Photo to 3D Model in Blender: Import, Clean Up, Export

What's in the download

One OBJify download is a ZIP with the same model in three formats:

Models are around 55,000–60,000 triangles with a single colour texture (no normal or roughness maps). Files are deleted from our servers after an hour, so keep the ZIP.

1. Import the GLB (recommended)

1. Open Blender and delete the default cube (select it, press X).
2. Go to File → Import → glTF 2.0 (.glb/.gltf) and choose model.glb.
3. The model arrives upright, about 1 m tall on its longest side, with its material already set up.

Blender starts in Solid view, which shows everything grey. Click the Material Preview button in the top-right corner of the viewport, or press Z and choose it from the menu, to see the colours.

Importing the OBJ instead

Use the OBJ if another tool in your pipeline expects it. Keep model.obj, material.mtl and the texture image together in one folder, then use File → Import → Wavefront (.obj).

The OBJ is stored with Z as its up axis, while Blender's OBJ importer expects Y-up by default. If the model lands lying on its back, import it again with Up Axis set to Z in the import options on the right, or simply rotate it 90° on X (R X 90).

2. Set the real size and a clean origin

A single photo doesn't say how big the object really is, so the model comes in at a standard size of about 1 m. If you need real dimensions, for a product render, an AR file or a game prop:

1. Press N to open the side panel and type the real height into Dimensions (keep the proportions by scaling with S instead if you prefer).
2. Apply the scale with Ctrl+A → Scale, so exports and modifiers see the new size.
3. Use Object → Set Origin → Origin to Geometry, then move the model so it stands on the grid.

3. Lower the polygon count

Each model has around 55,000–60,000 triangles. That's comfortable for renders, but heavy if you want dozens of them in a game scene.

1. With the model selected, open the Modifier properties (the blue wrench).
2. Add Modifier → Generate → Decimate.
3. Lower the Ratio: 0.5 halves the triangles. Watch the face count in the status bar and stop when the silhouette starts to suffer. Small background props often look fine at 0.1–0.2.
4. Click the modifier's dropdown and choose Apply when you're happy.

Decimate keeps the UV map, so the texture still fits. For a smoother look, right-click and choose Shade Smooth (or Shade Auto Smooth to keep sharp edges crisp).

Sculpting, remeshing and re-texturing

• Sculpting: the mesh is generated, so its triangles are uneven. A Remesh modifier (Voxel mode) gives clean, even geometry that sculpts well, but it throws away the UV map, so the colour texture no longer fits. Work on a duplicate.
• Fixing the back: the back of the object was never in the photo, so it is the model's best guess. Sculpt or texture-paint it if it matters for your shot.
• Better materials: the download has a colour texture only. Add roughness, metal or a normal map in the Shader Editor if you need a more physical look.

4. Export

• For games: File → Export → FBX or glTF 2.0. glTF keeps the texture inside the file. See the Unity and Unreal Engine guides for the engine side.
• For the web and AR: export glTF 2.0 as a .glb after setting the real size. See putting a 3D model on your website.
• For 3D printing: the included model_3dprint_150mm.stl is usually the better starting point, because it is already watertight. If you do print from Blender, remember that slicers read 1 Blender unit as 1 mm: a 1 m model exports as a 1 mm print, so scale it to its size in millimetres before File → Export → STL. More in the image to STL guide.