How to use A23D 3D Models in Godot

This guide explains how to import 3D models downloaded from A23D into Godot Engine for real-time games, interactive scenes, and visualization projects.

1. Download and Extract the Model

  1. Sign in to your A23D account.
  2. Browse to the asset you want to use.
  3. In the Software dropdown on the asset page, select Godot.
  • A23D automatically delivers the model in the format best suited to Godot (.gltf) - no manual format selection required.
  1. Click Download and save the .zip file to a known location on your computer.
  2. Extract the archive to access the .gltf file and texture folder.

2. Add the Asset to Your Godot Project

  1. Open your Godot project.
  2. In your project folder, create a clear asset path such as:
  • res://assets/a23d/models/
  1. Copy the extracted A23D folder into that project directory.
  2. Return to the Godot editor. Godot scans the project folder and imports the .gltf file automatically. If it does not appear immediately, click Reimport or refocus the editor window.

3. Configure Import Settings

  1. Select the .gltf file in the FileSystem dock.
  2. Open the Import dock.
  3. Review the import settings before using the asset in a scene:
  • Keep materials enabled if you want Godot to create material resources from the GLTF data.
  • Keep animations enabled only if the asset includes animation.
  • Enable mesh compression only after checking that it does not damage UVs, normals, or shading.
  1. Click Reimport if you changed any import settings.

4. Place the Model in a Scene

  1. Drag the imported .gltf scene from the FileSystem dock into your current scene.
  2. Godot creates an instance of the imported scene.
  3. Check the transform values in the Inspector:
  • A23D assets are authored at real-world scale.
  • Godot's 3D units are conventionally treated as meters, so A23D scale should usually be correct without adjustment.
  1. If you need to customize the imported asset, right-click the imported scene and choose New Inherited Scene, or instantiate it inside your own scene and override materials on the instance.

5. Check Materials and Textures

  1. Select the imported MeshInstance3D nodes.
  2. In the Inspector, check the assigned material slots.
  3. If Godot imported the GLTF materials correctly, the albedo, metallic, roughness, and normal data should already be connected.
  4. If a material is missing a map, create or edit a StandardMaterial3D and assign the A23D PBR textures manually. See the PBR Textures guide for the full slot mapping.

6. Add Collision When Needed

Imported visual meshes do not automatically become gameplay-ready collision shapes in every workflow.

  1. For static props, select the mesh and use Godot's mesh menu options to create a collision shape where appropriate.
  2. For large or complex models, create simplified collision geometry instead of using the full visual mesh.
  3. For physics-heavy projects, keep collision meshes low-poly and test performance on the target platform.

Additional Resources

Godot Docs - Available 3D Formats
Godot Docs - Importing 3D Scenes

Need some help?

Contact our team at support@a23d.co