EasyMesh Batch Exporter for Blender

A Blender add-on for batch exporting meshes, curves, and metaballs with advanced memory optimisation, modifier control, LOD generation, texture optimisation, and viewport indicators for recent exports. Curves and metaballs are automatically converted to meshes during export. Designed to handle large, complex meshes without crashes.

Features

🚀 Performance & Memory Optimisation

• Large Mesh Support: Handles meshes with 2+ million polygons without crashes
• Smart Memory Management: Automatic garbage collection and cleanup for large meshes (>500K polygons)
• Progressive Processing: Memory cleanup every 3 modifiers during heavy modifier stacks
• Threshold-Based Optimisation: Different strategies for large (500K+) and very large (1M+) meshes

🎛️ Advanced Modifier Control

• Flexible Modifier Application: Choose which modifiers to apply during export:
  • None: Skip all modifiers for fastest performance
  • Visible: Apply only viewport-visible modifiers (default)
  • Render: Apply only render-enabled modifiers
• Smart Processing: Respects Blender's modifier visibility states
• Memory Efficient: Automatic cleanup between modifier applications

📦 Batch Export

• Multi-Object Support: Export meshes, curves, and metaballs simultaneously
• Automatic Conversion: Curves and metaballs are converted to meshes during export
• Progress Tracking: Real-time progress bar and detailed console logging
• Error Handling: Robust error recovery with detailed failure reporting
• Multiple Formats: FBX, OBJ, glTF (binary/JSON), USD, and STL support

🎯 Precision Controls

• Transform Options:
  • Zero object location before export
  • Custom export scale with format-specific handling
  • Configurable Forward and Up axes
• Units Handling: Seamless conversion between metres and centimetres
• Naming System: Custom prefixes and suffixes for organised file output

🔧 Mesh Processing

• Triangulation: Multiple methods (Beauty, Fixed, Alternate, Shortest Diagonal) with normal preservation
• Smoothing Control: Format-specific smoothing options (Face, Edge, Off)
• Memory-Safe Operations: All processing optimised for large mesh stability

📊 LOD Generation

• Automatic LODs: Generate up to 4 levels of detail using Decimate modifier
• Progressive Building: Each LOD built from previous (60% faster, 50% less memory)
• Symmetry Preservation: Maintain model symmetry during decimation
• Quality Control: Individual ratio settings for each LOD level
• Advanced Texture Optimisation:
  • Automatic texture downscaling with customisable sizes per LOD
  • Aspect ratio preservation to prevent distortion
  • Format preservation (PNG for alpha, HDR for high dynamic range)
  • Normal map quality preservation (keeps higher resolution)
  • Compression quality control for lossy formats (0-100)
  • Smart resizing (no upscaling of small textures)

👁️ Visual Feedback

• Export Indicators: Optional viewport colour coding for recently exported objects
  • Green: Recently exported (< 1 minute)
  • Yellow: Previously exported (< 5 minutes)
  • Toggle on/off via checkbox for cleaner viewport when needed
• Recent Exports Panel: Interactive list of exported objects with selection
• Detailed Logging: Comprehensive console output with polygon counts and timing

Installation

Method 1: Blender Extensions

1. In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences....
2. Navigate to the Get Extensions tab.
3. Search for "EasyMesh Batch Exporter" and click the Install button.

You can also find the add-on directly on Blender Extensions.

Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Download the latest release .zip file from the Releases page.
2. In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences....
3. Navigate to the Get Extensions tab.
4. In the top right next to Repositories, click the ⌄ dropdown menu.
5. Choose Install from Disk... from the dropdown.
6. Navigate to where you downloaded the .zip file in step 1.
7. Select the .zip file and click Install from Disk.

Usage

1. Find the Panel: The add-on's panel appears in the 3D Viewport's Sidebar (Press N key if hidden) under the "Exporter" tab.

2. Select Objects: Select one or more mesh, curve, or metaball objects you want to export in the 3D Viewport.

3. Configure Settings: Adjust the settings in the "EasyMesh Batch Exporter" panel:

   Basic Settings

   • Export Path: Choose the directory where files will be saved
   • Format: Select output format (FBX, OBJ, glTF, USD, STL)
   • Coordinate System: Set Forward and Up axes for your target application
   • Scale & Units: Set global scale and choose between metres/centimetres
   • Smoothing: Select smoothing method (Face, Edge, Off) for supported formats

   Transform & Processing

   • Zero Location: Set object location to (0,0,0) before export
   • Modifier Mode: Choose which modifiers to apply:
     • None: Skip all modifiers (fastest, export base mesh only)
     • Visible: Apply viewport-visible modifiers (recommended)
     • Render: Apply render-enabled modifiers (most complete)
   • Triangulate: Optional mesh triangulation with method selection and normal preservation

   File Naming

   • Prefix/Suffix: Add custom text to exported filenames for organisation

   LOD Generation (Optional)

   • Quick LODs: Enable in sub-panel header to generate up to 4 detail levels
   • Symmetry: Maintain model symmetry during decimation
   • Resize Textures: Enable automatic texture optimisation for LODs
   • Texture Settings (when resizing enabled):
     • Compression: Quality setting for lossy formats like JPEG (0-100)
     • Preserve Normal Maps: Keep normal maps at higher resolution
     • LOD Texture Sizes: Customisable max size for each LOD (8K to 128px)
   • Ratios: Individual mesh decimation settings for each LOD level
   • Note: LOD0 = base mesh, LOD1-4 = progressively optimised versions

4. Export: Click the "Export Objects" button (text changes based on selection type)

5. Monitor Progress:

   • Real-time progress in Blender's status bar
   • Detailed console logs with polygon counts and timing
   • Memory optimisation messages for large meshes

Performance & Large Mesh Handling

🔧 Automatic Optimisations

The add-on automatically detects and optimises for large meshes:

• 500K+ polygons: Basic memory management with progressive cleanup
• 1M+ polygons: Aggressive memory optimisation and pre-processing cleanup
• Memory cleanup: Automatic garbage collection every 3 modifiers during heavy operations
• Smart processing: Different strategies based on mesh complexity
• LOD Reuse: Progressive building reduces memory by 60% and time by 40-50%

💡 Performance Tips

For Large Meshes (500K+ polygons):

• Use "None" modifiers: Skip modifier application for fastest export
• Close other applications: Maximise available system memory
• Export in batches: Process fewer objects at once to reduce memory pressure
• Monitor console: Watch for "Memory optimisation" messages

For Very Large Meshes (1M+ polygons):

• Strongly recommend "None" modifiers: Avoid modifier processing when possible
• Single object exports: Export one object at a time for maximum stability
• LOD generation: Use LODs to create multiple resolution versions efficiently

Modifier Application Guidelines:

• "None": Best performance, exports base mesh without any modifications
• "Visible": Good balance of functionality and performance (default)
• "Render": Most complete but may impact performance on large meshes

📊 Console Output

Monitor the console for detailed information:

INFO: Applying memory optimisation for large mesh: 1,250,000 polygons
INFO: Large mesh export: 1,250,000 polygons
INFO: Memory cleanup after 3 modifiers
INFO: Decimation complete: 1,250,000 → 312,500 polys (target: 0.250, actual: 0.250)

Export Indicators

• After an object is successfully exported (including all its LODs if enabled), it will be marked in the viewport.
• Green: Object exported within the last minute (FRESH).
• Yellow: Object exported within the last 5 minutes (STALE).
• Normal Colour: Object export indicator has expired, or indicators were cleared.
• Toggle Location: The export indicators checkbox is now conveniently located in the header of the "Recent Exports" panel.
• Visibility: To see these colours in the 3D Viewport, ensure you are in Solid display mode and that the Shading -> Colour type is set to Object. [Viewport Shading Docs]
• Recent Exports Panel: When indicators are enabled, shows a list of recently exported objects (still FRESH or STALE). Clicking the icon selects the object.
• Clear Indicators: The "Clear All Export Indicators" button at the bottom of the "Recent Exports" panel will immediately remove the status from all objects and restore their original viewport colours.
• Auto-Clear: Unchecking the indicators checkbox immediately clears all existing indicators from the viewport.

Support Development

If you find EasyMesh Batch Exporter useful in your workflow, consider supporting continued development:

Your support helps maintain and improve this add-on. Thank you!