# Import information and advice

Information about importing 3D models, textures and anything else related to importing files from another platform

# What are LODs and why should I add them?

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">When importing 3D models, you should always make sure to add LODs.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">LODs are essentially lower detailed versions of the mesh that get displayed when it is further away from the camera, significantly reducing performance impact.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166); white-space: pre-wrap;">This is important because even with modern and powerful GPUs, </span>[<u><span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">triangle count does absolutely still matter in a major way</span></u>](https://youtu.be/hf27qsQPRLQ)<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">Setting up LODs is easy and takes no more than a couple of minutes once you know how it works. Here’s how to do it:</span>

1. <span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">First, you duplicate your object in Blender 2-3 times, naming the versions Name\_LOD0, Name\_LOD1, Name\_LOD2 and so on.</span>
2. <span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">Leave LOD0 the same, but for the other ones, add increasingly aggressive Decimate modifiers and apply them.</span>  
    <span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">For example, if LOD0 has 10k faces, LOD1 might have 5k, LOD2 2k and LOD3 only 500.</span>
3. <span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">Finally, click the Sort button in Enfusion Blender Tools to move the LODs into separate collections.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166); white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of this info is also described on the </span>[<u><span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">FBX Import page</span></u>](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_Reforger:FBX_Import#LODs)<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166); white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to regular LODs, you can also add a final </span>[<u><span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">MLOD</span></u>](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_Reforger:Enfusion_Blender_Tools:_MLOD_Baking_Tutorial)<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166); white-space: pre-wrap;"> or imposter model, which is basically a super low detail version of the asset, which only has maybe 20-200 triangles and all its detail either baked to a special low res texture, or even just a texture-less material, optionally with vertex colors.</span>  
<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">This is not necessary for most models, but worth considering for frequently used ones such as trees.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166); white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Workbench, you can optionally also adjust the distances at which these LOD switches happen by modifying a MeshObjects LOD factors - more on that </span>[<u><span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">here</span></u>](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_Reforger:Level_Of_Detail)<span style="color: rgb(149, 165, 166);">.</span>  
  
  
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">you can use automtic LOD maker on blender with some plugin: </span>

[![image.png](https://wiki.nabla.sh/uploads/images/gallery/2024-11/scaled-1680-/53Gimage.png)](https://wiki.nabla.sh/uploads/images/gallery/2024-11/53Gimage.png)

[https://blendermarket.com/products/lods-maker--create-level-of-details-in-1-click/?ref=1193](https://blendermarket.com/products/lods-maker--create-level-of-details-in-1-click/?ref=1193)