Accessories from an existing model

In many cases, you may want to convert a premade model from your modeling software into an accessory on Roblox. If you are looking to create your accessory from scratch, see Create accessories.

Using a provided 3D reference file, this tutorial covers each step in the workflow to properly configure and export a 3D model with PBR textures from Blender and generate your own rigid accessory in Studio. After you create the accessory, you can upload it to the Marketplace, save it to your toolbox, and use it in your own experiences.

Using a provided reference 3D asset, this tutorial covers the following rigid accessory workflow:

1. Modeling overview and requirements in Blender.
2. Texturing setup using PBR textures in Blender.
3. Exporting your asset as a .fbx from Blender.
4. Importing the asset into Studio.
5. Fitting and converting the imported model to an Accessory object.
6. Publishing and validating the accessory for Marketplace upload.

Modeling setup

Whether you are using an existing shape or creating your own 3D object, it's important to consider technical requirements, such as keeping your geometry within a polycount budget, and policy requirements, such as ensuring your design does not infringe on other creator's IP both within and outside of the Roblox ecosystem.

Correctly setting up your asset in Blender helps reduce importing and rendering issues later in Studio. When importing Roblox-related .fbx files, such as the provided mask asset, you might discover that your asset imports at a 1/100 scale due to the .fbx conversion. In your Blender project, you can quickly reset the scale to make the asset easier to work with in the Blender environment.

Using the Sci Fi Mask reference as an example, use the following instructions to import and set up your rigid accessory model in Blender:

1. Open a new Blender project.

2. Press A to highlight all and X to delete the default starting cube and cameras.

3. Navigate to File > Import > FBX and select the downloaded reference model.

4. If the object imports at a small scale, select the object and navigate to the Properties panel > Object Properties > Transform and adjust the X, Y, Z to 1.000.

   

5. If you are sculpting your asset from scratch, orient the object in your workspace. If you are importing, you may not need to make any adjustment.

   1. Make sure your asset is facing -Y forward.
   2. Ideally your accessory should be moved to 0,0,0 in the world to ensure it imports at the center of the camera in Studio.

Texturing

Texturing is the process of applying a surface appearance to a 3D object. Blender provides various tools and features to create and connect your own texture maps to your asset, allowing you to preview your model's final appearance and link the texture images to your exported file.

The mask example asset uses physically-based rendering (PBR) textures, which are advanced textures that create realistic surfaces under different lighting environments. PBR textures use multiple image files, or maps, to represent the various surface properties of your 3D object.

This tutorial doesn't cover the PBR texture creation process, which typically involves using third-party software such as ZBrush or Substance 3D Painter. Instead, this section goes over the process of bringing premade PBR image files into Blender and properly associating them to your asset on export.

To configure and link your PBR textures to your model:

1. Download Rigid_Mask_Textures.zip and unzip the textures images locally in the same directory as your Blender project.

2. In Blender, navigate to the Shading tab. Ensure that your object is selected.

   1. If you don't see the PrincipledBSDF node, select the +New button to create a new material.

      

3. From your file browser, drag and drop your texture .png files into the node section. A new image node appears with each file.

4. In the newly created node, click and drag the following image nodes to their appropriate connection on the Principled BSDF main node:

   1. _ALB texture: Connect the Color node to Principled BSDF > Base Color.
   2. _MTL texture: Connect the Color node to Principled BSDF > Metallic.
   3. _RGH texture: Connect the Color node to Principled BSDF > Roughness.
   4. _NOR texture:

      1. Click Add > Vector > Normal Map to generate a NormalMap node. This node is required to convert Normal PBR image maps.
      2. Connect the _NOR node's Color to the NormalMap node's Color connection.
      3. Connect the NormalMap's Normal to the Principled BSDF > Normal.

5. Test your textures by changing the viewport viewing mode to Viewport Shading > Material Preview Mode.

Clean up

After modeling and texturing your asset, you can begin the process of exporting your Blender project as a .fbx. The start of this process includes cleaning up your project, which can involve deleting or removing any extra objects, such as lights, cameras, or mannequin meshes, to ensure you only export the accessory mesh, and applying any modifiers to your mesh object.

An often forgotten cleanup step involves applying your transformations, also known as freezing your transforms, by setting your orientation, rotation, and scale deltas to zero. Failure to apply any transformations can result in unexpected behavior and orientation when importing the mesh in Studio.

To freeze your transforms:

1. In Object mode, select your mesh object.

2. Navigate to Object > Apply > All Transforms.

   

Export

After modeling and texturing your asset, you can begin the process of exporting your Blender project as a .fbx. The start of this process includes cleaning up your project, which can involve deleting or removing any extra objects, such as lights, cameras, or mannequins, to ensure you only export the accessory mesh, and applying any modifiers to your mesh object.

Along with deleting your extra objects and mannequins, an often forgotten cleanup step involves applying your transformations, also known as freezing your transforms, by setting your orientation, rotation, and scale deltas to zero. Failure to apply any transformations can result in unexpected behavior and orientation when importing the mesh in Studio.

To freeze your transforms:

1. In Object mode, select your mesh object.

2. Navigate to Object > Apply > All Transforms.

   

To export your model as a .fbx:

1. In the topbar, click File.

2. Select Export, then FBX (.fbx).

3. On the right-hand side of the file view window, change the Path Mode property to Copy, then toggle the Embed Textures button.

   

4. Set the Transform > Scale to .01. This is required to maintain scale size for .fbx exports.

   

5. Click the Export FBX button.

Import

Studio's 3D Importer provides a quick and easy way to import third-party 3D assets into your projects. The importer provides object previews and error-checking to ensure that your asset meets Studio's general 3D requirements.

To import your asset:

1. In Studio, navigate to the toolbar's Avatar tab and select the 3D Importer.

2. In the file browser, select the .fbx file saved locally. The 3D Importer loads a preview of the object.

   

   1. If textures don't load for your asset, you can manually import your textures in Step 4.

3. Select Import. The asset populates in your workspace as a Model with the appropriate textures applied as a SurfaceAppearance.

   1. If textures didn't load correctly, add them manually. You may need to save and publish your experience in order to access the Asset Manager.

      1. In the Asset Manager, click the Import button.

      2. Upload your image files.

      3. After moderation clears for your image, select the MeshPart parented within your imported Model.

      4. Add a SurfaceAppearance child to your MeshPart.

         

      5. In the SurfaceAppearance properties, click each property value and assign the appropriate texture image from the asset dropdown:

         1. Set the ColorMap to the _ALB texture image.

         2. Set the MetalnessMap to the _MTL texture image.

         3. Set the NormalMap to the _NOR texture image.

         4. Set the RoughnessMap to the _RGH texture image.

            

Convert

After importing your asset into Studio, you can begin fitting your imported object to a mannequin and converting the Model object into a Accessory. When fitting and converting your accessory it's important to use the Accessory Fitting Tool (AFT) to correctly preview the placement and apply the correct configurations to your accessory.

To fit and generate your accessory:

1. In the toolbar's Avatar tab, open the Accessory Fitting Tool (AFT).

2. In the new AFT panel, select the Part field and, in the workspace, select the accessory MeshPart object in the workspace and press Next.

   

3. On the Asset Type page, select the type of asset and the expected body scale. Press Next when complete.

   1. This tutorial uses a Hat asset with an Proportions Normal scale.

   2. Body scale is typically set based on the original sculpting and sizing of the asset. See Body Scale for additional information on rigid accessory scaling.

      

4. On the preview screen, select one of the humanoid characters as a mannequin:

   1. In the Avatars section, select a humanoid base body character.

   2. In the preview panel, deselect the previous selection. Only the humanoid body displays in the preview window.

      

5. Using both the AFT preview window and the workspace, adjust the position, scale, and rotation of the accessory.

   1. Use the AFT preview window and your mannequin as an accurate preview of how your asset fits on the character. The clothing mannequin in the workspace does not accurately portray how rigid accessories attach.

   2. In the workspace, use the Move, Scale, and Rotate tools to adjust the positioning of your rigid accessory.

   3. If you accidentally select something else, click back into the AFT panel to reselect the accessory and resume your adjustments using the transformation tools.

6. After previewing and fitting your asset, select the dropdown next to Generate button to select Generate Legacy Accessory to create the Accessory and add it to your explorer.

   • For rigid accessories that you intend to sell on the Marketplace you must use the Generate Legacy Accessory option when creating your Marketplace accessories.
   • PBR textures automatically convert to basic textures for these legacy accessories.

   

Validation

After generating your Accessory item, you can now begin the process of publishing the asset to the Marketplace. This step is optional and only applicable for creators who intend to sell their asset.

The publishing process involves three major steps:

1. Validation - Validation occurs locally at the start of the upload process. This ensures that the accessory meets all of the technical requirements before uploading.
2. Moderation - After uploading, Studio sends the asset to the Moderation queue. Moderation typically completes within 24 hours.
3. Ready-for-sale - Once the asset clears moderation, you can set your marketplace settings and enable the asset for sale.

If you intend to sell the asset on the Marketplace, use the following steps to begin the validation and upload process:

1. In the Explorer window, right-click your accessory object and select Save to Roblox… from the contextual menu.

2. In the Asset Configuration window, set the Content Type to Avatar Item.

3. Complete the following fields (you can adjust them later):

   1. Title: The name of your accessory.

   2. Description: A short description of your asset.

   3. Asset Category: The type of accessory. This should match the Accessory Type selected during the Fitting and conversion process.

   4. Creator: Use the dropdown to select if you'd like to publish this asset as an individual or as part of an associated group.

      

4. After you select the Asset Category, Studio begins validating the asset to ensure that it matches Roblox's accessory technical requirements.

   1. If set up correctly, the window displays a green Validation Successful confirmation.
   2. If you see an error Could not find a Part called Handle..., you may have published your accessory as a MeshPart instead of a legacy accessory. See Use the Accessory Fitting tool step 6 for more information.
   3. If other errors appear, see the error messages for specific details. Some errors may require going back to the modeling software and adjusting the asset.

5. If the validation is successful, you can submit the asset to the upload and moderation queue for a fee. See Fees and commissions for current fee information.

Publish

After uploading your asset for moderation, you can check your asset's current moderation status in the Avatar Items tab of your Creator Dashboard. Moderation can take up to 24 hours during which a placeholder icon is used on the creation page.

After moderation completes, your item's publishing details become available to edit and enable for sale. See the following for an overview on the various sale options available:

You now have your accessory added to the Marketplace catalog! Use the item's Marketplace link to view your listing at any time, or to send to your friends and followers for additional engagement.