How to export 3D model with TEXTURES from Blender to Unity

Introduction

When we export a 3D model in FBX format in Blender, not only the 3D mesh information is included, but also other elements are added as well, for example the UV map of the models, animations, materials and even the colors of the materials. These elements can be recovered when we import the FBX in another software, for example Unity. The textures, however, are not automatically included in the FBX file. In this article you will find information and videos on how to export a 3D model with textures from Blender to Unity.

I have 2 videos to recommend you about exporting from Blender to Unity

The following video is the best I can offer you so far if you simply want to take a 3D model with textures from Blender to Unity.

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Some tips before exporting to Unity

Give meaningful names to your objects in Blender, because the names in the Outliner in Blender will be the same names in the Unity hierarchy.
Make sure to remove duplicate vertices in your model.
Take care of the number of polygons in your 3D model.
Be sure to normalize the scale of your 3D model.
Make sure that the dimensions of your 3D model make sense after normalizing the scale.

Steps to export model with EMBEDED TEXTURES from Blender to Unity

1. Select the models to be exported, making sure that they have materials with textures applied to them.

2. Go to File > Export > FBX and check the “Select Objects” checkbox to export only the selected objects.

3. Change the “Path Mode” parameter to “Copy” and click on the “Embed Textures” button to the right of the “Path Mode” drop-down menu.

4. Give it a name, export and then transfer the file to Unity.

5. Select the model and go to the materials tab in the inspector. Click on the “Extract Textures” option and choose the destination folder. This will extract the textures from the FBX file and in my case they are applied automatically.

The other video I can offer you is a little more specific, here we see how to make the textures that are applied to a material in Blender to be copied inside the FBX file that is exported in Blender and then I show you how to extract those textures in Unity. This is a very particular procedure and if you are not sure that this is exactly what you need I RECOMMEND WATCH THE FIRST VIDEO.

Detailed process for exporting model with textures from Blender to Unity

Now let’s see in detail the sequence of steps above, it consists of two parts, one part that is done in Blender and another one that is done in Unity.

Export a Blender model with textures to use it in Unity

Let’s suppose we have a 3D model with textures applied like the one shown in figure 1.

3d model of the planet earth with textures to export and take to unity — *Fig. 1: We start from a 3D model that has a material with a texture applied.*

We go to the File > Export tab and choose the format, in our case we will use the FBX format to export our model. The export window will open, there we can choose the destination folder and the file name, in particular I always check the “Selected Objects” checkbox so that only the models I have selected are exported, otherwise unwanted objects, such as lights and cameras, would be exported.

export a 3d model in fbx format in blender — *Fig. 2: We proceed to export the model in FBX format.*

export selected objects in fbx format in blender — *Fig. 3: In general I export the models with this box checked, so only what I select is exported.*

In order for the textures to be included in the file it is necessary to do two things, the first is to change the “Path Mode” parameter to “Copy”, as shown in figure 4. The second thing is to activate the button on the right of the Path Mode dropdown menu (as shown in figure 5), that will embed the textures in the FBX file.

path mode copy in blender to pack textures in fbx file — *Fig. 4: In order to pack the textures in the FBX file we change the Path Mode to “Copy”.*

option to pack textures in the model and export — *Fig. 5: Activate the “Embed” option which will include the textures in the FBX file.*

Import in Unity a Blender model with textures embedded in the FBX file

Once the model is exported with the previous method, we import that FBX file to Unity, we should see something similar to what we see in figure 6. Inside the model we only see the meshes and materials that are included, notice that the textures are still not there.

3d model imported in unity — *Fig. 6: We bring the 3D model into Unity, the textures do not appear automatically.*

With the model selected we go to the Inspector window and enter the “Materials” tab, figure 7. Inside Materials we have a button to extract the textures, we press it and choose the destination folder in the pop-up window.

materials tab of an fbx model to extract its textures in unity — *Fig. 7: In the model inspector window go to the materials tab.*

option to extract the textures that come inside a model in unity — *Fig. 8: Click on the “Extract Textures” option and select the destination folder.*

This extracts the textures that come from within the model and even applies them to the material.