Tips

Simple rotation around edge

Nikita

It is difficult to rotate mesh polygons around an edge if this edge is not parallel to the global X, Y, or Z axis — we need to switch to the edge local coordinate system, fix axes, and then rotate polygons about these axes. However, this can be done easier and faster – position the viewport parallel to one of the edges local axis and perform a rotation by simply pressing the “r” key.

To quickly rotate polygons around the edge:

  • switch to the “by Active Element” mode,
  • select geometry to rotate
  • next select the edge, around which you want to rotate the geometry. Selected last it becomes an active element,
  • press shift + Num1 (Num3 or Num7) to set the viewport parallel to one of the edge axes,
  • rotate geometry by pressing the “r” button.

Showing and hiding collections in Blender 2.8

Nikita

Clicking the collection “eye icon” in Blender 2.8 outliner shows and hides the visibility of objects from this collection in viewport window. To show only objects from the necessary collection and hide objects from all other collections with a single click – click the “eye icon” with the “Ctrl” button pressed.

Top and bottom toolbar position in Blender windows

Nikita

In Blender 2.8 the toolbars are located on the top of the working windows. But you can easily return them to the habitual bottom position.

Right-click on the panel and select “Flip to Bottom” to move the panel down. To return the panel back to the top, right-click on it and select “Flip to Top”.

This feature is not Blender 2.8 exclusive, the same can be done in Blender 2.7.

How to check what version of Python interpreter is used in Blender

Nikita

To find what Python interpreter version is used in current Blender version type the following commands in Python Console window in Blender:

It means that the version of Python used in Blender is 3.7.0.

To make it more readable type the following command:

or with full info:

Porting add-on from Blender 2.7 to Blender 2.8

Nikita

In the latest version 2.8 of Blender developers have made many changes in API, so all the scripts and add-ons written for earlier Blender versions (2.7 and below) have stopped working. To run your add-ons in the new Blender 2.8, you need to port them – correct their code to work properly with the new Blender API.

To enable your add-on in Blender 2.80 you have to make the following changes in code:

Porting add-on from Blender 2.7 to Blender 2.8Read More »

How to check if Blender object property/attribute is read-only

Nikita

To check is an attribute/property of any Blender object (mesh, node, modifier, etc.) read-only:

  1. With the is_property_readonly function, execute the following command:

<object> .is_property_readonly (‘<property name>’)

  1. Through the rna structure, execute the following command:

<object> .bl_rna.properties [‘<property name>’]. is_readonly

For example, for the “is_editmode” mesh property (is the mesh in edit mode or not):

Automatically changing the orthographic mode – perspective mode in Blender 2.8

Nikita
1 Comment / Blender 3D / /

In the new Blender 2.80 in the “3D View” window (3D Viewport), when scrolling a wheel to zoom or pressing the num pad buttons (1, 3, 7, 9) to center the view to different sides, the projection mode automatically changes between orthographic and perspective.

To disable this automatic mode changing, in the “User Preferences” window – “Navigation”, change the value of the Auto Perspective checkbox:

 

How to find out in what version of Blender the blend file was saved

Nikita

To check in what version of Blender the blend file was saved:

  • Open your file in Blender
  • In the Python Console window execute the following command:

Or open the blend file in any text editor, for example in Notepad++. The Blender version will be listed in the first 15 characters.

Also, the version of the open blend file can be viewed in the Outliner window in the Data Blocks group: