Blender

The A23D Asset Importer for Blender adds an A23D Bridge panel to the Blender 3D View sidebar. With the panel connected, you can choose Blender on an A23D asset page and click Send to Blender to download and import the asset directly into your scene.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using A23D assets with Blender.

Do I need an add-on to use A23D assets in Blender?

The A23D Asset Importer is the recommended way to use A23D assets in Blender because it supports direct website imports and automatic material setup. You can still download files manually from A23D and import supported formats yourself.

Which Blender versions are supported?

The latest A23D Asset Importer is compatible with Blender 4.2 and newer, while also supporting Blender 3.0–4.1, across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.

How do I install the A23D Asset Importer for Blender?

Download the .zip add-on from the Blender integration page. In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions, choose Install from Disk, select the downloaded .zip file, and make sure A23D Asset Importer is enabled. After installation, open the 3D View sidebar with N and select the A23D tab.

How do I download an asset from the website to Blender?

Open Blender and make sure the A23D Bridge panel says Connected. On the A23D website, open an asset page, choose Blender in the Software dropdown, choose a resolution, and click Send to Blender. If you have more than one Blender window open, click Connect in the window that should receive the asset.

Can I choose where website downloads are saved?

Yes. In the A23D sidebar tab, open Settings and set Asset Folder to the folder you want to use. Leave the field empty if you do not need a custom location.

Can I import an A23D asset I already downloaded?

Yes. Click Import from disk in the A23D Bridge panel and select the A23D asset file you want to import. The same importer is also available from File > Import > A23D Assets.

What do the import behavior settings do?

Apply texture to selected applies imported texture materials to selected objects. Place model at 3D cursor places imported models at the current 3D cursor position.

Which file format should I download for manual use in Blender?

For manual imports, .fbx is usually best for 3D models. If you are using the add-on's website import flow, choose Blender on the asset page and click Send to Blender instead.

How are A23D PBR textures wired up in Blender?

The Asset Importer creates a Blender material and connects the available PBR maps to the Principled BSDF shader, including albedo, normal, roughness, metallic, ambient occlusion, height, opacity, and other supported texture channels.

Does the Asset Importer work with Cycles and EEVEE?

Yes. The add-on builds Blender materials that work in Cycles and EEVEE.

How do I use A23D IES lighting profiles in Blender?

Add a Light object (Spot or Point) and enable Use Nodes in the Light properties. In the shader graph, add an IES Texture node, point it at the A23D .ies file, and feed its output into the Emission node's Strength. The luminaire then emits with the manufacturer-accurate distribution and falloff.

Can I use A23D Decals in Blender?

Yes. Apply the A23D decal to a small plane positioned just above the surface and use the Alpha map to mask its shape. For tighter projection control, switch the plane to a Decal/Box Project mapping or use Geometry Nodes to project onto an arbitrary host mesh.

What texture resolution should I use in Blender?

Use 4K for hero materials in close-up shots, 2K for general scene assets, and 1K for distant or background props. This keeps memory in check during rendering and viewport playback while preserving sharpness where the camera lingers.