PZwiki Render Script

This script automates rendering Project Zomboid models using Blender.

Requirements

• Blender (tested with 4.0)
• Project Zomboid installation

Vehicles

• vehicle_data.json file containing vehicle mesh and texture paths. (A version is packaged with the script)
  • Obtained from pz-wiki_parser
  • Tools > Vehicle render data
• Convert FBX files from ASCII format to binary. FBX Converter 2013 can be used (mirror)

Items

• model_data.json file containing model mesh and textre paths. (A version is packaged with the script)
  • Obtained from pz-wiki_parser
  • Script parser > model

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Usage in Blender (Scripting: Text Eeditor)

1. Open Blender.
2. Paste the vehicle_render.py or model_render.py script into the Text Editor in Scripting.
3. Adjust settings in the config section if needed:
   • MEDIA_PATH - should be the path of the media file in the Project Zomboid directory.
   • MODEL_DATA_PATH - should be the path of the JSON data file.
   • OUTPUT_PATH - where rendered images will be saved (default: ./output).
   • IS_SINGLE = True - render a single angle. False will render each vehicle from 8 different angles.
   • MODELS = ["Base.CarLuxury"] - only render selected models.
4. Click Run Script (the play button in the Text Editor toolbar).

Note: Config (default values) can be modified as needed.

Usage from Command Line

Run Blender in background by using:

blender --background --python vehicle_render.py

Or:

blender --background --python model_render.py

Available CLI Arguments

Arguments can be defined by adding them after --

• is_single=true (Boolean) - If true, renders one angle instead of eight (default)
• render_engine= (String) - BLENDER_EEVEE (quick) or CYCLES (slow)
• dim=800 (Integer) - Sets render dimension of both width and height. dim_x and dim_y can used to define separately.

Vehicles

• vehicles (List) - List each vehicle ID, separating with a comma (,).

Example:

blender --background --python vehicle_render.py -- is_single=true render_engine=BLENDER_EEVEE dim=800 vehicles=Base.CarNormal,Base.Van

Models

• models (List) - List each vehicle ID, separating with a comma (,).
• lens (Integer) - Focal length to be used for the render.
• cam (Integer) - Camera index with 45° intervals. (0 to 7)
• preset (String) - Option preset with differing FOCAL_LENGTH and CAM_INDEX.
  • Presets are broken up into 2 parts. <lens>-<cam>
  • <lens> - the focal length and can be any of the following: huge (200), large (400), med (600), small (1000), tiny (1600)
  • <cam> - the camera index to use, in intervals of 2: 0 (0), 1 (2), 2 (4), 3 (6)

Example:

blender --background --python model_render.py -- preset=med-1 models=BeerBottleSixpack

Notes

• Ensure Blender is added to your system PATH
• Alternatively, include the Blender executable path in the command: & "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender 4.0\blender.exe" --background --python vehicle_render.py

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Output

Rendered images are saved to the output/ folder beside the script (default). Ensure the full path is defined if running in Blender: Scripting.

Filenames follow the format:

• CarLuxury_Model.png - single angle
• CarLuxury_Model.png, ..., CarLuxury_7_Model.png - full rotation

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Note

• Rendering all models at once will take a while. Be patient. If rendering in Blender it may indicate that it's stopped responding.
• There are several bathfiles with varying settings. These can be used to simplify using in the CLI.