Setup

Author: Rossana Mazza Creation Date: 26/09/2025
Last Reviewer: Vincenzo Mossuto

Setting up the project

The setup phase establishes the foundation for every modeling project.
It ensures consistency across all files and prepares the original eyewear model for optimization and retopology.

• Open base file: start from the project template RETOPO MODEL SETUP. This file provides the standardized scene collections, custom export settings, and environment. It should be renamed with the product code (eg."TH2269.blend")
• Import FBX file: import the FBX file containing the original eyewear model into the ORIGINAL MODEL collection.
• Initialize setup script: run the New model Setup script via the Setup button in the Spaarkly add-on. This script configures and repositions the imported model and prepares it for processing.
• Organize non-essential components: move all elements that are not directly needed for retopology (e.g., components that can be recreated by adjusting material variations rather than geometry) into the UNUSABLE collection.
• Renaming: standardize component names using the Component Renamer script. Apply the Rename FULL option to tag all imported parts as Original Component (_OC). This ensures consistency and traceability throughout the pipeline.
• Material assignment for decimation: inspect each component in Edit Mode. Where multiple materials are required, pre-assign the corresponding faces to distinct material slots. Doing so ensures that, once the geometry is decimated and merged, material areas remain clearly defined and selectable, avoiding the need for time-consuming manual re-selection.
• UV Setup: when UVs are required, generate an initial layout before decimation. Select the face groups that should remain connected, apply Project from View; if necessary, arrange the resulting islands to avoid intersections.

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At the end of the setup phase, the imported model is organized, named according to internal conventions, and ready for optimization and retopology.