The main window centers on a 3D viewport for inspecting and editing models, with panels for objects and materials. ZModeler is geared toward game assets, including vehicle models, and provides import and export workflows for supported game formats.
How do you move through a model’s object hierarchy?
The Hierarchy panel presents model nodes in a tree, giving you a place to locate objects and work with their structure. Search controls can find matching nodes and replace the current match; F3 and Ctrl+F3 move between matches, while Shift+F3 replaces one. The panel can also highlight search results.
How does ZModeler handle materials?
The Materials browser manages model materials and their game-specific settings. You can save one or several materials to a ZModeler Materials Library (.zml) file, then load that configuration for another project or asset. This keeps the material setup available without having to transfer it by rebuilding each material.
Which model interchange workflows are supported?
Collada DAE import and export supports animation and carries hierarchy and material information between ZModeler and other 3D tools. DAE’s material format has limits: bump textures do not have a native bump-map slot, so an imported bump texture may end up on a different material channel.
ZModeler also provides import and export support for GTAV Enhanced assets, whose geometry and texture packages need updates for the game’s newer rendering engine. Its game-specific material tools include shader support for Euro Truck Simulator 2.
Pros
- Imports and exports Collada DAE models, including animation data
- Saves configured materials in reusable .zml libraries
- Includes GTAV Enhanced import and export support
- Provides hierarchy search and replace controls
Cons
- Collada DAE has no native bump-map support, so textures may map to another channel
System requirements: Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11 · 32-bit and 64-bit · DirectX 11
What is a .zml file?
It is a ZModeler Materials Library file that can store one or more configured materials for later loading.
Can ZModeler exchange animated models through DAE?
Yes. Its Collada DAE import and export workflow supports animation as well as hierarchy and material data.
Does DAE preserve bump-map assignments exactly?
Not always. DAE lacks native bump-map support, so a bump texture may be assigned to a different material channel.
