How Do I Edit a Linked Object in Blender?

To edit a linked object in Blender, you need to modify the original source file from which the object is linked, because you cannot directly edit a linked object within the destination Blender file.

Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Identify the Source File: Determine the .blend file where the original object is located. This is the file that contains the actual object data you want to modify.

2. Open the Source File: Open the original .blend file in Blender.

3. Edit the Object: Make the desired changes to the object in the source file. This could involve modifying the mesh, materials, textures, modifiers, or any other aspect of the object.

4. Save the Source File: Save the changes you've made to the source .blend file.

5. Update the Linked Object: In the destination Blender file where the object is linked, the changes should automatically update. If they don't update automatically, you can try:

   • Reloading the Library: Go to File > External Data > Reload All.
   • Reopening the Destination File: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening the destination .blend file will force Blender to refresh the linked data.
   • Checking Library Overrides: If you've created library overrides on the linked object in the destination file, these overrides might prevent the changes from the source file from propagating. You may need to adjust or remove the overrides.

Important Considerations:

• Linked vs. Appended: Remember that linking is different from appending. Appending copies the object data into the current file, so changes to the original file won't affect the appended object. Linking, on the other hand, creates a connection to the original object data.
• Shared Data: When you edit the source file, all other Blender files that link to that object will also reflect the changes. This can be beneficial for maintaining consistency across multiple scenes, but it's important to be aware of the potential impact of your edits.
• Collection Instances: As highlighted in the reference video, while linked collections propagate geometry, adding new objects to a linked collection in the source file may not always be reflected in the destination if you're only linking the collection as a collection instance.

In summary, to edit a linked object, you must edit it in the source .blend file, and then the changes will propagate to any .blend files where the object is linked.