MD3 format

MD3 is a model format developed by id software.

It can support a very high amount of polygons.

It uses float precision for vertices, so the wobble is almost completely invisible.

It supports multiple surfaces on one mesh.

It supports tags, a feature where you can dynamically attach entities onto vector points. OA uses this to make independently turning torsos and heads on most characters, as well as placing the weapon in the hands, animating a static weapon model, and showing a muzzleflash.

Import Plugins

Please expand this section

Export Plugins

Blender 2.4X

< insert links to latest export script here >

How do I export md3s in Blender?

You can use the script found here. A few notes

• All scripts must be copied to the scripts folder
• To export an animated md3 you MUST load the md3 export script in the text editor then run it. Also you must select the last frame of animation your model has too
• Tags are made from empties.
• Work with your objects in 0,0,0 origin as much as possible. Moving them will cause the tags to be misaligned in export.

an alternative exporter/importer based on the previous -> import/export ( which is more up-to-date ).

See also: DeveloperFAQ#How do I export md3s in Blender?

Misfit Model 3D and Maverick Model 3D

Another software capable of working with MD3 models should be Misfit Model 3D (which has got "beta" MD3 support in its "development version"). Misfit Model 3D is no longer under development, hence its MD3 support will never reach the "stable" label. Although it may not provide enough animation control for player models, it should be fine at least for static models (mapmodels to be baked into maps).

Since Misfit Model 3D has been halted, another developer forked the project, creating Maverick Model 3D and continuing the development. It has got improved MD3 support, there is a manual page about it here.

Milkshape 3D

Also Milkshape 3D seems capable to export to MD3 format. There is a brief tutorial here.

See also

• Making a player model
• Creating a player model in Blender
• Modeling
• Modelling a map
• DeveloperFAQ

External links

• A tutorial about exporting to MD3 from Blender (internet archive) (using this md3 exporter script -dead link-).
• MD3 file format on Wikipedia
• Description of MD3 format
• MD3 import/export plugins on katsbits.com
• Chess III Arena (internet archive). A chess game that uses md3 character models taken from OpenArena. If you own a copy of Quake III Arena, you can use its models instead of the ones from OpenArena.
• Open 3D Model Viewer (internet archive) - An open source software capable of showing MD3 files.
  • Open 3D Model Viewer on github.
• Quake 3 Skinning for Newbies Tutorial - Part 1 (modifying a skin for an existing model)
  • Part 2 (Q3 bot)
• New Teams for Q3TA (guide for model/skin creators) on icculus.org
• Converting ASE models to MD3 with q3data