“Pack resources” What is the best practice ?

[Kwin K]

Hi again!

I’m unclear about the external data options in Blender. Could you provide guidance on when to use the “Pack Resources” option?

If I want to ensure textures aren’t missing when moving files to a new location, should I always enable “Auto Pack Resources”?

From my understanding:

1. Pack Resource: Ensures textures are not missing, but increases file size.

2. Unpack Resource: Keeps the file smaller and lighter.

I’ve read the Blender manual
https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/blend/packed_data.html
but still need clarification.

Thank you very much for your help. 

[Omar Domenech]

I think of it as a going on vacation but for your blend file. Basically since Blender is referring back to your local hard drive by a path of any resource you are using, because you have it saved on your computer, what packing does is exactly as it says, it gathers up all the stuff you are using and packs it inside the blend file.

So if you have a folder named “wood textures” on your computer and you are using 3 wood textures from that folder, Blender is always referring back to that folder when looking for those textures, but when you pack it, Blender takes those textures, makes a copy/paste of them and save it inside the .blend file itself. That is why the file size increases, because it is now carrying stuff inside it, just like your when you’re going on vacations and you fill it with stuff that you don’t want to get left behind because you are going to use them. 

And now you can send that blend file anywhere or move it around, and all the stuff that was using from you computer locally is now also inside the blend file, so no link will be broken, no texture will be missing, because you packed it all inside the blend file. When it packs it gathers not just textures, but anything it is using, it will pack it in. 

Then if you want to unpack it, it’ll do just that, unpack al the resources. It will create a folder and dump all the resources it made a copy of. Again, just like when you’re back from vacations and you take all your stuff out of your bags because you don’t need to carry them around any more. 

Just try it out, make a simple scene and create a couple of materials that are using some texture or anything and try packing it and unpacking it, to get the hang of it. 

[Kwin K]

Hi Omar,

Thank you very much! Your comparison to “packing stuff for going on vacation” really clarified the concept of packing and unpacking resources.
It was much clearer than reading from Blender manual.

May I ask a few more questions:

1. When sending a Blend file to others, should I always “Pack Resources” to ensure the receiver gets all textures?

2. If I want to keep the working file lightweight by using Blender’s default link folder structure to a source library, what should I do to avoid issues when moving or renaming the source library files? How can I prevent problems with missing files and the need to manually locate them later?

Appreciate your help!

[Omar Domenech]

For number one, yes, I always pack my files if I’m going to send my work to someone. 

For number two, I always avoid moving things around so I don’t get broken links. If you do get things broken, there’s a find my missing things option:

[Kwin K]

Hi Omar,

Thank you very much.
Your answer really helped me understand the link file structure better.
I will be more careful about where I keep resources to avoid broken links.

[Dwayne Savage]

I’d like to add to this discussion that when you are sending this to someone else you may want to save your blend file using save as(Ctrl+Shift+S), then open N-Panel(Press N or click Cog icon in the header) and check compress to reduce the blend files size. 

[Kwin K]

Hi Dwayne,

Thank you so much!  I learned something new from you again today. 😊

[Author]

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