Transform tools

3-Points Align

3-Points Align

Relocate a node from three pairs of points, from an origin position to a target position.

  1. Select a node to Align
    • Pick three pairs of matching points, from origin to target: A1-A2 B1-B2 C1-C2 Where “A” is the base point for the transformation
    • The plane delimited by the three origin points will be matched to the plane defined by the three target points.
  2. After setting the matching pairs of points:
    1. Press Right-Click to confirm the operation
    2. Press Left-Click to change object orientation
Reference Rotation

Reference Rotation

4-point rotation (Base Point > Reference Point > Axis Point > Dest. Point)

The action is performed in the object’s local coordinate system.

  1. Position point
  2. Rotation axis
  3. Reference direction
  4. Rotated direction

Hold SHIFT while tracking angle to restrict angle measure.

Local Rotation

Local Rotation

Local reference rotation performs a 3-Point rotation (Base point > Reference point > Dest. point) using the object’s local coordinate system.

  1. Position point
  2. Reference rotation point. Default rotation axis: Z. To change rotation axis: Hold SHIFT while tracking the reference point to change the rotation axis.
  3. New rotation point
  • Hold SHIFT while picking the reference point for X axis, press CTRL for Y axis.
  • Hold SHIFT while tracking angle to restrict angle measure.
Reference scale

Reference scale

4-point scale. Orthogonal reference pick mode.

Additionally, it can apply a Xform modifier instead of a direct transformation.

  1. Pick 2 points for reference dimension.
  2. Pick 2 points for new dimension and transformation direction.
  • Press SHIFT on tool start to keep proportions.
  • This tool has some alternate modes:
    • Reference Scale - Xform: adds a Xform Modifier instead of directly changing the object scale.
    • Reference Scale - current coordinate system mode.
Position offset

Position offset

Performs a translation from a reference point and a direction path.

  1. Pick Base point
  2. Pick Direction point
  3. Adjust the new position in the dialog.
reDimension

reDimension

Unit-measured scale, with orthogonal reference pick mode.

  1. Pick base point
  2. Pick second point for reference distance and direction.
  3. Set new dimension in floater dialog.

Hold SHIFT while tracking second point for orthogonal mode, then press CTRL for axis-lock.

move and align (1D Align)

move and align (1D Align)

Move the object to a new position and align it by picking two pairs of points .

  1. Reposition:
    1. Pick the reference point
    2. Pick the New location Point
  2. Realign:
    1. Pick a reference point to start alignment vector
    2. Pick a destination point to complete the alignment vector.

Continue repeating (3) and (4), or press Right-Click or Escape to end the tool.

Mirror tool

Mirror tool

Advanced mirror tool that uses a 3-plane viewport gizmo to guide the mirror operation.

  1. Position the 3-plane gizmo picking a center point for the mirror operation.
  2. Orient the gizmo with points for direction, yaw, Pitch, Roll and offset angle.
  3. Select the objects and use the options in the dialog.
Reference move

Reference move

CAD-like Move tool that uses two (origin and destination) reference points.

  1. Select the objects you want to move.
  2. Start the tool; Pick an origin reference point (be sure to enable snaps)
  3. Pick a destination point to displace the origin point to.
Swap transform

Swap transform

Select a collection of objects and cycle their transform from one to the next.

  1. Select a list of objects. The selection order will determine the cycle order.
  2. Use de dialog to check if position, rotation and scale should be swapped. Press apply (continue using apply until you are happy with the result). Close the dialog to finish te toool.
Random swap transform

Random swap transform

Randomly swap position, rotation and scale between the selected objects.

  1. Select a list of objects.
  2. Use de dialog to check if position, rotation and scale should be swapped. Use the incremental checkbox to stack the changes.
  3. Press apply until the result is appealing, then close the dialog.
Drop objects

Drop objects

Drop objects on below surfaces.

Press SHIFT when activating the tool to align the objects to the surface shape.

Arrange objects (start-end)

Arrange objects (start-end)

Distribute objects (equally spaced) on a linear direction.

Direction and length of the distribution determined by the position of two objects.

  1. Select the START OBJECT
  2. Select the END OBJECT
  3. Select the objects to distribute between them.
Arrange objects (real-time)

Arrange objects (real-time)

Distribute objects (equally spaced) on a linear direction.

This variant of the tool tracks the objects new position’s in real time.

  1. Select the object set to rearrange
  2. Pick the direction line START POINT
  3. Track the end of the line. Before picking the END POINT to finish the operation, use these options:
    • Press SHIFT to conform to the underlying surfaces
    • Press CONTROL to orient to the underlying surfaces.
Arrange objects (interactive)

Arrange objects (interactive)

Distribute objects (equally spaced) on a linear direction.

This variant of the tool tracks the objects new position’s with marks in the viewport.

  1. Select the object set to rearrange.
  2. Pick the direction line START POINT
  3. Track the end of the line. Before picking the END POINT to finish the operation, use these options:
    • Press SHIFT to conform to the underlying surfaces
    • Press CONTROL to orient to the underlying surfaces.

Measure tools

Measure distance

Measure distance

Live visual feedback measure tape.

Orthogonal constraint and orthogonal reference modes.

Continuous mode displays concatenated dimensions.

  1. Measurement start point
  2. Measurement end point
  3. Repeat, or Right-Click to finish.

Hold SHIFT while tracking the second point for orthogonal mode, then press CTRL for axis-lock.

Distance - continued

Distance - continued

Live visual feedback measure tape.

Orthogonal constraint and orthogonal reference modes.

Continuous mode displays concatenated dimensions.

  1. Measurement start point
  2. Measurement end point
  3. Repeat, or Right-Click to finish.

Hold SHIFT while tracking the second point for orthogonal mode, then press CTRL for axis-lock.

Measure history

Measure history

Distance measure history.

Create renderable dimension objects.

The Distance measure history dialog keeps track of performed measures, allowing to re-display them and customize appearance.

It can also be used to create renderable dimension lines with measure annotation. Standard Spline and text shapes will be created to draw the dimension line.

Notice

  • Please note that the text will be oriented left -> right, based on the current view.
  • The tool is designed to be use in the perspective viewport. Expect unpredicted result in orthogonal views.
Measure Angle

Measure Angle

Live visual feedback angular measurement.

Measure an angle defined by three points.

  1. Pick a base (angle vertex) point
  2. Pick a reference direction point (A): one side of the angle, determined the vector 3. between the base point and point (A)
  3. Pick the second direction point (B): another side of the angle, determined the vector between the base point and point (B).
Measure area

Measure area

Pick points to draw an a closed polygonal region and measure its area.

  1. Pick a base point to start the polygonal area region.
  2. Pick subsequent points. Press Right-Click to finish.

Hold SHIFT while tracking subsequent pints point for orthogonal mode, then press CTRL for axis-lock.

Measure volumne

Measure volumne

Pick points to draw an a closed polygonal region and measure its area.

  1. Pick a bottom minimum point
  2. Pick an opposed top maximum point to define a cage.
Angle between two faces

Angle between two faces

Angle2Faces for short, measures the angle between two polygons.

  • This tool needs an EditablePoly or EditableMesh object selected to work.
  • Check/uncheck the tool button (either in the menu, ribbon tab or in a toolbar) to enable/disable it.
  • Pick one point on each face to get the angle between them.
Angle between two edges

Angle between two edges

Angle2Edges for short, measures the angle between two selected edges.

  • This tool needs an EditablePoly or EditableMesh object selected and the sub-object selection mode set to edge.
  • Check/uncheck the tool button (either in the menu, ribbon tab or in a toolbar) to enable/disable it.
  • Select two edges to get the angle between them. change the selection to show a new measurement.
Divide distance

Divide distance

Divide a distance in equal segments and adds a helper mark at each division point.

  1. Pick distance start point.
  2. pick distance end point.
  3. Move mouse to set division points amount.
  • Hold SHIFT while tracking second point for orthogonal mode, then press CTRL for axis-lock.
  • Marks can be either a standard point helper or the custom refGuides point. Change this setting in the configuration dialog
Home grid Scale

Home grid Scale

Display XYZ reference units for the active viewport grid.

Draws a gizmo for the active grid (at the origin), indicating grid lines spacing and axes.

Object spatial info

Object spatial info

Viewport gizmo for displaying information about an object dimensions and transformation.

Activate the tool, select in the dialgo the information you want to display, activating or deactivating the checkboxes, select objects in the viewport to see the overlay with measurements.

Object Z-position

Object Z-position

Viewport gizmo for displaying information about an object dimensions and transformation.

Displays a guide that indicates an object’s elevation

Check/uncheck the tool button (either in the menu, ribbon tab or in a toolbar) to enable/disable it. Select an object in the viewport. An overlay displaying the object Z-position will be drawn.

Settings #1

General settings

General settings

DesignToolBox general settings, like viewport elements color and style, tools behavior and more.

A dialog with options for certain tools and to customize colors and viewport elements.

Settings for transform tools

Settings for transform tools

Units configuration values for the transform and measure tools.

Units settings:

  • Change the angle snap for tools that has any angle measurement or a polar gizmo as part of the operation.
  • Apply a scale facto to the measurements taken with the dimension, are and volume measure tools.

Measure dimension settings:

  • Change the length of extension lines, the offset distance from the measure points, and the aperture angle of the line arrows.

refGuides

Line guide - Free position

Line guide - Free position

Linear, segments marked construction guide. Free space mode allows to position the guide freely using two position points.

In addition, when positioning line guides, intersection marks (created as refPoints) can be created between the reference guides in the scene.

  1. Pick a base reference point.
  2. Pick a second reference point determining the direction of the guide.
  • Hold SHIFT at tool start for continued mode.
  • Hold SHIFT during creation for orthogonal track.
  • Hold ALT while tracking position to override intersection points toggle.

The line guide is divided in point that can be used as snap targets. The distance of the marks can be set on the modifier panel.

Line guide - Orthogonal position

Line guide - Orthogonal position

Linear construction guide. Orthogonal positioning mode.

In addition, when positioning line guides, intersection marks (created as refPoints) can be created between the reference guides in the scene.

  1. Pick a reference point, it will act as a center of the orthogonal space.
  2. Move the mouse around to change the direction or snap to a point. Hold CTRL during axis selection to lock the position of the XY plane.
  • Hold SHIFT at tool start for continued mode.
  • Hold SHIFT during creation for orthogonal track.
  • Hold ALT while tracking position to override intersection points toggle.

The line guide is divided in points that can be used as snap targets. The distance of the marks can be set on the modifier panel.

Line guide - Polar positioning

Line guide - Polar positioning

Linear construction guide. Polar positioning mode.

In addition, when positioning line guides, intersection marks (created as refPoints) can be created between the reference guides in the scene.

  1. Pick the base point.
  2. Track and pick the next point to set the z-axis for the gizmo
  3. Track a rotation for the X-axis and Y-axis.
    • Hold SHIFT to change direction
    • Hold CTRL to change axis.
    • Hold ALT tracking any gizmo rotation to snap angle values.
  4. Set the guide rotation angle about polar gizmo.
    • Hold ALT to override the intersection points toggle.

The line guide is divided in points that can be used as snap targets. The distance of the marks can be set on the modifier panel.

Protractor - free positioning

Protractor - free positioning

Tool for displaying and snapping angular values. Free space mode allows to position the guide freely using two position points.

  1. Pick a base reference point.
  2. Pick a second reference point determining the direction of the guide.
  • Hold SHIFT at tool start for continued mode.
  • Hold SHIFT during creation for orthogonal track.
  • Hold ALT while tracking position to override intersection points toggle.

The protractor guide is divided in points that can be used as snap targets. The angle at which the marks appear can be changed in the modifier panel.

Protractor - orthogonal position

Protractor - orthogonal position

Tool for displaying and snapping angular values. Orthogonal positioning mode.

  1. Pick a reference point, it will act as a center of the orthogonal space.
  2. Move the mouse around to change the direction or snap to a point.
  • Press SHIFT on button for continued mode.
  • Hold CTRL during axis selection to lock the position of the XY plane.
  • Hold ALT while tracking position to override intersection points toggle.
Protractor - polar position

Protractor - polar position

Tool for displaying and snapping angular values. Polar positioning mode.

  1. Pick the base point.
  2. Track and pick the next point to set the z-axis for the gizmo
  3. Track a rotation for the X-axis and Y-axis.
    • Hold SHIFT to change direction
    • Hold CTRL to change axis.
    • Hold ALT tracking any gizmo rotation to snap angle values.
  4. Set the guide rotation angle about polar gizmo.
    • Hold ALT to override the intersection points toggle.
Reference point

Reference point

Trace temporary reference lines and place points at intersections.

Unlike the Standard helper points, this custom objects works with vertex snap.

This reference objects are created at the intersection of line guides, if the option to place intersection points is enabled.

Point placement using the tool button:

  • When picking first point of line:
    • Hold SHIFT for orthogonal placing mode
    • Hold ALT for polar placing mode.

Hold SHIFT in standard free space mode for orthogonal placement override.

Display guide units

Display guide units

Displays line guides units scale and protractor angles on the viewport.

  • Check/uncheck the tool button (either in the menu, ribbon tab or in a toolbar) to enable/disable it.
  • Tool modes:
    • Selection: displays the units for the selected guide objects.
    • Full: displays the units for all the guide objects in the scene.

The units scale (ie.: 0.5 cm, 0,1 cm, 45.0 angles …) can be changed for the selected guide object, on the modify panel. This will also change the snapping points in the guide.

Additional refGuides tools

Delete guides

Delete guides

Delete all guides (lines, protractor and intersection points) on scene.

Toggle intersections

Toggle intersections

Enable or disable the auto creation of intersection points when placing reference guidelines.

Guides - set protractor

Guides - set protractor

When the option is enabled, a protractor will be created when placing reference guides.

Guides - lock guides

Guides - lock guides

Turn on to lock the guides after creation

Guides - keep grid

Guides - keep grid

When enabled, the reference grid used to define polar coordinates in guidelines placement will remain active.

Guides - Intersection mode

Guides - Intersection mode

Intersect against all guides in scene or only the guides in the current placement.

Settings #2

Guides - settings

Guides - settings

refGuides preferences dialog.

Settings:

  • Default layer and base name for the reference objects
  • Keep the temporal grid active (for polar placement)
  • Lock reference objects after creation
  • Colors and text labels customization for the visual feedback gizmos and overlays.
  • Change the type of Reference objects: they can be a custom object or standard splines
  • Intersection behavior:
    • Intersect against all guides in the scene or just the current guide creation
    • Add intersection points between the guide lines or using all the spline shapes in the scene that can be inferred as straight lines.
Guides - units

Guides - units

Units configuration for the reference objects creation and placement.

Changes the default units for guides creation:

  • Guide extension: the length (in current units) of the guide tool
  • Guide units: the guide subdivision marks (in current units)
  • Protractor
    • Radius: the radius (in current units) of the protractor object
    • Angles: at witch angles the marks appear
    • Polar angles: the angle snap for the prolar position gizmo
    • Point mark extension: the size (in current units) of the point mark

Replicator and Eyedropper

Replicator

Replicator

Replace any object with another. Replicate multiple instances, keep or not material and transformations.

  1. Pick a source node
  2. Pick the objects you want to replace.
  • Press CTRL when selecting the tool to replace current selection with a source node.
  • Press ALT when starting the tool to create copies instead of instances.
  • Press SHIFT when selecting the tool to create references instead of instances.
Replicator options

Replicator options

Toggles that changes the behavior of the tool

  • Multi Target toggle: continuos target picking.
  • Transform copy toggle: copy reference object transformation.
  • Replace instances of target nodes: replace all instances of the target. Does not work with groups.
  • Behavior for groups:
    • Source node group mode: When enabled, the entire group that contains the source object will be selected. When disabled, only the picked object will be used.
    • Target node group mode: When enabled, the entire target group will be replaced with an instance of the source. If this checkbox is disabled, only the picked member of the target group will be replaced. Specially useful to quickly replace parts of a group.
Replicator - options

Replicator - options

Eyedropper Tool can copy several characteristics (properties and modifiers) form one node to another, or to a group of nodes.

  1. Pick a source node
  2. Pick the objects you want to apply the properties or modifiers. </ol> Copy several characteristics form one node to another node or group of nodes.
    Set options for properties, material or modifiers to copy form the filters dialog.
    Press **CTRL** when selecting the tool to apply to the current selection picking a source node.
Eyedropper - transform

Eyedropper - transform

Copy selected node transform to another node or group of nodes.

Settings:

  • keep the original position of the object (on/off)
  • transfer only the pivot transformation (mutually exclusive)
  • transfer the pivot transform and object transform (mutually exclusive)
  • transfer only the object transform. (mutually exclusive)
Eyedropper - material

Eyedropper - material

Copy selected node material and wire color to another node or group of nodes.

Eyedropper - modifiers

Eyedropper - modifiers

Copy selected node modifiers to another node or group of nodes.

Eyedropper - UVW modifiers

Eyedropper - UVW modifiers

Copy selected node UVW modifiers to another node or group of nodes.

Eyedropper - visual properties

Eyedropper - visual properties

Copy selected node display and and render options to another node or group of nodes.

Eyedropper options

Eyedropper options

Configuration dialog for the eyedropper tool.

Filter witch properties you want to transfer to the target with the multi-eyedropper tool.

Change the behavior of some actions.

  • Filters dialog: Set filters for multi-eyedropper. This enables or disables the different range of properties that the Eyedropper can pick.
  • Transformation options (works with the multi-eyedropper and transform-eyedropper tools).
    • keep the original position of the object (on/off)
    • transfer only the pivot transformation (mutually exclusive)
    • transfer the pivot transform and object transform (mutually exclusive)
    • transfer only the object transform. (mutually exclusive).
  • Multi Target toggle: Enable eyedropper multi target mode.

Geometry modification

Object merge

Object merge

Combine geometry and splines into one object in one click.

Select the objects to merge, run the tool, select or dismiss the prompt for keeping the original nodes, done.

Object explode

Object explode

Detach each geometry element or spline shape in a combined object, to individual objects with one click. - Combine geometry and splines into one object.

Select the objects to explode, run the tool, select or dismiss the prompt for keeping the original nodes, done.

Align vertices

Align vertices

Align a selection of vertices in a straight line.

  1. Select the vertices you want to align. alternatively, select a edge loop or some consecutive edges.
  2. Start the tool. Choose a base point to begin drawing a line that will be used to align the vertices.
  3. Choose an endpoint to determine the direction of the line.

The vertices will be repositioned over the line, to the closest point to the original position.

Edge length

Edge length

Change the length of selected edges.

Note that the objects must be geometry that can be converted to Editable Poly and, the tool will collapse the modifier stack.

Options: Max, minimum, and average length, custom value.

  1. Select the Editable Poly object and start the tool.
  2. Select a set of edges you want to modify and select a reference vertex for each edge, it will be used as a base point to set the direction of the operation. If no vertex is selected the tool will use the first one that finds.

Object Utilities

1D array

1D array

Fast, interactive, in-viewport 1D Array.

Set subdivision marks between two points, and place a clone on each mark.

  1. Pick distance start point.
  2. Pick distance end point.
  3. Move mouse to set division points amount.
  4. Pick node to clone.
  • Press SHIFT when activating the tool to place the clones at segments midpoint
  • Press SHIFT while tracking second point for orthogonal track, then press CTRL for axis-lock.
  • Hold SHIFT while tracking second point for orthogonal track, then press CTRL for axis-lock.
2D array - interactive

2D array - interactive

Quick and visual tool for cloning objects in a 2D grid.

  1. Select Object to replicate
  2. Define a rectangular area by three points:
    1. Start: Base point
    2. Second point will determine the height and alignment of the rectangle
    3. Third and last point sets the width.
      • Press SHIFT to invert the up-direction.
  3. Move the mouse & click to set rows and columns.

By default, the tool creates the copies at the vertices of the defined grid. Press SHIFT at start, when clicking in the tool button, to create the clones at te center of the grid cells.

Array - Pattern

Array - Pattern

Rule-based objects array generation with advanced transform options.

  1. Select a base object
  2. Array General Dimension: Set total rows, columns, origin and gap between rows and columns.
  3. Pattern rules: Change current row/column spinners to add a new rule. Each cell can have a different node, transformation and can be turned on/off. (please check the documentation that can be found on te user guide page)
  4. Preview o generate the array.
Polar array

Polar array

Clone an object around a reference center object.

Additional options:

  • Pick a node to act as a center to clone around.
  • Objects can be just repositioned or rotated to align to the center.
  • Apply a Look-at constraint to keep the copies looking at the center if you move it. This is useful to create an out-of-centre alignment.
Paneling

Paneling

Quickly create a grid of panels (boxes or custom geometry) in a planar surface.

Originally intended to fast model furniture cabinets and add handles, now is a multi-purpose tool.

  1. Define a rectangular area by three points:
    1. Start: Base point
    2. Second point will determine the height and alignment of the rectangle
    3. Third and last point sets the width.
      • Press SHIFT to invert the up-direction.
  2. Move the mouse & click to set rows and columns.
  3. Set H/V divisions, gap between panels and other parameters in the floater dialog.

Additionally, Use the detailer tool to position detail objects on selected panel’s surface.

Detailer

Detailer

Position features over a collection of objects.

  1. Select objects to be detailed.
  2. Pick feature object
  3. Set transformation, align & orientation options. Some complex mirror/symmetry rules can be set. Mirror list syntax example: 1, 3-6, 8 the first object in the list, from the third to the sixth object in the list, and the eighth object in the list will be mirrored.
  4. Apply the operation
UVW tools

UVW tools

Fit, center, reposition, reset UVW gizmos and delete UVW or UVW xform modifiers at once for the selected objects.

Open the tool UI and select the options.

UVW Bulk add

UVW Bulk add

Add individual UVW modifiers to a selection of objects, poly elements or faces.

Save time with preset settings before adding a UVW map to the object.

Adjust the most common used parameters of the modifier from the docking UI.

  • Apply individual uvwMaps to multiple objects.
  • Apply mapping by Edit Poly elements or by faces. keep the modifier stack or collapse it in the same operation.
UVW transform

UVW transform

Apply random, rule-based or constant transforms to mapping modifiers.

Use this utility in a non-destructive way adding a UVW Xform modifier for the transform.

Pivot quick position

Pivot quick position

Move to top, bottom, center, cage align, to a snap point, 3-point align, axis align, face normal (3-points and face normal has a Working pivot option), reset xform and pivot, all in an organized pop-up dialog.

  • Quick positions: Bottom, center, top.
  • Corners and centers of the object’s bounding box.
  • To point: pick a point in the scene
  • Align an axis of the pivot, picking and origin point (the pivot will be positioned at the point) and a direction point.
    • Right-click after starting the tool to omit the reposition and only set the orientation.
  • Three points center: position and align the pivot in the center of a triangle defined by 3 points. The direction of the pivot will be the normal of the triangle.
  • *Position and orient by three points. Also, for Working Pivot.
  • *Position and orient by selected Editable Poly faces. Also, for Working Pivot.
  • Convert between the working pivot and object pivot (for the selected nodes)
  • Reset pivot and reset Xform shortcuts.

Note: Press Right-Click on any action to close the dialog after.

Pivot to point (shortcut)

Pivot to point (shortcut)

Quickly move an object’s pivot to a snapping point with a shortcut.

Works with any snap type.

  • If no object is selected, the tool will reposition the pivot of the object where the snap is displayed (if any).
  • If the operation was successful, a visual clue will be shown in the viewport (an animation of a circle closing at the point).
Modifiers presets

Modifiers presets

Store presets for modifiers in a convenient UI.

  • Start the tool
  • Select an object with some modifiers applied, and click “Add presets”
  • Pick an object if nothing is selected.
  • Select a modifier from the list, Edit the name, and Add the preset.
  • Use “Edit list” to reset, remove, or rearrange the preset list.
  • Select the object or objects to apply the modifiers to, and click the desired preset.
Align Assets

Align Assets

Organize the models you will use in the scene, arranging them in line.

  1. Select the nodes you want to arrange
  2. Run the tool. Use the UI to set the separation between objects
  3. Select the direction to form the line (X or Y axis)
  4. Click Apply, and Pick a base point in the viewport
Random transform

Random transform

Tool with several options to randomize transforms.

Apply random or pattern based transforms (Rotate, Scale, Translate).

Includes a clone option to scatter objects.

  • Can be used to directly transform the node, add an XForm modifier, or transform applied modifiers gizmo’s.
  • Set constant, by range or a scripted list of values to apply the transform.
  • Apply the transform in Grid, Local, or Reference coordinate system. To use the later mode, pick a reference node first.
  • Use the Clone option to a clone of the object at a random position.

Apply random or pattern based transforms (Rotate, Scale, Translate). Includes a clone option to scatter objects.

Random select

Random select

Several options for randomizing a selection set.

  1. make a selection of objects. The list of objects follows the selection order.
  2. Select the algorithm:
    • Percent: Keep a random percentage of the total quantity of nodes in the current selection.
    • Set: Group the selection in sets of (N) items, and randomly deselect some of these sets.
    • Subtract: Randomly reduce the selection by the given percentage.
    • Pattern: Reduction pattern determined by the “Keep” and “Quit” values that sets how much objects will be skipped or flagged for deselect.
  3. Each iteration works over the original selection. Use the “re-select objects” to update it.

General Utilities

Color Clipboard

Color Clipboard

Dockable color swatches pallette.Generate random colors. Store and reuse colors.

  • Left-click on “+” button to fill swatches with random colors.
  • Right-click on “+” button to fill unused swatches with random colors.
  • Press SHIFT while clicking “+” button to fill swatches with grayscale values.
  • Right-click on color swatch to copy. Drag&Drop supported.
Snap sate sets

Snap sate sets

Save and reuse different active snaps settings.

  • Select a state from the combo box in the dialog.
  • You can click and drag around the compact interface.
  • Press the “OK” button to expand the UI and add states.
Wirecolor adjust

Wirecolor adjust

Adjust the wire colors for the current selection: brightness, saturation, and hue.

Scene Organization

Local isolate

Local isolate

Isolate the selected object and set an active work grid in its local coordinates.

If more than one object is selected, Local isolate will use the first object in the selection to set the grid.

Incremental isolation

Incremental isolation

Multi-level isolation tool, use it to incrementally re-isolate within the current selection.

  • The tool will open a floater dialog with three buttons.
  • Select some nodes and press LEVEL UP to isolate them.
  • Press LEVEL DOWN to restore the previous isolated nodes, or exit isolation mode if no previous level is registered.
  • Use “CLOSE” to end the tool and exit the isolation.
unHide selection

unHide selection

This tool will temporally display all hidden objects (and hide visible ones) and let you select the ones you want to unhide.

unFreeze selection

unFreeze selection

This tool will temporally invert the freeze state of all objects and let you select the ones you want to unfreeze.

Layer - isolate

Layer - isolate

Isolate/Un-isolate selected object/s layer/s.

If nothing is selected, you can pick an object in viewport after starting the tool, and isolate the respective layer.

Layer - Lock

Layer - Lock

Locks/unlocks the layer of the picked/selected node.

Press SHIFT when selecting the tool to pick an object in a locked layer to unlock it.

Layer - Off

Layer - Off

Turn off the layer of the selected/picked node.

Press SHIFT when selecting the tool to pick a frozen node/layer.

Layer - box mode

Layer - box mode

Set Box mode status for selected/picked node layer.

Press SHIFT when selecting the tool to pick a frozen node/layer.

Layer - BackFaceCull

Layer - BackFaceCull

Set BackFaceCull status for selected/picked node layer.

Press SHIFT when selecting the tool to pick a frozen node/layer.

Rendering

Camera manager

Camera manager

Review cameras, assign per-camera resolution, create batch render views, and add state sets.

Per-Camera resolution When you change the resolution and aspect ratio it will be stored in the camera, and the tool will automatically change the render output accordingly when cycling throw the cameras. Note that the tool will change the render output and will keep the last setting if you exit the tool.

Reviewing cameras Use “Refresh” update the list if the scene changes. Use the “Select” to select the active camera.

Per-camera output preview Activate it to use the render output set for the camera when changing the camera with the 3ds Max dialog (CTRL+C).

Batch render rollout After setting the output path one time, the tool will auto format the file name and output path for the next views.

Viewport composition guides

Viewport composition guides

This tool is intended to be of aid when composing shots.

Easily draw photographic grids, reference lines, and vanishing lines to help compose the perfect shot.

The tool provides a floater dialog with buttons to enable/disable photographic guides patterns or and to place vertical and horizontal custom lines.

  • Type of overlays:
    • Quadrants (2x2)
    • Rule of thirds (3x3)
    • Golden proportions
    • Golden ratio rectangles & spiral
    • Position a guide in the viewport with the mouse. Possible positions: Vertical, horizontal, cross, from two-points.
Replace scene materials

Replace scene materials

Automate the process of replacing materials.

Save a list of replacements, load it each time that is needed.

  • Select (or multi-select) the materials name on the list. next, double click on the selection and a scene explorer will open to select a replacement.
  • You can save and load the material replacements list.
Remove materials from selection

Remove materials from selection

Single-click action for removing the material of the selected objects.

Select without material

Select without material

For the current selection, filter out the nodes without an applied material.

Select by material

Select by material

Quick shortcut. For the current selection, select the scene nodes sharing the same material.

Quick material ID Set

Quick material ID Set

Dialog UI for select and set material IDs

The UI is similar to the default UI section in the modifier panel, but with larger buttons and easier to use.

  • You can also select all the faces that has the same ID as the current selected one.
  • An additional option allows to randomly set IDs for the selected polygons.
Bitmap multi-loader

Bitmap multi-loader

Convenient dialog to load multiple bitmaps on the material editor.

Map name from file

Map name from file

Change the names of Bitmap Textures to the name of the loaded files.

Missing textures

Missing textures

Texture maps filename search and replace utility for relocating missing files and updating the path.

Normal map gamma correct

Supports shaders of the most common 3rd-party render engines.

Change the gamma value to 1.0 for normal maps textures in the gamma workflow.

Works with OCIO workflows, changing the color space to RAW.

Extras

Lock flags

Lock flags

Lock/Unlock the object transforms.

Toggles for changing the state of the node transform, rotation, and scale locks.

Mesh Stamp

Mesh Stamp

Use an object to Interactively stamp its shape or cut holes in a mesh.

Set subdivision marks between two points, and place a clone on each mark.

  1. In the UI, pick a base node to operate on and choose the operation
  2. Select a tool object in the scene, and press the start button.
  3. The tool object will be positioned in the base object surface, following the mouse; use right-click to stamp the object shape or left-click to finish.
    • Hold SHIFT and move the mouse to displace the tool towards-away the target surface.
    • Hold CTRL and move the mouse towards-away from the tool object to rotate it.
    • Hold CTRL+SHIFT and move the mouse to change the scale of the tool object.

Note that the objects must be geometry that can be converted to Editable Poly and, the tool will collapse the modifier stack.

Other tools

ID from camera

Set Bump value to 100

Replace with Xref

ID from camera Set objects ID for current camera view.

Set Bump value to 100 Easy way to adjust materials for a modern PBR workflow.

Replace with Xref Replace the selected object with a Xref Record.