diff --git a/assets/blender/characters/transfer_shape_keys.py b/assets/blender/characters/transfer_shape_keys.py
index cedaa98..32b9ae1 100644
--- a/assets/blender/characters/transfer_shape_keys.py
+++ b/assets/blender/characters/transfer_shape_keys.py
@@ -522,9 +522,9 @@ def enforce_side_constraint(pos, surface_point, reference_normal, target_side, c
             # Very small offset to stay near surface
             offset = abs((surface_point - pos).length) * 0.2
             if target_side > 0:
-                return proj_point - reference_normal * offset
-            else:
                 return proj_point + reference_normal * offset
+            else:
+                return proj_point - reference_normal * offset
         return pos
     
     # Regular vertices - stronger enforcement
@@ -534,9 +534,9 @@ def enforce_side_constraint(pos, surface_point, reference_normal, target_side, c
         
         offset = abs((surface_point - pos).length) * 0.95
         if target_side > 0:
-            corrected_pos = proj_point - reference_normal * offset
-        else:
             corrected_pos = proj_point + reference_normal * offset
+        else:
+            corrected_pos = proj_point - reference_normal * offset
         
         return corrected_pos
     
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ def set_shape_key_with_side_preservation(target_obj, sk_name, mapping, source_da
     smooth_penetration_areas(target_obj, sk_name, mapping, source_data)
 
 def test_shape_key_quality(target_obj, sk_name, mapping, source_data):
-    """Test shape key quality with side tracking"""
+    """Test shape key quality with side tracking (READ-ONLY - does not modify shape key data)"""
     
     sk = target_obj.data.shape_keys.key_blocks[sk_name]
     
@@ -889,6 +889,9 @@ def test_shape_key_quality(target_obj, sk_name, mapping, source_data):
     prev_positions = None
     boundary_vertices = mapping.get('boundary_vertices', set())
     
+    # Save original shape key data so we can restore it after testing
+    original_positions = [v.co.copy() for v in sk.data]
+    
     for val in test_values:
         if val == 0.0:
             sk.value = 0.0
@@ -932,6 +935,13 @@ def test_shape_key_quality(target_obj, sk_name, mapping, source_data):
         
         prev_positions = [v.co.copy() for v in target_obj.data.vertices]
     
+    # Restore original shape key data (the test should not modify the shape key)
+    target_obj.data.shape_keys.use_relative = False
+    for i, v in enumerate(sk.data):
+        if i < len(original_positions):
+            v.co = original_positions[i]
+    target_obj.data.shape_keys.use_relative = True
+    
     sk.value = 0.0
     target_obj.data.update_tag()
     bpy.context.view_layer.update()
diff --git a/assets/blender/scripts/export_models2.py b/assets/blender/scripts/export_models2.py
index efb72bc..08e6a29 100644
--- a/assets/blender/scripts/export_models2.py
+++ b/assets/blender/scripts/export_models2.py
@@ -376,10 +376,14 @@ for mapping in[CommandLineMapping()]:
             save_data["tags"] = unique_tags
 
             # Export shape keys if present
+            # IMPORTANT: Skip "Basis" to match OGRE's pose indexing.
+            # OGRE's blender2ogre exporter skips the Basis shape key (index 0),
+            # so pose index 0 in OGRE = first non-Basis shape key.
             shape_keys = []
             if obj.data.shape_keys and obj.data.shape_keys.key_blocks:
                 for sk in obj.data.shape_keys.key_blocks:
-                    shape_keys.append(sk.name)
+                    if sk.name != 'Basis':
+                        shape_keys.append(sk.name)
             save_data["shape_keys"] = shape_keys
 
             save_data["mesh"] = obj.data.name + ".mesh"
diff --git a/src/features/editScene/systems/CharacterSlotSystem.cpp b/src/features/editScene/systems/CharacterSlotSystem.cpp
index e1d4b2e..463e245 100644
--- a/src/features/editScene/systems/CharacterSlotSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/features/editScene/systems/CharacterSlotSystem.cpp
@@ -614,7 +614,13 @@ void CharacterSlotSystem::applyShapeKeys(flecs::entity e, Ogre::Entity *ent,
 	as->setEnabled(true);
 	as->setLoop(false);
 
-	/* Build name -> pose index map from catalog */
+	/* Build name -> pose index map from catalog.
+	 *
+	 * IMPORTANT: The catalog now skips "Basis" to match OGRE's pose indexing.
+	 * OGRE's blender2ogre exporter skips the Basis shape key (index 0),
+	 * so pose index 0 in OGRE = first non-Basis shape key in the catalog.
+	 * This means catalog index i directly maps to OGRE pose index i.
+	 */
 	const auto &shapeKeys =
 		entry->value("shape_keys", nlohmann::json::array());
 	std::unordered_map<Ogre::String, size_t> nameToIndex;