Plug-in User Guide

Overview

The SpaceBlenders plugin for Blender is designing to simplify the processing of DEM images in Blender. We have automated GDAL image procesing tools to create image textures simply by picking a color scheme. These textures are pre-applied to your DEM image during the import process into Blender. Creating a 3D image is as simple as selecting a couple options and clicking render. We have also taken the hassle out of creating flyover videos. Our plug-in has several pre-defined flyover paths that can be selected before importing your image. Once the image is imported a flyover video is created by simply clicking on render animation. This user guide will give you an overview of how to use our plug-in.

Platforms

Our plug-in has been made cross-platform compatible for Mac, Linux, and Windows

Required Tools

Before the plug-in will work in Blender it is imperative that the following tools are installed and tested.

Blender 2.69
Python 2.7+
GDAL 1.10

Setting up the Environment on a Mac

Install Blender

Download Blender 2.69 from here.

Select the approraite version 32/64-bit for your system.

Follow the on screen install instruction.

After installing Blender we need to add it to your path.

Type the following commands in Terminal:


  echo "alias blender=/Applications/Blender/blender.app/Contents/MacOS/blender" >> ~/.profile
  source ~/.bash_profile

You should now be able to type the command: blender --version into Terminal and get the details on your version of Blender. Now Blender can be launched simply by typing blender into Terminal.

Check your Python

Mac's come with Python 2.7 pre-installed.

You can check your Python version by typing the following command into Terminal:


    python --version

You should see: Python 2.7.5, or greater. Our plug-in works with all Python 2.7+, if you need to upgrade your Python version click here.

Install GDAL

Download and Install GDAL 1.10 Complete from here.

After install add GDAL to your path.

Copy and paste the below code into Terminal:


    echo 'export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/GDAL.framework/Programs:$PATH' >> ~/.bash_profile
    source ~/.bash_profile

You should now be able to test your GDAL installation by typing the following in terminal:


    $ gdalinfo --version

If installation is successful you should see: GDAL 1.10.1, released 2013/08/26

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Setting up the Environment in Linux

Install Blender

Download Blender 2.69 from here.

Select the approraite version 32/64-bit for your system.

Follow the on screen install instruction.

Blender should be callable from Terminal by typing: blender

Check your Python

Linux Distros should come with Python pre-installed.

You can check your Python version by typing the following command into Terminal:


    python --version

You should see: Python 2.7.5, or greater. Our plug-in works with all Python 2.7+, if you need to upgrade your Python version click here.

Install GDAL

For Ubuntu based Linux distribution install GDAL with your package manager.


    sudo apt-get install gdal-bin

For other distributions, search your package repository for 'gdal', or see OSGEO's GDAL Binaries information here.

You should now be able to test your GDAL installation by typing the following in terminal:


    $ gdalinfo --version

If installation is successful you should see: GDAL 1.10.1, released 2013/08/26

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Setting up the Environment in Windows

Install Blender

Download Blender 2.69 from here.

Select the appropriate version 32/64-bit for your systemn

Add the Blender program to your path by typing the following in the cmd prompt:


    set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\;

You should now be able to run Blender by typing: blender into the cmd prompt.

Install GDAL

Download and Install OSGEO4W from here.

OSGEO4W contains GDAL, Python 2.7.5 and Numpy.

After install add OSGEO4W to your path by typing the following in the cmd prompt:


    set PATH=%PATH%;C:\OSGeo4W64

Typing OSGEO4W into the cmd prompt should display info on the OSGEO4W package.

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Download the Blender Plug-in

Click the following link to download the plug-in:


        SpaceBlender Plug-in for Blender

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Install the Blender Plug-in

Unzip the plugin and put the whole folder in the Blender addons directory:

For Mac:

Paste the following folder address into Terminal:


        open /Applications/Blender/blender.app/Contents/MacOS/2.69/scripts/addons

This will open a finder window in the Blender addon directory.

Drag and drop the entire folder into the directory.

For Linux:

From your file browser click on File System > usr > share > blender

In the Blender folder click 2.69 > scripts > addons

Then drag and drop the entire folder into the directory

For Windows:

Paste the following into the cmd prompt and hit enter:


    explorer C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.69\scripts\addons

This will open an explorer window in the Blender addon directory.

Drag and drop the entire folder into the directory.

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Activate the Blender Plug-in

Open Blender and go to File > User Preferences

Click on the Addons tab and search for dem in the upper left corner.

Select Import-Export: Import and SpaceBlend DEM (.IMG)

Click the check box in the right upper corner of the window to activate the plug-in.

Click Save User Settings on the bottom of the window, and close the window.

The plugin is now ready to use and can be found in the import menu.

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Creating a 3D Image

To create a 3D image of your DEM select the plugin from File > Import

Next, select your DEM image in the User Interface

Select the options for your image in the lower left corner of the UI

Choose a color pattern and make sure No flyover is selected

Now click the Import button to start the import process

Note: The import process can take several minutes depending on your image size

Once the image import is complete the main Blender window will reappear

To render your image click Render > Render image

You have now created your 3D image

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Creating a 3D Flyover Video

To create a flyover video of your DEM select the plugin from File > Import

Next, select your DEM image in the User Interface

Select the options for your flyover video in the lower left corner of the UI

Choose a color pattern

Choose a flyover pattern

Choose the resolution for your flyover video

Now click the Import button to start the import process

Note: The import process can take several minutes depending on your image size

Once the image import is complete the main Blender window will reappear

To render your flyover video click Render > Render animation

You have now created your flyover video.

Rendering will take several minutes to several hours based on the resolution you selected.

Your video will be saved in your current directory as an mp4 video.

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Changing Rendering options

The menu to set or change rendering options is on the left side of the main Blender window.

You can change the resolution.

You can also set the start and end frames of your video, which will change the video length.

You can set the location that your video will be saved under the output menu.

You can set it by entering the output path or selecting the file chooser.

Blender supports many video exporting formats.

Blender can also render individual image frames that can be compiled into a video later.

To change the video format click on the drop down menu shown, and select a format.

After choosing the format, click on encoding menu, and then the encoding drop down menu, to choose an encoding for your video.

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Blender Plug-in User Guide

SpaceBlenders Plug-in for Blender

User Manual

Overview

Required Tools

Setting up the Environment on a Mac

Install Blender

Check your Python

Install GDAL

Setting up the Environment in Linux

Install Blender

Check your Python

Install GDAL

Setting up the Environment in Windows

Install Blender

Install GDAL

Download the Blender Plug-in

Install the Blender Plug-in

Activate the Blender Plug-in

Creating a 3D Image

Creating a 3D Flyover Video

Changing Rendering options