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Create models from OBJ files using Blender and PMDE

Posted on April 19, 2014July 24, 2015 By ZoidsFanatic 22 Comments on Create models from OBJ files using Blender and PMDE

Feature article by ZoidsFanatic on LearnMMD.com.

Can I create models from OBJ files? How can I make a PMD model from a .obj file for use in MikuMikuDance? Can I make MMD models from object files? Where can I get Blender? Where can I find .obj models?

Create models from .OBJ Create models from OBJ files using Blender and PMDE!files using Blender and PMDE!

Making MMD models has never been an easy task, regardless of which method you use … be it creating a model from scratch or making it from legal spare parts. But have you ever been online and seen a 3D model and thought to yourself “Wow, I wish I could have that for MMD”. If it was a .OBJ file, I’m about to tell you how you can have it for MMD! .OBJ files, as according to Wikipedia, are a

“OBJ (or .OBJ) is a geometry definition file format first developed by Wavefront Technologies for its Advanced Visualizer animation package. The file format is open and has been adopted by other 3D graphics application vendors. For the most part it is a universally accepted format.”

To put that in an MMD-perspective term, .OBJ files are sorta like accessory files. They contain a model (like a house, car, etc), but that model really can’t do anything until we make it do something. So, that being said, how are we going to convert a .OBJ file into something MMD can read? Choose the ZIP version of Blender that matches your computer's operating system.Well, we’ll need a couple of programs. First, we’ll need Blender 2.49b, a freeware 3D modeler program. Second, we’ll need PMD Editor (which you can conveniently find on our site). If you already have those installed, then you can skip the next bit. If not, listen up!

For Blender, you’ll have many different options of what to download when you look at the previous versions (second tab on the download screen), though for this project I will recommend downloading Blender 2.49b. This is because it can export a model as a .X file (I’m sure the newer versions of Blender can do that by downloading a plugin, but let’s not add extra hassle). Now, as for PMDe simply go to the Downloads page. So, we got the two softwares installed and are ready to go.

Now we need a model…

Visit TF3DM for a ton of models in the .obj file type/format. Looking around Google, there are many websites that offer free  models (along with paid models). Personally for myself, I enjoy TF3DM. It has a lot of free models in a variety of formats. Now, looking around the site, it may be overwhelming at first and you may have the urge to download everything you see! Well, let’s remember K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid). For a first time conversion, let’s pick something simple and easy to work with. Ah, a pumpkin. Now, looking around the screen, you’ll notice that the apples come in .OBJ format (formats are listed below the download) and is free to use for personal use. When looking around for models, make sure you are allowed to use them and that they are in .OBJ files. Other file types don’t really work well with the conversion. Also, make sure that the file comes with textures (which will normally be listed underneath the image). If the model is pre-textured, it usually won’t survive the conversion and PMD Editor will reject it.

So, let’s download the pumpkin…

Our pumpkin object model on TF3DMIt usually takes around twenty seconds on the TF3DM for a download to be ready, at which point the file will automatically download or take you to MediaFire. So, now that we have the file, let’s unzip it. Our folder name will be “3e1suflbyikg-Pumpkin”. Open up the folder, we’ll see the .OBJ file and texture files as well. So, seeing everything is in check, let’s load up Blender.

If you haven’t used Blender before,

I’ll provide the bare essentials necessary for our project. Upon loading Blender, we’ll see this rather unattractive square.

Click to see the Blender GUI @ full-size.

The square is, here, in around the same sense that Miku would pop up on the older versions of MMD, to give modelers a quick start. For our purpose, we’ll need to delete it. Simply hit the delete key on your keyboard, and you will be asked if you want to delete the square. Click Yes, and we’ll have a blank screen ready to go.

So, let’s add the pumpkin…

Go to “File” and scroll down to “Import”. In the new table that appears, select “.OBJ” (Wavefront). Now, the next screen that appears may be a bit complicated and will differ from computer to computer. Simply click the “..” in the next screen

Click the little dots ...

until you get to your download screen (it will take a little bit of getting used-to, but it’s not that hard) and finally your “3e1suflbyikg-Pumpkin” folder. Once there, select your .OBJ file and Import it into Blender. Another screen will appear, at which point select import.

Now another square will appear.

This is the pumpkin (well, the square is the “bottom” of the pumpkin, the pumpkin itself is on top of the square). Let’s add texture now by selecting the “Draw Type” tab and then selecting “textured”.

Blender Selection Menu

Not much difference, eh? Well, let’s export the pumpkin as an .X file, by going to “File”, “Export”, and selecting the .X option (DirectX). A screen similar to the one before will appear, at which point navigate back to our pumpkin folder and save our file.

Now close Blender…

and open up PMD Editor (for those of you unfamiliar with PMD/X, see this guide).

With PMD editor open, we’ll go to “File” and “Import”. Once again, go to our See our Pumpkin accessory in PMDE.pumpkin folder and import the file called “untitled.x”. In the new screen that appears, make sure you select “A New” under import system and not “adding” (which will cause your model to not appear). Tada! The pumpkin is in the editor! Now, at times the model will appear white which is do to texture not being read correctly (such as the file being a TGA), which will require some conversion and working around. The texture issue is another reason why we want our model to have textures, and not be pre-textured. Other times the model may appear small, which will require some working with to get to proper size. Though as you notice the model is laying at a 90 degree angle, which will require you to flip it to correct angle.

So, that being said, the last thing we need to do is figure out what format we want to save it in. The PMD Editor we used will allow us to save the model in either .PMX format or .X format. For our pumpkin, let’s save it (export) as a .X file (accessory) file. For actual models, you would want to save them as .PMX formats (or .X to transfer to an editor that allows .PMDs). When exporting, keep the size as 1/10. Now, load up MMD and load up our new pumpkin model!

See your new pumpkin accessory in the MMD screen!Now, keep in mind that models made this way are not fully rigged in any way or form. You’ll need to bone the model up and give it morphs for that. But this guide should help with the process of converting an .OBJ to .PMD/PMX/.X format. This process can also be tinkered with to best suit your needs, so feel free to experiment.

And remember to Keep the Faith-MMD…

Always giving credit to the original model maker and never distribute a completed model unless you have permission.

There you go … now you know how to create models from OBJ files.


– SEE BELOW for MORE MMD TUTORIALS…


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Visit the LearnMMD.com Homepage! Plenty of Mikumikudance instruction and info!

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Comments (22) on “Create models from OBJ files using Blender and PMDE”

  1. Faker-Person says:
    March 17, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Ok, I have to admit I hated doing it this way, so I found another one applicable with blender 2.91 and under. and it works well, shadows, one mother bone, and looks pretty well, but the textures are all white.
    I even placed them in the same folder with the textures, it still was white. is there any workaround around this?

    Reply
  2. FeildMarshallWolf says:
    December 1, 2019 at 11:09 am

    So I do have the white texture, but I’m not sure if I can fix it without having to go back into Blender and deleting it’s textures. Do I need to go back into blender and do that or can I still proceed with attempting to place textures onto it from PMDE?

    Reply
    1. UndeadLuciel says:
      December 1, 2019 at 11:09 pm

      You can do it in PMDE. First, convert the texture file into a .png with a proper converter. Then in the material tab of PMDE, type in the new texture name (TextureName.png) and see if it works. Make sure the texture file is in the same folder as the .pmd file.

      Reply
  3. Alfie says:
    September 29, 2017 at 8:46 am

    DOESNT F’ING WORK NOTHING HAPPENS AND TEXTURE F’D UP. TUTORIALS NOT USEFUL AT ALL

    Reply
    1. Senshi Sun says:
      September 29, 2017 at 11:22 am

      If you’re more specific, we can help you figure out where the problems are.

      Given the only bit of information we have is “the texture is f’d up”, I’m going to guess the texture displays in a stretched, warped, or inverted format. If the texture looks weird, there is probably a problem with the UV setup. If the problem is that the texture doesn’t show up in Blender, try converting it to a .png file.

      Reply
  4. Ezequiel says:
    March 11, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    Well, after I read this article, I wonder if “X. files” work with the PMD editor, (not the PMX editor, just the PMD) Because I’m not sure why, but in my computer the PMX does not work, but the PMD does, so, if I do all says in this article, and then I try to open the X. file ripped by blender, will it open it? or because it is an X. file, it will no, in the PMD editor?

    Reply
    1. KillerBeer says:
      March 11, 2017 at 11:12 pm

      Yes, it can both import and export .X files.

      Reply
      1. Ezequiel says:
        March 12, 2017 at 10:16 am

        Okay, I’ll see what happens, and if something rare happens, I’ll tell you, thank you for answer.

        Reply
  5. Kimmy says:
    February 17, 2016 at 11:09 am

    Can we do this for like a PMD model and export it as OBJ every time I try in blender I get an error is it possible to convert a PMD model to OBJ?

    Reply
    1. KillerBeer says:
      February 17, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      Check this article (and its comments), maybe you’ll find what you need in there.

      Reply
  6. Desha Renshaw says:
    February 3, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    Can you make mmd models from an android device?

    Reply
    1. KillerBeer says:
      February 3, 2016 at 10:27 pm

      In short, no. Outside of Windows environment, there’s no MMD or other necessary software in existence. Nobody would bother to create them for a finger-controlled interface.

      Reply
  7. Chakky says:
    January 4, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    I hit “Import”, “New”, and nothing happens.

    Reply
    1. KillerBeer says:
      January 5, 2016 at 1:47 pm

      You mean in PMDE? After you hit “Import”, a file list is supposed to open, and a panel to select “New” option only opens after you select a file to load. Does it not happen this way?

      Reply
  8. KillerBeer says:
    August 3, 2015 at 11:38 pm

    It turns out that the newest PMXE has option to import .obj files directly. If a model doesn’t show, though, you’d have to *prepare* it in order to be recognized by the Japanese soft. Open an .obj into the text editor, replace all dots with commas, then revert those that *aren’t* in float numbers back to dots (there aren’t many, but finding them might be tricky). Then save the file and Import it, selecting the .obj file type in the loading panel. Then simply fill materials’ texture fields if there are texture files present.

    Reply
  9. Marley says:
    May 31, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I want to make an MMD model, of an .obj file. How do i do this??

    Reply
    1. Reggie_Dentmore says:
      June 1, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      Did this article not help you?… what more… what specific questions… do you have?

      Reply
  10. Ray says:
    February 27, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Hello, your quoted OBJ file description refers to the wrong file type. That one is not for 3d models. Here is the correct one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavefront_.obj_file

    Reply
    1. Reggie_Dentmore says:
      March 1, 2015 at 6:08 pm

      After a bit of a pow-wow, we find that you are correct … Thank you! … I have changed the link and the paragraph in the article … https://learnmmd.com/http:/learnmmd.com/create-models-from-obj-files/
      — Reggie

      Reply
  11. Zoids Fanatic says:
    December 16, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    @FeliksDembski
    Make sure that when importing you are importing .OBJ files and not .blender files or other files. The proper import file is “wavefront” file.

    @Yuruki-chaan
    What sort of issue are you having? As in, possible to walk me through?

    Reply
  12. FeliksDembski says:
    November 22, 2014 at 11:40 am

    This tutorial is well explained but as english isn’t my first language, I may be lost sometimes … xp What do you mean by “In the new screen that appears, make sure you select “A New” under import system and not “adding” (which will cause your model to not appear)” ? Is the “new screen that appears” is the screen that appears after clicking on Import or is it the PMD editor ? For you to know, what I did was “File” -> “Import” -> “untitled.x” then I got a screen with “Err” “Import fail” I think I missed something but I don’t know what … :/ Please ? <:3

    Reply
  13. Yuruki-chaan says:
    June 15, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    when I import the .OBJ file, a black square appears …

    Reply

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