This is a script to export scenes from Blender to Lightflow python scripts. The script was originally created by Jaan 'Montz' Oras, I made some changes (with permission) to make it more up-to-date. Lots of things have changed, and it will probably take you some time to get to know all features. It is not perfect, largely due to the not so up-to-date Blender python API, so don't expect to be able to export every Blender scene. Even if it can be exported, you will probably need to do a lot of tweaking to get the results you are looking for. But I tried to take things as far as I could, so hopefully you won't have too much trouble getting what you want.
For both Linux and Windows:
1. Lightflow (Don't download py1.5
there,not needed anymore!)
2. Python 2.0
3. or for Blender2.26: Python 2.2
For windows users, the script now works without using python 1.5,
so you won't need to install that for Lightflow, if everything is
installed correctly by the install-script, you should even be
able to run the Lightflow example scripts without problems.
Higher python versions also should work without problems.
Linux users already could use Lightflow with other python
versions.
And finally, optional, but recommended,
(although Windows only I'm afraid):
3. MATSpiderLF
The script is integrated with MATSpider which will make it
possible to directly import materials and edit them. But the
script will work without it in case you don't need it.
Since quite a few people have reported
problems installing Lightflow and Python as well (and that number
has grown considerably since this script was first released) ,
this might be helpful: notes on installing.
You should REALLY read that, even in the
case you already installed Lightflow, since some things have
changed quite a bit, and probably will cause problems if you
don't follow the instructions to the letter... This was never my
intention at all, but it seems I have made things so complex that
very few people seem to succeed in getting it all to work. So
PLEASE read that text again, even if you already
installed and used Lightflow before!
Done that, now what?
Nothing much really, just unzip the file
anywhere you want, start blender, load the install.blend file, use ALT-P in the
text window (mouse pointer in the text window too!), which will
start a python script which in turn will (try to) install
everything for you, watch the DOS-shell/terminal for output, and
maybe some input as well, just simple yes/no answers (type 'y' or
'n'). After that is done, for new scenes you only need to load
the very small LFGUI_START.py
file into a blender text window (F11 key for
text window, ALT-O to load a file) and use ALT-P again to start
the export script.
As an example, a blendfile with a blenderlogo model is also
included.
Note that all scripts REQUIRE that both
Lightflow and Python are correctly installed, in particular that
all the environment variables are set, again refer to notes on installing for more information. Also take a look at that in case
you already installed Lightflow (in particular, the LFTEMP
directory and the use of spaces in filenames).
In case you use Linux and installed Lightflow somewhere it needs
root access permissions, it is better to to change this to the
'personal' installation method as described in the
text.
All scripts will simply stop if they cannot find PYTHONPATH, LIGHTFLOWPATH or LIGHTFLOWTEMP.
Update: PYTHONPATH is actually not really needed
anymore, it should really be set, but if you can't be bothered,
the shortcut method of setting the python lib directory in
Blender should work as well.
For more info on setting PYTHONPATH see this PYTHONPATH101
thread on elysiun
Inspiration:
Jacopo Pantaleoni, Jaan Oras, Alejandro Conty Estevez, Takeshi Maeda, Sebastien Loss, Jean Michel Soler, Chris Green, Jano Lukac, Martin Poirier and all the people complaining about the many problems of the script.
Script Testers:
Ford 'fullback' Roberts, Stefano 'S68' Selleri, Hans 'hannibar' Packet, Matthew 'meestaplu' Plough, Alex 'Skates' Kemmler, Jon 'mrmunkily' Lake.
Special thanks to Matt Plough for helping out with the compilation of the 'LFArender' utility for Windows, and Stefano Selleri for the initial design of the GUI.
Thanks to Yuji Konishi for the alphamapping improvements for Blendfile import.
Also thanks to Dietmar Kopp for the idea for LFArender.
And finally, A Very Special Thanks to the Creator of Blender: Ton Roosendaal.
July 13 --- Oct 10, 2002