KeyShot Plugins

KeyShot for Blender Plugin

Version 1.2 (Released November 8th 2024)

Specifications 

The KeyShot for Blender plugin requirements are as follows:

• KeyShot 11.1 and newer
• Blender 2.80 and newer
• Windows 10 and newer

• MacOS 12 or later

Supported Features 

The KeyShot for Blender plugin supports these features: 

• Support for mesh, curves, surfaces and text
• Import View Layers as Model sets
• Parts retain materials and layers
• Objects retain material names
• LiveLinking
• Optionally update only selected parts
• Export to .bip
• Support for rigid and deformable animations (requires KeyShot Pro)

Installation  

Windows

1. After downloading, double-click the installer (.exe) file. Follow the prompts and click  Finish. 

2. Open Blender. 

3. Go to Edit > Preferences and click the  Add-ons button in the left-hand menu. 

4. Open the drop-down in the upper right and select Install from Disk.

5. In the file browser that opens browse to C:\Program Files\KeyShot Studio\Plugins\Blender (or C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\KeyShot Studio\Plugins\Blender). Here you will find a KeyShot Studio  folder. 

6. Click on the KeyShotBlenderAddon.zip and then click Install Add-on. 

7. A KeyShot Studio tab has now been added to the Blender Menu.

MacOS 

1. After downloading, double-click the installer (.dmg) file. The KeyShot Plugin installer window will appear. 

2. Save the KeyShot Studio folder on your device (for example by dragging it to your desktop). 

3. Open Blender. 

4. Go to Edit >  Preferences and click the  Add-ons button in the left-hand menu. 

5. Open the drop-down in the upper right and select Install from Disk.

6. In the file browser that opens, browse to the KeyShot Studio folder you saved in step 2. 

7. Click on the KeyShotBlenderAddon.zip and then click Install Add-on. 

8. A KeyShot Studio tab has now been added to the Blender Menu.

KeyShot Plugin Menu 

Once installed, a KeyShot menu will appear in the header. The KeyShot button performs three functions: Send, Update, and Export.  

Send 
Click the Send button to launch KeyShot. The 3D data will be transferred from Blender to KeyShot.  

Update 
Click the Update button while an existing KeyShot scene is open to update any changes on your model. 

Export 
Click the Export button to export your geometry as a .BIP file that you can share with other KeyShot users. KeyShot will not launch. 

How To Use The Plugin 

1. Open your scene or model in Blender. 

2. Go to KeyShot and click Send to KeyShot to launch KeyShot. The 3D data will be transferred from Blender to KeyShot.  

3. To Update any changes made in Blender, click Update KeyShot while your KeyShot scene is open. All materials, textures, labels, animations, transformations, cameras, and lighting will be maintained in the scene.  

Uninstall 

1. Inside Blender go to Edit > Preferences.
2. Click on Add-ons in the left-hand menu.
3. Expand the KeyShot Studio Plugin item and select Uninstall.
4. Close Blender and delete the KeyShot Studio folder with the Blender plugin inside.