So I just made a really dumb mistake, I was updating my copy of the advanced add-on on MacOS but I asked blender to install the wrong zip archive - I gave it the downloaded "Blender Advanced.zip", not the "mecabricks.zip" from inside it. Is it safe to delete the directory "Library/Application Support/Blender/2.80/scripts"?

On a side note, I also find I still have "Library/Application Support/Blender/2.78/" and 2.79, which only contain older versions of the mecabricks add-ons. Can these be safely deleted too?

Uninstall add-ons directly from the Blender settings or just delete the add-on folder or script. Not the whole 'scripts' folder.
If you don't use Blender 2.78 or 2.79, yes you can safely delete these directories.

Hi Scrubs, that worked, thanks for the help!

Hey! After a day of work I have figured out how to make an hr pack, just trial n error coding. But I figured it out! So im going to be making some hr packs, and im wondering if its ok for me to release the packs I make, they will be just the meacabricks models cleaned up, and beveled so it can be subdivided. And then I'll do seam lines for each one. I hope I am allowed to do so, thanks!

@Citrine Let's continue this discussion privately. There are a few things we could do 😉 I'll sent you a message shortly.

ok

Hey for anyone interested in making brickfilms in blender, I’ve created a discord server and subreddit for people to share ideas, ask questions, share techniques, collaborate on anything related to specifically making brickfilm animations inside blender. Thought it could be a cool place for animators.

Here are the links for anyone interested, hopefully we can get a lot of people to join

Discord: https://discord.gg/pgGK7BM
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BrickfilmsInBlender/

I noticed that when I import multiple mecabricks models to the same blender scene, each model creates a completely new set of meshes and materials that usually results in needless duplication of the existing ones, e.g. if I import two models with the same set of bricks, then I get two independent sets of all mesh data and materials. Is there an easy way to merge all of these back down, so I only get one of each mesh and material?

Or alternatively, could the blender add-on be given an option to check for existing meshes/materials in the blender file and (where possible) use those instead of creating new ones?

@NathanR2015
Wouldn't it be easier to import all models in one file all at once? Just asking, seems like the easiest solution to me.

I just got this and I don't know how to make the Minifigure look like Emmet or another person from the Lego Movie? How would I do this?

I just got the advanced blender add-on and I was wondering where I go to make the Minifigures in my scene automatically change into the rig I bought here as well. Thanks.

Hello volcanobro9,

For this function to work, you need to use Blender 2.80 and the add-on version that goes with (2.0.4 at this time). Inside the zip archive downloaded from Mecabricks, you will find a pdf file called Install.pdf. On page 2 step 4, It is explained how to set the path to the folder containing the HD parts from the Mecabricks minifigure add-on. Let me know if you manage to go through these steps.

Once the path to the folder is set up and saved, you won't need to redo this step anymore.
Just make sure you tick the "High-Resolution Meshes" checkbox when you import a zmbx model - Page 4 of the Install PDF.

I found the part where you tick "High-Resolution Meshes" thanks for that, however, I'm not sure where the HD parts are for the minifig. Is it a folder called "Blender Add-On" or something different?

Yes, that is the one. The exact name is "Blender Addon Pack". This is the folder you need to select in the Blender Add-on preferences.

@NGCHunter2
Good idea, but I haven't constructed all the Lego models and scenery that I am going to need. I'm planning a short but very complex animation, with loads of custom decals, and several models appearing in multiple scenes. I was just hoping to be able to keep everything well organised within the one file as I slowly prepare each new scene.

@NathanR2015
Well, I only know some rather tedious workarounds for your problem. 😕
For materials, you could select a part of a collection which materials you want to change to the ones of an already existent collection, hit [Shift]+[L], then select Materials, then [Shift]+Select a part with the Material you want them to link to and hit [Ctrl]+[L]→Materials. That will link all those materials, though it takes some time the more materials there are, for every single one has to be linked manually.

I tried to find a sort of "select by geometry" option for object mode, the only thing I found though is "select pattern" (for object names?), but that doesn't even work for mesh names, so since the new Advanced Add-On doesn't name elements like their part number (but mbElement.xyz), that doesn't quite work.
Maybe a script? One could write a sort of script that goes through all mesh files and [Ctrl]+[L]→Object Data all meshes of the same element number to [element].001. Maybe for materials too, dunno. 😦

@Scrubs
Would like some function like that for the importer as well, like a "link to existent MB parts" checkbox or something like that that checks for the same meshes/materials and automatically links the new ones to the existent ones (as long as names are the same).

I've done every single step and directions and it's not automatically replacing the models with the high def rigs. All the other bricks work except for the Minifigures. I checked and I am using all the correct versions as well.

Hello volcanobro9, I just tried the whole process again and it works fine so it may be just the case of finding which step you don't do right.

1. Install Mecabricks Advanced Add-on version 2.0.4 for Blender 2.80
2. In the add-on preferences, select the path to the Blender Addon Pack folder contained in the Mecabricks minifigure zip archive version 2.0.0
3. Export a minifigure from Mecabricks using the zmbx format
4. Import the model in Blender and tick the checkbox High-Resolution Meshes
5. Finish

What do you mean by "All the other bricks work except for the Minifigures"?
Decorated elements do not work in Eevee. Only Cycles is fully supported.

I'm sorry. I'm just gonna reinstall everything because I've thoroughly done every step you listed. It isn't your fault and I'm extremely grateful that you have made this for the community. It just isn't importing the bones for the minifigs. Thanks again😃

Hi everyone,

awesome MB shader, really amazing! Very nice work. I love to work with that shader. I have some trouble with the latest version. I would like to change the value of sss. In the latest build their is a node connected to the sss and I´m not sure how to set the values correctly to increase the sss. Can someone help me?

Thanks a lot – cheerzfull chris