Understanding Append vs. Link

How to Import a Blender Model into Another Blender Project

The most common and effective way to import a Blender model, or any other data like materials, textures, or animations, from one Blender file into another is by using the Append function.

In short, you use the File > Append menu option to select the source Blender file and then choose the specific data blocks you want to bring into your current project.

Blender offers two similar functions: Append and Link. While both allow you to use data from another .blend file, they serve slightly different purposes:

• Append: This function copies the selected data blocks (like objects, collections, materials, textures, etc.) directly into your current .blend file. Once appended, the data is independent of the original file. Changes made to the appended object in your current file will not affect the original file, and vice versa. This is generally what you want when importing a model to modify or use freely in a new project.
• Link: This function creates a link to the data blocks in the original .blend file. The data itself remains in the source file, and your current file only references it. Changes made to the data in the original file will automatically update in any file where it is linked. You cannot directly edit linked data in the destination file (though you can override certain properties). This is useful for libraries of assets or collaborative projects where multiple files need to share updated versions of the same data.

For importing a model to work with, Append is typically the function you'll use.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using File > Append

Here’s how to bring a model from one Blender file into another using the Append function, as shown in the reference:

1. Open your destination Blender file: Start Blender and open the project where you want to import the model. If it's a brand new project, you might start with the default scene (File > New > General).
2. Access the Append function: Go to the menu bar at the top left and click on File.
3. Select "Append": From the dropdown menu, choose the Append option.
4. Navigate to the source file: A file browser window will open. Navigate through your folders to find the .blend file that contains the model you want to import.
5. Select the source file: Click once on the .blend file to select it.
6. Open the file's data structures: Once the file is selected, the file browser window will change, showing different folders corresponding to the data blocks within that .blend file (e.g., Camera, Collection, Material, Object, Scene, Texture, World, etc.).
7. Choose the data type: To import a model, you will typically want to go into the Object folder or the Collection folder.
   • Object: If you append from the Object folder, you will select individual mesh objects.
   • Collection: If you append from the Collection folder, you can select a whole collection that contains your model and related objects (like lights or cameras associated with it). Appending collections is often preferred as it keeps the original organization.
8. Select the specific data: Click on the Object or Collection folder, and then select the specific object(s) or collection(s) you wish to import. You can select multiple items by holding down Shift (for contiguous selection) or Ctrl (for individual selection).
9. Click "Append": Once the desired data block(s) are highlighted, click the Append button in the bottom right corner of the file browser window.

Your selected model(s) or collection(s) will now appear in your current Blender project, ready for you to use and modify.

Quick Reference Table

Action	Menu Path	Purpose
Import Model (Independent)	File > Append	Copies data; independent of source file.
Import Model (Linked)	File > Link	Links data; dependent on source file updates.

Practical Tips for Appending

• Stay Organized: Naming your objects and collections clearly in your source file makes it much easier to find them when appending.
• Collections are Powerful: Appending collections is often better than individual objects as it preserves the structure and potentially includes related items like armatures, lights, or cameras that were part of the original model setup.
• Check Dependencies: When you append an object or collection, Blender usually appends its dependencies (like materials, textures, or modifiers) automatically. However, it's a good idea to quickly check if everything came through correctly.

Using File > Append is the standard workflow for bringing assets from one Blender project into another, offering flexibility and control over your imported data.