Importing and appending Blender files into another Blender file allows you to reuse objects, materials, animations, and other data from one project in another. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Both Blender Files: First, open the Blender file where you want to import or append data (the “receiving” file) and the Blender file from which you want to import data (the “source” file). You can have both files open in separate Blender instances or within the same Blender instance in different tabs or windows.
- Switch to the “Receiving” File: Make sure you’re working in the Blender file where you want to import or append data. If you have multiple Blender instances or tabs/windows open, switch to the appropriate one.
- Open the Append/Link Dialog: In the “Receiving” file, go to the “File” menu at the top-left corner of the Blender window and choose “Append” or “Link” (depending on your needs). Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + F1.
- Append: This option imports a copy of the selected data from the source file into the receiving file. Any changes made to the appended data in the receiving file will not affect the original data in the source file.
- Link: This option creates a reference to the selected data in the source file, allowing you to use it in the receiving file. Changes made to the linked data in the source file will be reflected in the receiving file.
- Navigate to the Source File: In the file browser that appears, navigate to the location of the source Blender file (the one containing the data you want to import or append).
- Choose the Data to Import/Append: Open the source Blender file, and navigate through its directory structure to locate the specific data you want to import or append. This may include objects, materials, collections, animations, and more. Once you’ve selected the desired data, click on it to highlight it.
- Click “Append” or “Link”: After selecting the data you want to import or append, click the “Append” or “Link” button at the top-right corner of the file browser dialog.
- Confirm and Adjust Settings (If Needed): Depending on the type of data you’re importing or appending, you may be presented with additional options or settings to confirm. Review these settings and adjust them as needed before finalizing the import or append operation.
- Complete the Process: Once you’ve confirmed the import or append operation, Blender will import or append the selected data into the receiving file. You should now see the imported/linked objects, materials, or other data in the receiving file’s viewport or outliner.
- Save the Receiving File: After importing or appending the data, remember to save the receiving file to preserve the changes.
That’s it! You’ve successfully imported or appended Blender file data into another Blender file. You can now use the imported/linked data in your project as needed.