Export Helper Pro

A Blender add-on for batch exporting objects and collections to FBX, glTF, and OBJ formats with engine-specific presets for Unity, Unreal, and Godot.

Version: 2.0.0 Blender: 4.2+ / 5.0 compatible Location: View3D > Sidebar (N) > Export tab

Features

Export Formats

• FBX (Unity) - Optimised settings for Unity import
• FBX (Unreal) - Optimised settings for Unreal Engine
• FBX (Generic) - Standard FBX settings for other applications
• glTF/GLB - glTF 2.0 for Godot, web, and modern engines
• OBJ - Wavefront OBJ with PBR material extensions

Export Modes

• Export All Objects - Export every mesh in the scene as individual files
• Export Selected - Export only selected objects individually
• Quick Collection Export - Export a single collection (with sub-collections) as one file
• Multi-Collection Export - Batch export multiple collections, each as its own file

Smart Features

• Viewport Colour Conversion - Automatically converts Viewport Display colours to Principled BSDF materials during export, ensuring colours appear in your target engine
• Sharp Edge Preservation - Temporarily applies Edge Split modifier to preserve flat shading on marked sharp edges (glTF/OBJ)
• Centre Origins - Optionally moves objects to world origin during export, then restores them
• Recursive Collections - Collection exports include all objects from nested sub-collections
• Armature Inclusion - Automatically includes armatures when exporting rigged meshes (FBX)
• Embed Textures - Option to embed textures inside FBX files for portability

Installation

1. Download the .zip file from the releases
2. In Blender: Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install
3. Navigate to and select the downloaded .zip file
4. Enable "Export Helper Pro" in the add-ons list

Usage

Basic Setup

1. Save your .blend file - The add-on creates export folders relative to your file location
2. Open the sidebar in the 3D View (press N)
3. Select the Export tab

Export Options

OptionDescriptionCentre OriginsTemporarily moves objects to world origin for export, then restores their positionConvert Viewport ColoursCreates Principled BSDF materials from Viewport Display coloursInclude ArmaturesIncludes armatures when exporting rigged meshes (FBX only)Embed TexturesEmbeds textures inside FBX files (FBX only)Preserve Sharp EdgesApplies temporary Edge Split modifier for flat shading (glTF/OBJ)glTF FormatChoose between GLB (single binary) or glTF + separate files

Export Workflows

Individual Objects

1. Select your export format
2. Click Export All Objects to export every mesh, or
3. Select specific objects and click Export Selected

Single Collection

1. In the "Quick Collection Export" section, select your target collection
2. The panel shows object count and sub-collection info
3. Click Export Collection - all objects (including nested sub-collections) export as one file

Multiple Collections

1. In the "Multi-Collection Export" section, click + to add collections
2. Or click the preset icon to add all scene collections automatically
3. Toggle checkboxes to enable/disable individual collections
4. Click Export X Collections to batch export

Open Export Folder

Click Open Export Folder to open the output directory in your file browser.

Output Structure

Exports are organised in a folder next to your .blend file:

yourfile.blend
yourfile-export/
├── FBX_Unity/      # Unity FBX exports
├── FBX_Unreal/     # Unreal FBX exports
├── FBX/            # Generic FBX exports
├── GLB/            # glTF binary exports
├── glTF/           # glTF separate exports
└── OBJ/            # OBJ exports

Each object or collection is exported with its Blender name as the filename.

Format-Specific Settings

FBX (Unity)

• Face-based smoothing
• Tangent space enabled
• No leaf bones (cleaner skeleton hierarchy)
• Y-up, -Z forward axis

FBX (Unreal)

• Edge-based smoothing
• Mesh edges preserved
• Tangent space enabled
• No leaf bones
• Y-up, -Z forward axis

FBX (Generic)

• Face-based smoothing
• Baked transforms
• Standard settings for general use

glTF/GLB

• Applied modifiers
• Tangents and normals exported
• Y-up orientation
• GLB: Single binary file with embedded textures
• glTF: Separate .gltf, .bin, and texture files

OBJ

• PBR material extensions enabled
• Applied modifiers
• UVs and normals exported
• Y-up, -Z forward axis

Viewport Colour Workflow

This feature is particularly useful for game asset workflows where you:

1. Model objects using simple Viewport Display colours (no shader nodes)
2. Want those colours to appear in your game engine

How it works:

• Materials without Principled BSDF nodes are temporarily converted during export
• The Viewport Display colour becomes the Base Colour
• Original materials are restored after export

Sharp Edge Workflow

For hard-surface models with flat shading:

1. In Edit Mode, select edges you want sharp
2. Edge > Mark Sharp
3. Enable "Preserve Sharp Edges" in the export panel
4. Export to glTF or OBJ

The add-on temporarily adds an Edge Split modifier (using marked sharp edges only), exports, then removes it.

Compatibility

• Blender 4.2+ - Supported
• Blender 5.0 - Fully supported
• Older versions - May work but untested; some features require 4.x APIs

Credits

• Michael Bridges - Original Export Helper add-on
• Embark Studios - Inspiration from blender-tools

Licence

MIT Licence