Thank you much. Super Awesome.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

😁Cheers

[@herculeholmes504]

So that's what X-ray mode is for! I was just re-watching this tutorial and now I've realized I could have saved myself about half-an-hour last night. Ah well, I know now. :-)

[@ArtisansofVaul]

At least now you won't have to waste time on it again 😁

[@Yamanoochi]

Thank you for your work! Keep it going! An idea for the next time - edit stl's in sculpture mode.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

I was thinking about that. To be honest I don't sculpt a lot but it really is something I should look into. The ever present issue of not having enough time is the main killer here as the "real life" job takes up a huge amount of time.

[@Yamanoochi]

@@ArtisansofVaul same problem with real time and family - they are for me on the first place. Then - hobby - late at night )))

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@Yamanoochi Totally! 👍🏻👌

[@taerog]

I absolutely love your work.. I share your channel with people all the time. One thing I might suggest is it just never save back into a STL if you can help it. it's just bad. save in 3mf or for complete compatibility OBJ. it loses much less information, will keep units, and faces much better. also the importer has more options (obj) and can be customized. ie I have a custom setting for import/export that only saves what I want, will triangulate and scale (often important as STL opens in meters) and so on. most all slicers open obj. extremely easy to add to workflow and has only benefits. 👍

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks so much and great trip. Have you found this when working from an STL in the first place? I only found it made a difference when you were making something new in 3D Builder, not changing an already existing STL?

[@taerog]

​@@ArtisansofVaul Well I see it as a workflow issue and that currently (this was not always the case) there is little need for STLs. STL only saves triangles nothing else, no normals, no groups, no units, no meta data, nothing. its original save and loading code that translates everything into such a basic format and it takes quite a lot into assumption. Effectively is the end product not to be edited, Like a highly compressed JPG. Now most of the time this is just fine. But other then legacy Apps is there is really no reason to use it? ie save INTO that format? Most all (if not all) slicing programs will read obj and more are reading 3mf... 3mf IS the new standard, so if anything we should be using that exclusively but for the legacy issues and less support. but this is changing fast - so good reasons to maybe not fully. The obvious alt is OBJ, and has been for some time . All around better format that EVERYTHING can import. The importers are normally quite robust (core library) and you can select what you want and don't. It can save more data and programs can choose to ignore what they do want to use. (ie normals). In Blender this got a lot of love lately and is crazy fast now. It also compresses the data so files are smaller (even if you save more data) STLs are really bad here. In blender if I do not know where it is going and want max compatibility of a model its always OBJ (with FBX for an extended set) For 3D printing its all OBJ and some 3mf for my workflow and no reason to export to STL unless I am upping it to a on-line site that is expecting them. My initial setup is to make a Blender operator preset for 3d printing in the OBJ import/export.. super handy. I can set defaults like Selection only, Scale 0.001 for import and 1000 for export so when I make items the units are correct (ie with out this it goes from mm to m this is fine if you are not measuring anything but nice to have it automatic ), Axis orientation, Auto Apply modifiers, and triangulate mesh. You can add Normals and any groups if you want. everything else is OFF. (I hope I got that all correct) Note you can set scaling in STL for that initial load. And the NEW experimental STL import now has presets and orientation. Scene Unit does not seem to have any effect and it has a alt normal gen setting and axis orientation.. . all good. Validate mesh is also good as many STL exporters are rather Bad. best to load into 3d bulder like you say. super handy app. What you get is a smaller, more robust file that any App will read and read correctly with extra data if wanted. and in a format that can be edited easier again if wanted or if you did not save a blender file. I hope that was helpful and usable. Now this does now help with getting the original STLs and your video's are always on the nose and practical. PS. My day job is to Scan objects (normally sculptures) Processing them and printing them out on a massive FDM printer (I can stand in) or a large CNC using foam. then cast in bronze.. So workflow is very important. I have been doing this for some time but I am still coming up to speed in blender and while I normally know what I want to do and how to do it in another program I don't in blender, or at least not well. Your videos are very helpful.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@Jon T Thanks for taking the time to write that. I love Blender but for 3D printing I can't say I've ever tried to use anything other than an STL so that's really interesting that slicers seem to be able to use other formats. Really curious about that and I wonder how people would feel about other formats of file upload on sites like Cults3D. Hmm....

[@taerog]

@@ArtisansofVaul yes, really it's the sites that may be holding things back... but Cults3d does allow other formats like 3mf or OBJ (actually the list is rather long.. step, dwg, ply, dae, blend, dxf, 3ds, etc) and interesting aside, their viewer supports STL and OBJ. Even the older CNC programs I use can use other formats like OBJ. (was not always the case and the origin of the format) so again STL hopefully will die out. it's just a bad legacy format that has no upside anymore. But as you noted we still have to use it and know how to deal with it.

[@christianlundmand7132]

Took me half an hour to realize, you have to click the "Select faces" to make this work (new to Blender).

[@ArtisansofVaul]

I should have been clearer about that if it wasn't obvious, so my bad. Glad you worked it out 👌🏼

[@mattpollock4868]

Another awesome video mate 👍. I'm about to start putting BA icons onto shoulder pads and weapons, have you done a video on combining two different stl's yet?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

I haven't yet. That's a good idea. When you say combine are you needing to modify them further than just combining them together? It might be better just using 3D builder as long as you're OK to eyeball it. But it can be done nicely in Blender.

[@mattpollock4868]

@@ArtisansofVaul I will probably have to modify the icon to fit on the curve of the shoulder pad. Wrap modifier perhaps?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@Matt Pollock Depending on the complexity of the shield I would say you might get better results with the simple deform modifier.

[@mattpollock4868]

@@ArtisansofVaul cool thanks champ, I'll give that a go. 👍

[@andreabell189]

Loving your tutorials! Any idea how to edit an imported FBX file from Revit in blender? I'm struggling to edit a radius of a bevel edge on the FBX file. The radius is looking not very smooth and curved so somehow need to increase the segments. Any help would be much appreciated! I'm very new to blender.....

[@ArtisansofVaul]

There should be ways but it will depend on the surrounding geometry. Any chance you could find me on Instagram to send an image or upload a Google Drive image here?

[@gregq8]

Thanks, I don't mind patching up janky STLs in blender after downloading (especially if they are provided for free) because I will often kitbash parts anyway and it's part of the hobby. My current worry is that as I try printing larger models I will run into voids/resin traps that I don't know how to fix.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

That's a very fair concern. I believe the new Lychee can help show that but I am not sure if that's only in the Pro version. Normally I have a very careful look after I have sliced it in the preview and look for voids there but it can be annoying to have to do that towards the end of the process. You can also make your own version of that by making a huge cube and then using a difference boolean, you can then move it slowly through the object to check for any voids in the middle.

[@eddiexx]

Just subbed after watching a bit, i got a tip about your channel. I started modeling just to make a base for some 2d drawings and now im totally trying to develop a workflow for bringing my models and designs into reality by 3D printing. Its mostly sci-fi ships, jets and practical printing. Regards/Ed

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thanks for the sub and I hope the channel helps. Blender is great for those sorts of sci-fi designs so I'm sure you'll find some useful ideas

[@eddiexx]

@@ArtisansofVaul there isnt much in this area really, most is around buying ready stls. Its much more fun to make your own, but, there is sooo much to take into account lol . Cheers

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@eddiexx Totally agree. Thats one of the reasons I started the channel. Finding things out by watching videos on CG workflow and then seeing if they work for 3D printing and modifying as needed took a lot of time and hopefully if I can save people a bit of that it will help everyone out. If something does come up do drop me a comment or message. 👍

[@eddiexx]

@@ArtisansofVaul I will. :) Have a nice evening./E

[@kennethbolhuis7265]

how to do the first steps if 3D builder from windows is not available to you? i do have a windows computer but there is no 3D builder on it, nor am i able to instal it anywhere. the file i have now is a 3MF file.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@kennethbolhuis7265 You should be able to find 3D builder on the Microsoft App store (or is there another reason you can't install it)? To be honest it's quite difficult to find a checking software that's as good as 3D builder. I have heard of some online (often with a payment) but because 3D builder is so effective I haven't ever tried others to be able to compare.

[@PeterMunster]

I'm trying to remove some holes from an object. This is giving me all sorts of problems. I am a novice to 3D, okay in 2D, been doing that for years. Any advice?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Without seeing what you're working on it's hard to advise but some of the issues discussed in these two videos could be the problems: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3aUeGqomZhom9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKGzdYt4f86kr6M

[@waleedabbasi9853]

Is there a Apple/Mac version of 3D builder?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Unfortunately I don't think there is as its a Microsoft product

[@bleeper81]

What is the alternative to center the object without Numpad . ? As MacBook/laptops does not have Numpad

[@ArtisansofVaul]

You can change the key maps in Blender so I think that would probably be the way to go. Or get an external keyboard with a number pad, their are a LOT of things in Blender you're going to want a numberpad for....

[@MarcosRuiz1979]

How can I make my Blender look like yours so I can find the tools in the same place?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Some of the tools I use as add ons so they will be in slightly different places. For example I use Machin3 Tools (an excellent free add on) to have the pie menu I use to swap between modes. Are there any tools in particular? Here's a quick breakdown of the major add ons I use: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3WYiaithrSJntU

[@pedrokayzergarcia6932]

whats a good alternative to 3d builder for mac users??

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Unfortunately there isn't one I'm aware of. The paid for version of Lychee has a function to fix mesh but it still isn't as good as 3D Builder. Frustrating I know.

[@DaveVedder]

Is there a Mac or Linux app that will do the same as 3D Builder?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

I'm not aware of one I'm afraid. Lychee has a file checker and I think you can then save as an STL so that could be worth a try.

[@Fahnder99]

hm. I need a clue to handle 1m faces in blender, contained in stl. boolean takes forever and does not work well with box-select and p-separate, even when I F-fill the holes resulting. I don't do sculpting and I wonder how they do that at all?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Thats a lot of faces, especially for some computers. I would try a decimate modifier on it (depending on the model you can drop the ratio by a lot) but it might take a bit to do the calculations. Then it should be easier (though you may drop a little detail so you will need to balance that)

[@Fahnder99]

@@ArtisansofVaul Yes but decimate also takes long and balancing takes ... forever. ATM I try to isolate the working area with knife/bisect +fill, working in place and then later joint the meshes with boolean. But it's hard. The problem with all this blender low poly modeling tricks is (as good as they are) - they don't work with high poly STL meshes with fancy detailed or rough surfaces. But as you said, decimate hard is a good idea.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@Fahnder99 if decimation is taking that long it may be more a limitation of your computer/hardware. That's a tricky limitation to do much about but it seems to imply that you probably need to take that decimation time to make the mesh workable for your computer.

[@Fahnder99]

@@ArtisansofVaul well yes and no. the 1m stl is 50MB. loading takes 10s and decimating to 10% takes 15s. But optimizing in 10 steps would take 150s and kill a lot of brain cells. so I'm not optimizing. But at some level of decimation, say around 20k faces, you can't recognize the model any longer. But for 3d printing this is a problem because there are many more stl around with 100mb and more. I don't want to know the number of faces in there.

[@Ajial01]

Hey, love the videos! Any chance you could do a video on making patterned floor tiles that are common in 40k? Also stuff like destruction used in ruins and stuff would be cool too!

[@ArtisansofVaul]

I'd be happy to but any chance you can link to and example image for the floor tiles to know exactly what you mean?

[@Ajial01]

@@ArtisansofVaul I cant find any official GW examples but this is the sort of thing I was thinking of, where the details are slightly raised rather than being in set like the previous example files.cults3d.com/uploaders/17189732/illustration-file/c9581686-f17b-482d-812f-284719ab0c80/Aeldari-60mm-Sigil-Base-Thumbnail-V1.jpg

[@Ajial01]

@@ArtisansofVaul Seems KZbin ate my first reply: This is the sort of thing I was originally thinking of i.imgur.com/LCTWcFY.jpg

[@Ajial01]

images.dakkadakka.com/s/i/gallery/img/2020/11/2/1083768.jpg Heres a better example of what i was thinking for the raised detail.

[@InitiallyJB]

Can you do a video of doing pave setting jewelry to a stl model?

[@ArtisansofVaul]

Do you mean making jewellery from scratch in Blender?

[@InitiallyJB]

@@ArtisansofVaul an existing STL file and editing it to make it jewelry with diamonds

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@InitiallyJB I would probably need to see it to give the best help but if you go to the preferences -> Addons and then search for "extra" and select the mesh extra objects there is then an option in the add new object menu for diamonds of various types.

[@InitiallyJB]

@@ArtisansofVaul like this but nobody can understand the process because the audio is horrible

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@@InitiallyJB Im a bit confused? The audio in my video doesn't seem to be an issue anyone else has mentioned? Or did you mean to post a link to another video and KZbin has taken it out (it does that sometimes). If thats the case you're welcome to find me on Instagram and send me a link there if you have it.

[@eitantal726]

I have the opposite problem: STL Export is not implemented well. It ignores instancing (Both face-instancing and collection-instancing). Ctrl+A, Make-instances-Real helps

[@ArtisansofVaul]

As you say its easy to get the instances working using Ctrl+A. It just depends what you want I imagine and if it didn't ignore the instancing that could cause more issues as it would create overlaps that have not been booleaned. This way you control what is happening and it draws your attention to the need to then boolean.

[@DavidGrammier]

Yeh.....3D Builder is no longer available.

[@ArtisansofVaul]

@DavidGrammier It is. I just GoogleD search Microsoft 3D builder and it took me to the Microsoft store download page for it....