Part 1: Installation & Setup

BlenderMentor is fully compliant with the modern Blender 4.2+ Extensions system. Follow these steps to install and enable it.

Step 1: Download the Add-on

• Download the latest blendermentor_addon.zip package from our Releases page.
• Note: Do not unzip the package; keep it as a .zip file.

Step 2: Access Blender Preferences

• Launch Blender.
• In the top-left menu bar, go to Edit ➔ Preferences…
• A separate Preferences window will open.

Step 3: Install the Add-on

• On the left sidebar of the Preferences window, select the Get Extensions tab.
• In the top-right header of the Preferences window, click the cog/gear icon to open the repository settings.
• Select Install from Disk… from the dropdown menu.
• Navigate to your downloads, select blendermentor_addon.zip, and click Install.
• Blender will extract the extension, register it in your local "User Default" repository, and enable it automatically.

Step 4: Generate your AI API Key (Google Gemini Example)

BlenderMentor runs locally and requires no registration on our end—you bring your own API keys. Google Gemini offers a highly accurate and generous free tier for developers:

• Go to Google AI Studio.
• Log in with your standard Google account.
• Click the prominent Get API Key button in the top sidebar.
• Click Create API Key, search for/select a project, and copy your newly generated key.

Step 5: Configure the Add-on Preferences

• Back in Blender Preferences, select the Get Extensions tab (or Add-ons tab).
• Locate BlenderMentor and click the small arrow next to its name to expand the details and settings panel.
• Set AI Provider to Gemini.
• Paste your copied key into the API Key field (the key is hidden as a password field for security).
• Click Fetch Models (the file folder refresh icon). BlenderMentor will connect to the API, retrieve the active list of Gemini models, and populate the dropdown.
• Select your preferred model (e.g., gemini-2.5-flash).
• Click Test Connection (the checkmark icon) to confirm the key is active and working. You will see a success message (✓ Gemini connection successful!).

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Part 2: How to Use BlenderMentor

Once configured, BlenderMentor lives in your 3D Viewport sidebar and is ready to teach you.

Step 1: Open the Chat Panel

• Hover your mouse over the main 3D Viewport.
• Press N on your keyboard to open the Sidebar panel on the right.
• Select the BlenderMentor tab [1]
• Click Start BlenderMentor [2]

Step 2: Ask a Question

• Type a question in the input field (e.g., “How do I add a subdiv modifier to my active mesh?”).
• Click the Send button (the Play icon) or press Enter to submit your query.
• Alternatively, you can press [ Alt + ↑ ] to start dictating by voice.
• Tap [ Alt + ↑ ] again to stop dictating and submit your query.

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Part 3: Navigating Step-by-Step Guidance

When BlenderMentor responds, it won’t just dump text in your face—it builds a structured learning path specifically for your scene.

1. Step-by-Step Response List

The panel renders a list of clear, single-action instructions. Click any step block directly to make it active.

2. UI Highlighting & the Lightbulb Icon ('LIGHT')

• Selecting a step automatically triggers a visual colored outline over the exact Blender editor, navigation tab, or button panel you need to interact with.
• If the highlight fades or you need to see it again, click the Lightbulb ('LIGHT') icon in the header of the active step to re-trigger the glow animation.

3. Asking Follow-Up Questions ('Ask ?')

• If a specific step is confusing (e.g., you don’t understand why you are adding a material, or a button is named differently on your screen), click the ‘Ask ?’ button right next to that step.
• Type your question. The AI will receive the exact context of your current steps and answer your question directly in the chat, updating your guide seamlessly.

4. Searching YouTube Tutorials ('URL')

• Often, seeing a workflow in a video makes it click. If the AI detects a good fit for video learning, a Globe ('URL') icon appears in the top navigation row.
• Hover over the Globe to see the tooltip “Search YouTube Tutorials”.
• Clicking it immediately opens your default browser with an AI-optimized search query focused exactly on your task, getting you high-quality video tutorials instantly.