| The KMZ file is Google's standard file format for models created in Google Earth, Google 3D Warehouse, and Google SketchUp. The goal of this tutorial is to show you how to import any of the many thousands of models from the Google 3D Warehouse, Google Earth, or Google Sketchup, into Blender. Why reinvent the wheel? It's highly likely that models such as background scenes, and common objects like chairs and tables, are already available in these programs. If all you want is to use these as a background, for your game or animation, why not import them into Blender? The secret to doing this is knowing how to import KMZ files. The KMZ file format is a compressed (actually a zipped) package of files, which includes the model as a Collada .dae file, as well as the textures associated with the model. We'll use the World Financial Center model, in New York City, a detailed model, stored in the Google 3D Warehouse, at: sketchup.google.com Blender can import KMZ files, preserving the textures on it, with the Collada plugin. I will show you some tricks to get the model to render in Blender, as well. |
