VersaTile 3D Model Editor

VersaTile is a simple 3D model editor that allows editing models based on tilesets.

Tiles can be placed on an axis-aligned plane and a model can be constructed this way.

Features

• Model editing
• Undo/redo
• Vertex displacement
• Post-placement edit (move/rotate/mirror/displace/…)
• Export via Assimp

Usage

The editor is mainly controlled with the mouse. On the right hand side is a side bar that shows the models sprite sheet and allows the selection of sprites.

The center of the editor contains a 3D viewport that shows the model and allows editing.

Creating a model

When creating a new model, the following dialog appears:

It provides several options that must be set up correctly to import a sprite sheet:

• File Name This option is required and defines the file that should be used as the sprite sheet.
• Sprite Size This option defines the size of the smallest tile that can be selected in the sprite sheet view. This also defines the grid size.
• Spritesheet Margin If the sprite sheet image has a border around the contained sprites, set this value to the number of pixels this border is wide.
• Sprite Padding If there is a padding between the single sprites in the sheet, set this value to the number of pixels this padding is wide.
• Preview Here you can see a preview of the imported sprites. The magenta lines will disappear in the editor, but are displayed here for you to check if your setup of the sprite sheet is correct.

Navigating in the Viewport

VersaTile uses a grid aligned movement for the camera focus. This grid is shown as white lines and aligns itself to fit a comfortable insertion position.

To rotate the camera, hold the right mouse button and drag. Horizontal movement rotates the camera around the focus point, vertical movement looks up and down.

To move the focus point, press W,A,S,D,Q and E. W moves the camera forward horizontally, S moves it backwards. A moves to the left and B to the right. E moves the camera upwards and Q downwards.

For a quick rotation of the camera, all shortcuts listed in the table below.

If the option Automatic adjust grid orientation is set, the displayed grid will align with the camera so always the most convenient grid is active. If this option is disabled, the active grid can be changed by pressing G or the Toggle Grid Plane button.

Inserting a tile

To insert a tile, select the sprite on the right side by clicking and dragging until the wanted portion is selected. Now a tile can be inserted in the 3D viewport on the white grid.

When inserting, the tile snaps to the grid unless the Shift key is pressed, then a pixel perfect insertion can be done.

When a good position is chosen, a left click will insert the tile at the previewed position. Then, another tile can be inserted. To insert a different tile, just select another sprite in the right panel. To end tile insertion, press Space or use the Selection mode button in the toolbar.

Modifying an existing tile

Tiles can be modified in different ways:

Translate / Move

Click and drag the tiles center gizmo to move the tile on its own placement plane. You can move the tile up,down,left and right.

Rotate Left / Right

Click the corresponding button in the toolbar or menu to rotate the tile around its upper left corner.

Flip Horizontal / Vertical

Click the corresponding button in the toolbar or menu to mirror the contents of the tile.

Displace Vertex

This feature allows you to displace a vertex to the tiles own plane. Click and drag a vertex gizmo to displace it along the tiles normal.

This can be used to achieve slopes and skewed tiles.

Delete

Click the button on the toolbar or press Delete to remove the tile from the model.

Controls

Supported Export Formats

VersaTile supports exporting the created 3D models with Assimp. Every format that can be exported by Assimp can also be used with VersaTile.

On export, the Y-axis is up and the model is scaled in a way that a single texture pixel is equivalent to one model unit.

So a model that is 64 pixels wide is also 64 units wide.

Preferences

In this dialog, you can set up your preferences on how VeraTile should behave.

Behaviour

Automatic adjust grid orientation

When this option is active, the grid will align itself with the camera as soon as it is moved.

Horizontal Grid Threshold

This is a factor from 0.0…1.0 that scales the y axis when determining the current auto grid.

The lower this is, the later the grid will align into "horizontal" mode, allowing more camera movement before swapping into horizontal mode.

Display

Ground Display

Determines the way a ground plane is shown. When None, no ground plane is visible, Grid is a static horizontal grid, even when the vertical one is shown and Solid is a solid, green surface that is supposed to resemble a grassy ground.

Ground Size

The extends of the ground in tiles. The larger this is, the larger the ground will be displayed.

Show Coordinate Axis

If this option is enabled, the coordinate axis are shown by three short lines in the colors red (x-axis), green (y-axis) and blue (z-axis). The intersection of the three lines is the current camera focus point.

Credits

Thanks for each Crocotile3D and Sprytile for inspiring me to create VersaTile!

Also thanks to kenney.nl for delivering our default tile set! It suits this editor very much.

More Screenshots