You can follow a [[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1--ltH6KcSSJBcawZ1dfMH2dldO_Tg8zN|video (Blender 2.80 and later)]] of this guide. It may be helpful to refer to both the video and this text.

====== Preparation ======
**You can open [[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P6d2_xXO3ilwgNcpMvIAHviz7vZR1Xmk|this start file]] for Blender 2.80 and later (may work with 2.79 and earlier, but has not been tested) and skip this section**
Follow these steps to prepare for previewing liveries

  - If you are using blender 2.79 or earlier, switch from ''Blender Render'' to ''Cycles Render'' in the dropdown to the right of the topmost menu bar.
  - On the menu bar in the top-right of the 3D view (below the 3D view in Blender 2.79 or earlier, or a file created in Blender 2.79 or earlier), click the ball icon next to ''Object Mode'' and select ''Material''
{{:contributing:blender:2020-04-16_14_13_31-blender_e_documents_rockstar_games_gta_v_liveries_carbonizzare_carbonizzare.bl.png?direct&400|}}
  - Right-click the default cube to select it
  - Select the Material tab in the Properties pane {{ :contributing:blender:2020-04-16_14_20_29-blender.png?direct&200|}}
  - Click ''+ New''
  - Blender 2.80: Click the icon in the upper-left of the 3D view, and select ''Material Editor''
  - Blender 2.79: Click the icon in the lower-right of the 3D view, and select ''Node Editor''
  - You should now see a ''Principled BSDF'' or ''Diffuse BSDF'' with its ''BSDF'' output connected to a ''Material Output'' by its ''Surface'' input. If so, skip the next three steps. 
    - If not, press delete to clear the Node Editor (press ''A'' then delete if this does not clear the Node Editor)
    - Click ''Add > Output > Material Output'' and click anywhere in the Node Editor to place the node
    - Click ''Add > Shader > Diffuse BSDF'' and click anywhere in the Node Editor to the left of the Material Output node to place the node
    - Click and drag from the ''BSDF'' output of the ''Diffuse BSDF'' node to the ''Surface'' input of the ''Material Output'' Node
  - Click ''Add > Color > MixRGB'' and click in an empty space to the left of the BSDF node to place it
  - Click ''Add > Texture > Image Texture'' and click in an empty space to the left of the ''Mix'' node to place it
  - Click and drag from the ''Color'' output of the ''Image Texture'' to the ''Color 2'' input of the ''Mix''
  - Click and drag from the ''Alpha'' output of the ''Image Texture'' to the ''Fac'' input of the ''Mix'' node
  - Click the Shield icon (or F) next to the material name near the top of the material tab in the properties pane.
  - On the left of the menu above (below in 2.79 and earlier) the ''Node Editor'', click the icon and select ''3D View''
  - Press ''A'' to select all (press until orange outlines are seen)
  - Press ''Delete'' and click on the confirmation popup
  - You may want to ''File >> Save'', or ''File > Save Startup File'' as this is a good starting point for previewing liveries

{{:contributing:blender:2020-04-16_14_36_48-blender.png?direct&400|}}

====== Import and texture the OBJ ======

  - Click ''File > Import > Wavefront (.obj)''
  - Browse to and select the file, then click ''Import OBJ''
  - On the ''Material'' tab on the ''Properties'' panel, click the ball icon next to ''+ New'' and select the material created earlier. If you are using the start file linked above, ''view uv.000'' or ''view composite'' is good for most livery making. 
  - Click the triangle pointing right icon next to ''Base Color [Mix]''
  - Click the triangle pointing right icon next to ''Fac [Image Texture]''
  - Click ''Open''
  - Browse to and select the livery image file, then click ''Open Image''

====== Auto-reload plugin ======
Instead of repeatedly opening the livery texture file every time you make a change, you can install a plugin that will automatically reload it every time the file changes.
  * If you use GIMP or Photoshop, you can use the add-on [[https://sites.google.com/site/pointatstuffweb/external-paint-autorefresh|External Paint Autorefresh]]
  * If you use another program, you can use [[https://blenderartists.org/t/auto-reload-external-images-available-for-blender-2-8x/1113223|Auto-Reload Images]] {{ :contributing:blender:2020-04-17_23_51_46-blender.png?direct&400|}}

  - Download your prefered auto-reload plugin
  - In Blender, on the top menu bar, select ''File > User Preferences...''
  - Click ''Add-ons'' then ''Install Add-on from File...'' at the top
  - Browse to and select the ZIP file you downloaded above, then click ''Install Add-on from File...''
  - Click ''user'' under ''Categories'' on the left
  - Click the check-box next to the add-on you just installed
  - Click ''Save user settings''
  - You may have to enable the auto-refresh functionality when launching blender or opening a file
    - For ''Auto-Reload Images''
      - Blender 2.79: click the clock icon on the right of the top menu bar
      - Blender 2.80: click the ''Timer'' button (with a clock icon) in the ''Context'' tab of the ''Properties'' panel