Asset Shot

Mohamed Targam in Presets


DOCUMENTATION · VERSION 1.0

Asset Shot

Create consistent Blender Asset Library thumbnails using Fast Viewport, Cycles, camera presets, reusable lighting setups, custom images, and batch target workflows.

Blender 5.0+ Object & Collection Assets Fast Viewport & Cycles
↓
  STEP 01

  Installation

Install Asset Shot directly from the downloaded ZIP file.

1. Open Preferences

Go to Edit → Preferences → Add-ons.

2. Install

Choose Install from Disk and select the ZIP.

3. Enable

Enable Asset Shot from the add-on list.
Important
Install the original ZIP file directly. Do not extract it before installation.
▶
  STEP 02

  Quick Start

Select the target, choose a capture mode, adjust the look, and create the thumbnail.

1 Select Choose an object, several objects, or a Collection from the Outliner.
2 Choose Target Use the full selection as one asset or process every object separately.
3 Set the Look Choose Fast Viewport or Cycles, camera, lighting, background, and framing.
4 Quick Shot Generate the PNG, mark the asset, and load the preview according to your settings.
QUICK START
Asset Shot Quick Start 1
◎
  TARGET & ORGANIZATION

  Objects, Collections, and Multi-Target Modes

This section replaces the repeated Organization and Target Modes explanations.The current selection determines what Asset Shot processes and what kind of Blender asset is created.

◇

Active Object

With one selected Object, Asset Shot automatically uses the active Object as the target.
▣

Selected Collection

Select one Collection in the Outliner to create or update that existing Collection as one asset.
◫

As One Asset

With multiple Objects or Collections, one thumbnail is created for the full selection. When Mark as Asset is enabled, Asset Shot creates or updates a grouped Collection for that selection.
⋮

Separate

Every selected Object is processed independently and receives its own thumbnail. Objects inside selected Outliner Collections are included.
Supported Target Types
Mesh, Curve, Surface, Meta, Text, Volume, Grease Pencil, Empty, and Collections containing supported objects.
When Mark as Asset Is Disabled
As One Asset captures one combined image without creating a grouped Collection asset. The generated image can still be saved if Save Preview Image is enabled.
Selection Status
The panel shows the selected Object count, selected Outliner Collection count, and whether Fast Viewport is currently using the active camera.
OBJECTS, COLLECTIONS & MULTI-TARGET
Target Workflow 1
◈
  CAPTURE

  Capture Modes

Choose between a fast viewport snapshot and a full Cycles render.

⚡

Fast Viewport

Captures the current viewport display quickly. It keeps the current viewport shading and is recommended for producing many thumbnails.
◆

Cycles

Uses the active camera and the scene's current Cycles render settings. The scene render engine must already be set to Cycles.
Fast Viewport + Active Camera
Enable Use Active Camera to keep the fast viewport capture method while framing and capturing through the selected camera preset.
Cycles Warning
Cycles can be slower. Asset Shot does not replace your render settings; it temporarily changes only what is needed for the square preview and restores the original settings afterward.
CAPTURE MODES
Capture Modes 1
◉
  CAMERA

  Camera Presets

Asset Shot includes ready-to-use camera presets for creating consistent thumbnail angles. The preset selector appears in Cycles mode and in Fast Viewport when Use Active Camera is enabled.

Browse the Included Presets
Use the left and right arrows around the preview image to switch between the available camera positions.
Fast Viewport
Enable Use Active Camera to capture quickly through the selected preset instead of using the current free viewport angle.
Cycles
The selected preset is used as the active camera while the thumbnail is rendered with the current Cycles settings.
Automatic Restore
After the shot, Asset Shot restores the original scene camera and removes the temporary preset data used during capture.
INCLUDED CAMERA PRESETS
Select Camera Angle
Camera Presets 1
Camera Presets 2
✦
  LIGHTING

  Light Library

Asset Shot includes ready-made lighting setups that can be added to the current scene to keep Asset Library thumbnails visually consistent.

Browse Setups

Use the preview and arrow buttons to switch between the lighting setups included with Asset Shot.

Add Setup

Adds the selected lighting setup to the scene as editable Blender Objects and Collections.

Replace Existing

Removes previously added Asset Shot lighting setups before adding the newly selected setup.

Remove Setup

Use the trash button to remove lighting setups previously added through Asset Shot.
INCLUDED LIGHTING SETUPS
Select Light Setup
Light Library 1
Light Library 2
✦
  CUSTOM LIBRARIES

  Create Your Own Camera and Light Library

Asset Shot can load camera presets and lighting setups from your own Blend files.

1. Create a Separate Blend File
Store reusable camera and lighting Collections in a dedicated Blend file for easier maintenance.
2. Use One Collection Per Preset
Every camera angle or lighting setup must be placed inside its own Collection. The Collection name becomes the preset name.
◉

Camera Collection

For reliable classification, begin the Collection name with Camera or Cam.

Camera_Front
Camera_Side
Cam_Low
Cam_ThreeQuarter

The Collection must contain a Camera Object.

✦

Light / Setup Collection

Collections not classified as camera presets are shown in the Light Library.

Softbox_Warm
Studio_Blue
Clay_Setup
Rim_Lighting

A setup may contain Lights, floors, backgrounds, reflectors, and supporting Objects.

3. Create Matching Thumbnail Images
Every Collection needs an image whose filename exactly matches the Collection name. Matching is case-insensitive and thumbnail subfolders are scanned.

Collection: Camera_Front
Image: Camera_Front.png

Collection: Softbox_Warm
Image: Softbox_Warm.png
4. Add the Library in Preferences
  1. Open Blender Preferences and find Asset Shot.
  2. Expand Additional Libraries.
  3. Press +.
  4. Enter a library name and enable or disable the entry as needed.
  5. Select one Blend File and an image folder, or leave Blend File empty.
  6. Press Refresh at the top of the preferences.
Folder-Scanning Mode
If Blend File is empty, Asset Shot scans every .blend file located directly inside the selected Images / Library Folder. Thumbnail images may be stored in subfolders.
CREATE YOUR OWN LIBRARY
Custom Library 1
Custom Library 2
Custom Library 3
▣
  CUSTOM IMAGES

  Custom Thumbnail Tools

Assign existing images as custom previews without capturing a new shot.

Single Image

Choose one PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF, BMP, or WEBP image and apply it to the current target. It follows the current As One or Separate target behavior.

Multiple Images by Name

Choose a folder and match images to Objects by filename. This mode is always Object-based and never creates a grouped Collection.
Multiple Mode Selection
It applies to selected Objects and to Objects inside selected Outliner Collections. Each Object is matched independently.
Filename Matching
The image filename should match the Object name. Asset Shot also tries a cleaned filename version where unsupported characters and spaces are normalized.
Match Report
The panel shows how many targets were matched and lists the first missing names when some images cannot be found.
Apply and Clear
Apply Preview uses the active Single or Multiple mode. The trash button clears the selected image or folder path without deleting files from disk.
CUSTOM THUMBNAIL TOOLS
□
  CAPTURE

  Capture Settings

Preview Size
Sets the square PNG resolution from 64 to 4096 pixels.
Normalize Asset Size
Temporarily scales the target so its largest evaluated bounding-box dimension matches Target Size. It centers the asset on X/Y and places its lowest point on Z = 0.
Restore Original Transforms
Normalization changes only root Object transforms temporarily. The original world transforms are restored after capture.
Auto Frame
Frames the complete target before capture and restores the previous viewport or camera state afterward.
Viewport Padding
Controls empty space around the asset when Fast Viewport uses the current viewport angle.
Camera Padding
Controls framing when Cycles or Fast Viewport uses the active camera.
Clean Snapshot
Temporarily hides grids, axes, origins, extras, gizmos, cursor, annotations, text, statistics, and selection outlines without changing the chosen viewport shading.
Hide Other Objects
Temporarily hides other supported geometry while capturing and restores its previous visibility afterward.
Reset Settings
Restores the default fast setup, including Fast Viewport, 512 px, transparent background, Auto Frame, Hide Other Objects, and the default asset options.
CAPTURE SETTINGS
Capture Setting 2
Capture Setting 4
◆
  ASSET LIBRARY

  Asset Options

Mark as Asset
Marks the target Object or Collection as a Blender Asset. If the target is already an asset, it is updated instead of duplicated.
Load Preview
Loads the generated PNG as the custom preview for the target asset.
Save Preview Image
Keeps a PNG copy in the output folder. If disabled, the temporary PNG is removed after the preview is loaded.
Independent Controls
Mark as Asset, Load Preview, and Save Preview Image are separate options. You can create only an image, update only a preview, or perform the complete asset workflow.
ASSET OPTIONS
Asset Options 1
◐
  APPEARANCE

  Background

Transparent

Creates an RGBA thumbnail with a transparent background.

Custom Color

Captures with alpha first, then composites the selected solid color into the saved PNG. This keeps the result consistent between viewport and camera captures.
BACKGROUND OPTIONS
Background Options 1
i
  MORE OPTIONS

  Metadata and Output

Use Metadata
Enable this option to edit Author and Description. If Description is empty, Asset Shot writes an automatic description based on the created Object or Collection asset.
Author
Stores the creator name in the Blender Asset metadata when Use Metadata is enabled.
Custom Output Folder
Choose a specific folder for generated PNG files.
Default Saved-File Folder
If no custom folder is selected and the Blend file is saved, previews go into an asset_shot_previews folder beside the Blend file.
Unsaved Blend Files
If the Blend file has not been saved and no custom output folder is selected, previews are created inside Blender's temporary folder.
Move After First Save
Temporary preview PNGs created before the first save are copied beside the newly saved Blend file and the custom previews are reloaded from the new paths. The original temp files are intentionally left untouched.
Open Preview Folder
The Open Preview Folder button opens whichever output location Asset Shot is currently using.
!
 TROUBLESHOOTING

 Common Warnings

No Target
Select one supported Object or select a Collection in the Outliner.
No 3D Viewport
Asset Shot requires an available 3D Viewport for viewport framing and capture.
Cycles Is Not Active
Switch the scene render engine to Cycles before using Cycles mode.
No Camera Preset
Enable the built-in presets or configure a valid camera library. A camera preset Collection must contain a Camera Object.
No Light Setups
Check the library Blend file, image folder, matching thumbnail filenames, enabled state, and press Refresh Libraries.
Some Separate Targets Failed
Asset Shot continues processing the remaining targets and writes detailed failed-item messages to Blender's console.
Custom Images Are Missing
Check Object names, image filenames, supported extensions, and the folder selected in Multiple mode.
$3

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Details
Blender Extension Compatible Yes
Published 3 months ago
Blender Version 5.0 - 5.2
Extension Type Add-on
Render Engine Used Blender-Internal
License GPL

Mohamed Targam

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