documentation/markdown/mapping/model-exporting.md

% Advanced Model Exporting - NZ:P Mapping Documentation
# Advanced Model Exporting

__NOTE: This is not a guide for learning basic Blender or _Quake_ `.MDL` exporting concepts.__

## Introduction

Nazi Zombies: Portable uses the standard _Quake_ `.MDL` format for most of its props and other meshes. Specific to view models, however, it utilizes a special fork of the common [io_mesh_qfmdl](https://github.com/robrohan/blender_ie_quake_mdl) Blender export plugin, adapted to better support [Blender 2.9`X`](https://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.93/) and contain features to mitigate vertex swimming. That forked export plugin can be found [here](https://github.com/nzp-team/tools/tree/main/io_mesh_qfmdl_blubs).

![New `Properties` for `.MDL` files in the NZ:P Exporter fork](../res/images/blender_mdl_properties.webp)

## Features

### "First Frame" & "Last Frame"

![The new "First Frame" & "Last Frame" properties](../res/images/blender_mdl_frames.webp)

Contrary to the [vanilla](https://github.com/robrohan/blender_ie_quake_mdl) export plugin's usage of the playhead on the Blender timeline for frame selection, NZ:P's fork utilizes `Properties` menu entries for determining the start and ending frames to be baked into the resulting `.MDL`. This is particularly useful for wanting to export precise chunks of animation data.


### View Model "Bounding Box"

![The NZ:P Ray Gun source file vs. a custom bounding box export. Note the absent arm outside of the bounding box.](../res/images/blender_raygun_export_comparison.webp)

The `MDL Mins` and `MDL Maxs` properties define a minimum and maximum region for vertices to cross over. The intended benefit of this is to only warp/swim vertices to their max point of camera visibility in order to preserve fine details such as weapon iron sights. Enabling `Show MDL bounding box` will give you a visual representation of this box to use as reference.

![Custom bounding box with an active camera point of view](../res/images/blender_raygun_camera.webp)

It is important to consider that bounding boxes need determined based on expected view model field of view. It is recommended to set up a Blender camera with the intended field of view and set it as active to get a live preview of how well your bounding box accomodates every frame you are intending to export.

![The resulting export of the PPSh-41 at its intended field of view](../res/images/blender_ppsh_export.webp)