LOD Generator - Blender

Version 2.0 Released 

🚀 New Features

• Added support for up to 8 LOD levels with per-level enable/disable toggles

• Introduced real-time LOD Distance Preview Mode with camera-based switching

• New Smart Export v2 system with engine-specific export presets

• Added Unity Prefab metadata generation

• Added Unreal Blueprint metadata generation

• Added AR/VR Manifest file generation for WebXR/AR/VR pipelines

• Implemented LOD polygon & vertex estimation display for accurate reduction preview

• Added preset system with industry profiles:
  Mobile Performance, Console/PC Balanced, High-End Cinematic, VR/AR Optimized, RTS, Ultra Mobile, Custom

• Added vertex group protection (protect important details during reduction)

• New three optimization methods:
  ✔ Collapse
  ✔ Un-Subdivide
  ✔ Planar Reduce

✨ Improvements

• Fully redesigned UI panel for faster LOD setup

• Improved naming system: Object_LOD0 → Object_LOD7

• Better material, UV, and volume preservation

• More accurate reduction for complex meshes

• Optimized multi-object batch LOD generation

• Cleaner export hierarchy management with optional grouping

• Improved transform baking pipeline during export

• Enhanced compatibility with Blender 4.1+

• Smarter auto-detection of cameras for preview mode

⚙️ Export Workflow Enhancements

Unity

• Auto LODGroup JSON file generation

• Proper axis orientation (Forward: -Z, Up: Y)

• Improved FBX export with embedded textures

Unreal Engine

• Auto LOD system metadata

• Correct axis setup (Forward: X, Up: Z)

• Cleaner Blueprint metadata structure

AR/VR

• Optimized GLB pipeline for WebXR & mobile

• New manifest.json generation

• Animation export supported

🐞 Fixes

• Fixed issues with broken topology on some Collapse operations

• Fixed missing textures during OBJ export (auto-copy enabled)

• Fixed LOD preview not exiting on some systems

• Resolved incorrect LOD naming bugs in multi-object processing

• Improved handling of invalid export paths

• More stable behavior with high-poly meshes

• Fixed issues with LODs distorting when using Planar reduction

📦 Technical Additions

• New manifest.toml for marketplace compatibility

• Operators reorganized into:
  lod_creation.py, Smart_export.py, ui_panel.py, and properties.py

• Added more robust error popup handler for export issues

• Added mesh statistics display to UI panel

📚 Documentation

• Fully rewritten documentation covering all workflows

• Added multiple real-world examples (Mobile Game, VR Environment, RTS Unit, Custom Setup)

• Expanded FAQ and troubleshooting sections

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