ScaleIt – Scale your Models for Print Add-On for Blender

Introduction

The “ScaleIt“ add-on for Blender is a tool designed to facilitate the scaling of 3D models for print, based on the most common paper sizes. Its primary function is to adjust the active camera’s Orthographic scale and output resolution, ensuring that the 3D models are approximately scaled for printing purposes. This is particularly beneficial for artists and designers who require their models to be printed at specific scales. This tool is perfect for users of Blender 4 and above, and it addresses a common challenge I faced early in my Blender journey: determining the scale for models relative to paper size.

Link to video Tutorial:

Link to Gumroad page: https://blenderzen.gumroad.com/l/ScaleIt

Installation and Access

The ScaleIt add-on is available on my Gumroad page, with the link provided above. Installation is straightforward, so watch the video above for a step by step guide:

1. Download the add-on and save it on your computer.

2. In Blender, go to the edit menu and open preferences.

3. Navigate to the add-ons tab and click ‘Install.’

4. Locate and select the downloaded ‘ScaleIt’ zipped folder and install it.

5. Once installed, enable it by checking the box.

You can access the add-on in the sidebar by pressing ‘N’ and locating the ScaleIt tab.

Features and Usage

ScaleIt is user-friendly and methodically structured. Here’s a walk-through of its key features:

Camera Requirement

A camera is necessary in your scene for the add-on to work. Without it, an error message will pop up.

Paper Size Selection

ScaleIt supports various paper sizes, including A1 to A7, ARCH A to D, and standard sizes like letter, legal, and ledger/Tabloid. Simply select your desired paper size from the drop-down.

Camera Orientation

Choose between portrait or landscape orientation for your model display.

DPI Setting

Match the DPI (Dots Per Inch) setting of your printer, with 300 DPI as the standard for high-quality prints.

Custom Scale

Set a scaling factor relative to the paper size. For instance, enter 1 for a 1/1 scale or reduce it proportionately for larger models.

Camera Naming

Optionally, activate “Name Camera” to automatically generate a detailed name for the camera based on the selected properties.

Applying Scale

Click ‘Apply Scale’ to adjust the camera’s orthographic scale and render resolution. This updates the model view to the approximate scale set earlier.

Camera and Output Properties

The orthographic scale and output resolution values in the camera and output properties tabs reflect the chosen settings.

Renaming and Rendering

The camera is renamed in the Outliner and displayed in the viewport. Use the ‘Render Image’ button to render the active camera view.

Practical Example

I demonstrated the add-on using a chair model and multiple cameras at different angles. After rendering, I saved the image as ‘Chair_A3_1/5’ for easy identification. Printing requires matching the paper size and orientation settings in Blender.

Conclusion

The ScaleIt add-on is an invaluable tool for Blender users seeking to scale models for print accurately. While it’s important to remember that printed scales are approximations and may vary slightly between printers, ScaleIt significantly reduces guesswork and enhances accuracy. Give it a try and experience a new level of convenience in 3D modeling and printing.

Get it here!