====== Exporting for Real-Time Engines ======

===== Baking Textures =====

==== Step 1 – Apply All Modifiers ====

Select all objects. 

  * **F3 → “Convert to Mesh”** 
OR 
  * Object Mode → Object → Convert → Mesh

//This applies all modifiers (including bevel) destructively.//

If you prefer manual control:
Select one → Modifier tab → Apply
Repeat for all (less efficient).

==== Step 2 – Join Into One Object ====

Select all objects. **Select one last as active** (it becomes the base object) 

→ ''Ctrl + J''

All objects become one mesh.

Clean-up:
  * Check for duplicate vertices
  * **Edit Mode** → ''A'' → ''M'' → **By Distance**
  * With everything still selected
  * ''SHIFT + N'' to recalculate normals
==== Step 3 – UV Unwrap Properly ====

Now that it's one object:

  * **Edit Mode** → ''A'' → ''U'' → **Smart UV Project**

Adapt projection method if needed for geometry.

Adjust angle limit if needed.

Open UV Editor and confirm:
  * No overlapping islands
  * Good space usage

If you want optimal packing:
**UV → Pack Islands**

==== Step 4 – Create Bake Target Texture ====

Switch to **Cycles** (baking only works in Cycles).

In Shader Editor:

  * Add **Image Texture node**
  * Click ''New''
  * Choose resolution (512 - 2048 or 4096)
  * Name it “Object_Baked_BaseColor”

<WRAP round important 30%>
**IMPORTANT:**

Leave this Image Texture node selected (highlighted).

This tells Blender where to bake.
</WRAP>


==== Step 5 – Bake Maps ====

=== Bake Base Color (Albedo) ===

In the Render tab (Cycles selected)

  * Open **Bake** section
  * **Bake Type:** Diffuse
  * Disable:
    * Direct
    * Indirect
    * Leave only Color checked
  * Press ''Bake''.

<WRAP round important 30%>
**IMPORTANT:**

Save the image afterward in Image Editor.

If it's not saved to disk it can be lost.
</WRAP>


Repeat the process for Normal Map:
  * Create new Image Texture → “Object_Baked_Normal”
  * Select that node
  * Bake Type → Normal
  * Space → Tangent
  * ''Bake''

Repeat the process for Roughness (if needed)
  * Bake Type → Roughness


==== Step 6 – Create a New Game-Ready Material ====

Create a clean Principled BSDF:

  * Plug BaseColor texture into Base Color
  * Plug Normal texture → Normal Map node → Principled Normal
  * Plug Roughness texture into Roughness

Remove all procedural nodes.

You now have a lightweight material that works in any engine.

==== Step 7 – (Optional but Recommended) Apply Transforms ====

  * **Object Mode** → ''Ctrl + A'' → **Apply Rotation/Scale**. 

//In most cases don't apply location if your object is not an independent asset placed at world origin.//

GLTF likes clean scale = 1, rotation = 0.

Game engines prefer clean transforms.


===== Correct Modifier / Boolean Order =====

//For example when a window is applying a difference boolean on a wall for easy placement//

Recommended Order:
  * Finish modeling
  * Apply Boolean on wall (for window cutout)
  * Clean topology
  * Apply bevel
  * Join bricks (if needed)
  * UV unwrap
  * Bake
  * Apply transforms
  * Export