Getting Started
Custom Templates is very simple to use!
Just create or download your templates files and define them in the preferences of the add-on.
Once defined, you can easily start from one of your templates, either from the File > New menu, as well as from the Splash Screen (according to preferences).
Steps
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Prepare your templates
- Create your template in a new project and save it to
.blendfile on you computer - or download online Blender templates that suit your need (see Find templates online page)
You can place your
.blendfiles where you prefer on your PC.
Keep in mind that using a single folder for your templates, you will be able to add them from folder, in one click. - Make sure your templates only has absolute paths in case of external resources.
If you have relative paths for external resources in your templates, you can either manually update them, executingFile > External Data > Make Paths Absoluteon them, or by using the feature from custom templates.
This feature will do the same thing, in background, and will update your file, but only if relative paths are detected in your file.
An option to backup your file before update, it's available.
You can do this for single templates, or for all templates at once.Note: In case of many templates, it may take a while to complete.
The results of this updates are described in theInfoarea of blender.
- Create your template in a new project and save it to
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Define your templates
There are many ways to define your templates:
- [+] button, from add-on preferences, select the path to
.blendfile and give it a name - [Folder] button, from add-on preferences, select a directory containing
.blendfiles
By default, adding from folder, only lookup the first level of the folder (will not lookup nested folders), but you can incrase theDepthparameter while selecting the folder, to also lookup the given number of nested folders.
Every template added from folder, will use as name the clean file name. - Import templates list from JSON file
If you previously exported your templates list to JSON, you can easily import it back. Either from preferences menu near templates list, as well as fromFile > Defaults > Import templates.
Note: This will replace the current list! File > Defaults > Select new template, will open a popup where you can select the path and name your templateFile > Defaults > Use current file as template, will open a popup where you can name your template (only avaliable with a.blendfile loaded)
- [+] button, from add-on preferences, select the path to
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Export your templates (optional, but recommended)
Once your templates are ready, you can export the list to JSON file. Either from preferences menu near templates list, as well as fromFile > Defaults > Export templates.
This way you will be able to restore the list later, if needed. For example after disabling and re-enabling the add-on, or on a fresh Blender install.
Note
You can add, remove, update, reorder your templates any time.
Since your template file is read each time you open your template, you can update the content of your.blendtemplates any time.
And that's it!
As soon as you define your templates you will see them in the File > New menu and in the Splash Screen.
Additional functions
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Choose Splash Screen Templates
You can decide if you prefer to see default templates or your custom templates in the splash screen.
You can switch this option from add-on preferences, or directly from the menu in the splash screen.Now you can also decide which templates are visible in the splash screen.
Show or hide any template with the Blender button in the template row (preferences). -
File > New > Start From...option
Select any .blend file and use it immidiatly as template. Optionally, add it to the list, on the fly.
You can activate this option from add-on preferences Extra section. -
Clear current templates
Maybe you added from the wrong folder, maybe it's just time for a fresh start... It doesn't matter...
You can always reset your templates from the add-on preferences menu as well as usingFile > Defaults > Clear current templates
For safety, it will ask a confirm before deletion. -
Manage templates
A simple button to open Custom Templates preferences (located in Preferences > Add-Ons > Custom Templates)
You can find it in the Splash Screen menu as well as in theFile > Defaultsmenu. -
Ensure absolute paths in templates external resources
Having relative paths for external resources, in templates, will not work, because templates has no path, initially.
Custom Templates wants to make you life easier, so we can automate the process of ensuring absolute paths on your templates, in background. You can process single templates to ensure absolute paths, by using the file-process icon in the template row (preferences).
You can process al your templates to ensure absolute paths, by using the options of the list menu (preferences), or by usingFile > Defaults > Ensure absolute paths in templates.You can optionally check
Backup Templateto save a copy of your original template before saving this changes.
This backup will be saved at the same location as the original with suffix.backup.blend(or.backup_<number>.blendif the file is already present)At any time, if you prefer, you can always make your template paths relative by using
File > External Data > Make Paths Relativeon your file. Anyway this will affect any external data path. -
Add workspace from templates
Usually while adding a new workspace, Blender let you choose from the workspaces avaliable in the 5 default templates.
Now you can add a workspace to the current project, from one of your templates!
Right-click one of your workspace and use the menuAdd from Custom Templates(first select the template, and then the workspace to copy in the current project).
