ALPACA3D
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Getting started / 3:26 video · 6 min read

Installation Guide & Blender Bridge

Watch how to install Alpaca3D on Windows, set up the Blender Bridge and send your first model to UV Lab.

Updated

Video walkthrough · 3:26 Watch on YouTube ↗

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STEP 01

Before you start

Alpaca3D is a Windows x64 desktop application with Retopo, UV and Bake workspaces. Blender and Maya are optional: you can use Alpaca3D on its own.

Download an installer from this website or use our official Microsoft Store listing. You do not need an account or a subscription for local editing.

STEP 02

Choose your installer

Online Setup is a small download that fetches the application during installation. Keep your internet connection active until setup finishes.

Offline Setup contains the full application. Choose it to keep an installer for later or install without an internet connection. Both EXE installers offer the same application, currently v0.12.32.

Online Setup ↓Offline Setup ↓

Microsoft Store is the official Store distribution. It currently provides the older application v0.12.30 (package 0.12.30.0). Choose an EXE installer above if you want the latest features and fixes.

Open Microsoft Store ↗

STEP 03

Install Alpaca3D

  1. Open the downloaded Online or Offline Setup file.
  2. Follow the installer prompts and wait for installation to finish. Online Setup also downloads the application at this stage.
  3. On the final screen, leave Launch Alpaca3D enabled. If you use Blender, enable Open Blender Bridge folder, then click Finish.

Using Microsoft Store instead? Open the listing, choose its download or install option and follow Microsoft's installation prompts.

STEP 04

Find your workspace

Use the tabs at the top of Alpaca3D to choose where you want to work:

  • Retopo — create and refine a low-poly mesh over reference geometry.
  • UV — mark seams, unwrap, optimize and pack UV islands.
  • Bake — transfer high-poly detail to texture maps.

Retopo and UV share a scene. Bake has its own scene and settings. Save your work as an .alpaca project before closing the application.

STEP 05

Install the Blender Bridge

The installer includes the Blender and Maya bridges with setup instructions. You can also download the Blender Bridge ZIP separately.

  1. In Blender, open Edit → Preferences → Add-ons.
  2. Open the menu at the top right and choose Install from Disk (the label may differ in older Blender versions).
  3. Select the Alpaca Bridge ZIP and install it. Do not extract the ZIP first.
  4. Enable Alpaca Bridge in the add-on list.
  5. In the 3D Viewport, press N to open the sidebar, then choose the Alpaca tab.

STEP 06

Connect Blender to Alpaca3D

Start Alpaca3D before sending a model. The bridge can fill its application path automatically after Send when Alpaca3D is running.

If automatic detection is unavailable, expand Application in the Alpaca panel and select the main Alpaca3D.exe launcher in your installation folder. Avoid choosing Blender or an executable inside an internal version folder. Save Blender preferences if automatic preference saving is disabled.

STEP 07

Send your first model

  1. Switch Blender to Object Mode.
  2. Select a mesh with UVs for this first UV test.
  3. Open UV Operations in the Alpaca panel.
  4. Click Send to open the mesh in Alpaca3D’s UV Lab.

Use Retopo Operations, UV Operations or Bake Operations to send geometry to the workspace for your task.

STEP 08

Bridges and updates

To exchange meshes with Blender or Maya, install the optional bridge using the instructions supplied with its ZIP or the included Bridge folders. Each host application needs its own bridge setup.

Get the Blender and Maya bridges →

The direct-download edition uses Alpaca3D's own update channel. The Store edition receives updates through Microsoft Store; the two channels can offer different versions.

If setup does not complete, try the full Offline Setup or visit our support page.

Updating Alpaca3D does not automatically install the new add-on into Blender. Save your work, install the updated bridge ZIP through Blender’s Add-ons preferences, and restart Blender. Check the Application path if you moved your Alpaca3D installation.

STEP 09

Troubleshooting

The Alpaca tab is missing

Check that the add-on is enabled. Move the pointer over the 3D Viewport and press N.

Send does not open Alpaca3D

Launch Alpaca3D manually and retry, or check the executable path under Application.

Blender still shows an older bridge

Fully restart Blender after installing the updated ZIP.

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