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Transform Tools Addon - Lite Version

Description

Transform Tools: Enhanced Gizmo Control & Precision Transformations

Transform Tools enhances object manipulation in Blender using custom 3D gizmos for precise transformation control. It works closely with Blender's core tools.

Core Features:

  • Flexible Gizmo Definition: Define transformation origins and targets accurately. Create gizmos automatically from selections, interactively using Blender's 3D cursor, or update them based on existing elements.
  • Dual-Gizmo Transformations: Apply a transformation between the two gizmo states, using modes for full transform (location, rotation, scale), specific axis alignment, or location only.
  • Independent Custom Orientation: Use the Active gizmo as a custom transform orientation for standard Blender transform tools like Move, Rotate, Scale, etc.
  • Advanced Options: Includes interpolation, duplication, edit-mode extrusion, axis flipping, and count repetition.
  • Gizmo Management: Provides tools to swap, copy/paste, undo/redo gizmo states, and control visibility.

Workflow:

The addon operates by defining the 'Previous' (start) and 'Active' (end) gizmo states, then applying transformations based on these states. This system facilitates precise pose-to-pose adjustments. It integrates with Blender's 3D Cursor for placement.

User Documentation

Overview

Transform Tools provides enhanced transformation capabilities in Blender using custom 3D gizmos and dedicated operators. It allows for precise control over moving, rotating, and scaling objects and mesh components. The addon includes methods for:

  • Transforming elements between two explicitly defined transform states using dual gizmos.
  • Using a single gizmo as a custom orientation for standard Blender transform tools.

Core Workflow: The fundamental process involves:

  1. Defining the 'Previous' gizmo (representing the start state).
  2. Defining the 'Active' gizmo (representing the end state).
  3. Selecting the elements to modify.
  4. Applying a transformation operation that uses the defined gizmos (like Transform, Align and Move).

Key Concepts:

Installation

  1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
  2. Click Install and select the downloaded addon .zip file.
  3. Find "Transform Tools" in the list and enable the checkbox.
  4. The panel will appear in the 3D View's Sidebar (N-Panel) under the "TTools L" tab, aka "Transform Tools Lite".

IMPORTANT NOTE: Upgrading or Installing Multiple Versions

  • Please be aware that running multiple versions of the Transform Tools addon (e.g., having both "Core" and "Lite" enabled) at the same time is not recommended and may cause conflicts.

  • The recommended procedure for a clean upgrade is to first disable and REMOVE the existing version from Blender's Add-on Preferences. Restarting Blender before installing the new version is also advised to ensure all modules are fully unloaded.

  • Automatic Conflict Detection

    To assist with this process, the addon includes a built-in conflict detection system.

    If you enable a new version while an older one is still active, an "Addon Conflict Detected" dialog box will appear, listing the conflicting addons that were found.

    • You will be given an interactive choice:
      • Clicking the "OK" button will automatically disable the conflicting version(s) for you, allowing the new one to register correctly.
      • Clicking "Cancel" will abort the process, leaving the old version active and the new one disabled, allowing you to manage the conflict manually in your preferences.

Working with the 3D Cursor and Snapping

The 3D Cursor plays a vital role in several Transform Tools operations:

  • Interactive Gizmo Creation (Create): Click locations are interpreted via the 3D Cursor system to determine positions in 3D space.
  • Gizmo Definition (Get from selected): When nothing is selected, the Active gizmo is defined using the 3D Cursor's current transform.

Positioning the 3D Cursor: Accurate placement is often crucial. You can position it using:

  • Direct Placement: Shift + Right Mouse Button places the cursor on the surface under the mouse.
  • Shift + S Pie Menu: Offers various snapping options like Cursor to Selected, Cursor to World Origin, Cursor to Grid.
  • Sidebar (N-Panel): In the View tab, you can numerically edit the 3D Cursor Location and Rotation.

Using Blender's Snapping: For precise placement (especially during interactive Create or when positioning the cursor before other operations):

  1. Enable Snapping: Click the Magnet Icon in the 3D Viewport header or press Shift + Tab.
  2. Choose Snap Target (Snap To): Select what to snap to (e.g., Vertex, Edge, Face Center, Increment).
  3. Choose Snap Element (Snap With): Determine which part snaps (e.g., Closest, Center, Active).

Mastering 3D Cursor placement and Blender's snapping system significantly enhances the precision you can achieve with this addon.

Panel Sections

1. Gizmo Section

  • Create & Transform: An Combined workflow operator that combines the definition of both gizmos with the final transformation step into a single process.

    • How it Works (A Step-by-Step Guide):

      1. Define Start State: The operator first prompts you to interactively Create the first gizmo.
      2. Define End State: Immediately after, it prompts you to Create the second gizmo.
      3. Check Selection & Transform: After both gizmos are defined, the operator's behavior depends on whether you have anything selected:

    • If a valid selection exists:

      • A pie menu immediately appears, offering all seven standard transformation operations (Transform, Move, Rotate, Scale, Align X/Y/Z).
      • Selecting an operation from the pie menu executes it instantly, completing the workflow.

    • If nothing is selected:

      • A message appears in the Blender status bar: Make a selection & press ENTER or Right-click to continue (or ESC to stop)
      • The operator then waits for your input:
        • Select & Continue: You can now select the desired elements in the viewport and then press Enter or Right-Click to display the transformation pie menu.
        • Cancel: Pressing ESC will cancel this final transformation step. The pie menu will not appear, but the two gizmos you defined will remain.

    • Purpose: This operator is designed to speed up "pose-to-pose" workflows by removing the need to return to the main panel between steps.

  • Create: Interactively define the Active gizmo by clicking its origin, X-axis, and Y-axis endpoints in the 3D view.

    • How it works: This process uses the 3D Cursor system to determine where your clicks land in 3D space. The behavior depends on the Snap toggle below: if active, it uses the addon's specific snapping settings; if inactive, it respects Blender's current header snapping settings.
    • Cancellation & Validation:
      • You can cancel the placement of the origin or axes using ESC or Right Mouse Button.
      • If you cancel placing the origin, its position reverts based on the setting below.
      • If you cancel placing an axis endpoint (X or Y), or if the manually placed axis is invalid (too short or aligned with a previous axis), that axis will be automatically created using a reference orientation determined by the setting below.
      • This fallback ensures a valid gizmo is always created.
    • Reference State for Cancellation/Auto-Creation: The specific state used for origin cancellation revert and the orientation used for automatic axis creation depends on the 3D Cursor Orientation setting (see description below).
    • Final Cursor Update: This operation always updates the 3D cursor's location and rotation upon successful completion, regardless of other settings.

  • Get from selected: Creates/updates gizmo states based on the current selection. The behavior is highly context-aware.

    • Object Mode (1 or >2 objects): Defines the Active gizmo from the active object or the average of all selected.
    • Object Mode (Exactly 2 objects): Defines Previous gizmo from the non-active and Active gizmo from the active selected object.
    • Edit Mode (Mesh): The operator respects the current selection mode (Vertex, Edge, or Face) to interpret your selection.
      • Face: Uses the face's normal (Z-axis), first edge (X/Y-axis), center, and area (uniform scale).
      • Edge: Uses the edge's direction (X-axis), connected face normals (Z-axis), center, and length (uniform scale).
      • Vertex: A sophisticated hierarchy is used to create a stable orientation:
        • Z-axis: Determined by this priority: 1) Average normal of all connected faces. 2) If no faces, a normal is calculated from all connected edges. 3) If no connected edges, the object's local Z-axis is used.
        • X-axis: Aligned with the direction of the first connected edge.
        • Scale: Calculated from the average length of all connected edges.
      • Multiple Selected Elements (e.g., several faces): The operator first calculates an individual gizmo for each selected element. It then computes the average of all these individual gizmos (average location, rotation, and scale) to create a single, final Active Gizmo.
    • Edit Mode (Curve/Armature): Defines the Active gizmo using the location/rotation of selected points/bones.
    • Nothing Selected: Defines the Active gizmo from the 3D Cursor's current transform.

  • Auto-Update Gizmos Icon Auto-Update Gizmos: If enabled, whenever the Active Gizmo is defined or updated (e.g., via Create, Get from selected, Paste), the Previous Gizmo automatically takes the state of the former Active Gizmo. This ensures the two gizmos usually represent the 'before' and 'after' states of the last operation.

    • Note: This setting is overridden and has no effect when using Get from selected with exactly 2 objects, as both gizmos are defined directly from the selected objects in that specific case.

  • 3D Cursor Orientation Icon 3D Cursor Orientation: This option primarily controls the reference orientation and scale used by the interactive Create operation when handling origin cancellation or performing automatic axis creation/alignment. The new gizmo's origin location will always be based on the 3D Cursor's current location if origin placement is cancelled.

    1. Primary Effect (Reference for Create's Orientation & Scale during Auto-Creation/Cancellation):
      • When Enabled: If an axis needs to be auto-created or cancelled, the Create operation uses the current 3D Cursor's orientation and derives a scale factor from the screen space zoom level as the reference.
      • When Disabled: If an axis needs to be auto-created or cancelled, the Create operation uses the orientation and scale from the former Active Gizmo (the one active before Create began) as the reference.
    2. Secondary Effect (Updating the 3D Cursor by other operations):
      • When Enabled: Allows certain other addon operations (like Get from selected) to update the 3D cursor's location and rotation.
      • When Disabled: These other addon operations will not automatically update the 3D cursor.
      • (Note: The interactive Create operation always updates the 3D cursor's location and rotation upon successful completion, regardless of this setting).

  • Snap Icon Snap: When enabled, this forces the interactive Create operation to use a specific, pre-defined set of snapping settings, overriding whatever snapping settings are currently active in Blender's 3D View header. When disabled, Create respects Blender's current header snapping settings.

    • Addon's Internal Snap Behavior (When this toggle is ON):
      • Turns snapping ON.
      • Sets snapping targets to Vertex, Edge, Face, and Edge Midpoint.
      • Aligns the placed point's rotation to the snapped surface normal.
      • Allows snapping to the object being edited (self-snapping).
      • Ensures snapping works in both Edit Mode and Object Mode.
    • Refer to the "Working with the 3D Cursor and Snapping" section above for general information on Blender's snapping system.

  • Swap: Swaps the transform components (location, rotation, scale) of the Previous and Active gizmos. Affected components depend on the Swap/Paste Mode Dropdown.

  • Axes Cycling Icon Axes Cycling: Rotates the meaning of the Active gizmo's axes (X becomes Z, Y becomes X, Z becomes Y).

  • Rotate Icon Rotate: Rotates the Active gizmo 90 degrees around its local X-axis.

  • Global Align Icon Global Align: Resets the rotation of the Active Gizmo, aligning its local axes with the world's global X, Y, and Z axes. The gizmo's origin (location) and scale are not affected.

  • Copy: Copies the current transform components of the Active gizmo.

  • Paste: Pastes the copied transform components onto the Active gizmo. Affected components depend on the Swap/Paste Mode Dropdown.

  • Swap/Paste Mode Dropdown (Gizmo/Location/Rotation/Scale): Controls which transform components (full state, location only, rotation only, or scale only) are affected by the Swap or Paste operations.

  • Undo Icon Redo Icon Undo/Redo Gizmos: Undo or redo changes made to the gizmo states themselves.

  • Cursor Pivot: Switches Blender's Transform Orientation between the Active gizmo and the previously used standard orientation. This allows standard Blender operators like Move, Rotate, Scale, etc. to use the Active gizmo's precise alignment.

  • Fixed Visual Size Icon Fixed Visual Size: Keeps the visual size of the gizmos consistent on screen as you zoom in or out. Doesn't affect transformations.

  • Gizmos Visibility All Icon Gizmos Visibility: Cycles through the visibility states for the Previous and Active gizmos. Clicking the icon toggles between: showing both gizmos Gizmos Visibility All Icon, showing only the Active gizmo Gizmos Visibility Active Icon, or hiding both gizmos Gizmos Visibility Hidden Icon.

  • Apply to Selection: Applies the Active gizmo's location & rotation while preserve is average scale to a uniform scale, directly to the selected object, setting its world matrix. This is similar to Object > Apply > All Transforms but uses the gizmo's state instead of the world origin.

2. Transformation Section

  • Transform: Performs a full location and rotation transformation on the selected elements, moving them from the Previous gizmo's state to the Active gizmo's state. Behavior modified by Options Section settings like Scale and Flip.
  • Align X / Y / Z: A set of three buttons. Each transforms the selection from the specified axis of the Previous gizmo to the corresponding axis of the Active gizmo.
  • Move: Moves the selection from the location of the Previous gizmo to the location of the Active gizmo, ignoring rotation. Behavior modified by Options Section settings like Scale and Flip.* Rotate: Rotates the selection at the location of the Previous gizmo to match the rotation of the Active gizmo.
  • Scale: Scales the selection to match the proportional change between the gizmos, using the Previous gizmo's center as the pivot point.
  • Requirement: These buttons are disabled if Active gizmo and Previous gizmo haven't been defined.

4. Options Section

Modify the behavior of transformation operations like Transform, Align and Move.

  • Scale: Include the uniform scale factor difference between the gizmos in the transformation calculations for operations in the Transformation Section. If unchecked, the scale component of the gizmos is ignored, and only location and rotation differences are applied.

  • Note on Scale: Whether the scale component of the gizmos is included in the Transform, Align, and Move operations depends on the state of the Scale checkbox in the Options Section, while the "Scale" operation alway active the scale option -it can be deactivate manually in the redo menu but there is no practical reason to do that-.

  • Flip: Rotates the Previous gizmo 180 degrees around its Y-axis before applying the transformation. Primarily used when transforming between two faces (e.g., on different objects) that should end up facing each other, rather than aligned in the same direction.

  • Duplicate: Duplicates the selected elements before transforming them.

  • Instance: (Object Mode Only) When Duplicate is checked, creates linked instances instead of full copies.

  • Extrude: (Edit Mode Only for Mesh/Curve/Armature) Extrudes selected mesh components, curve points, or bones during the transformation instead of just moving them. Note: If both Extrude and Duplicate are enabled, Extrude overrides Duplicate; the elements will be extruded, not duplicated then transformed.

  • Note: The Instance and Extrude options are contextual and replace each other in the UI. The option displayed depends on whether you are in Object Mode or Edit Mode.

6. Redo Last Menu (F9 Panel)

After performing any transformation operation (Transform, Move to, etc.), a special menu becomes available. This menu allows you to interactively fine-tune the result of the last action without undoing and redoing the entire process.

How to Access: * Press F9 immediately after an operation. * Or, click on the operator panel that appears in the bottom-left corner of the 3D Viewport.

This menu contains all the standard options from the main panel, plus several exclusive settings that offer even greater control.

Exclusive Redo Last Settings

These advanced options are only available in the Redo Last menu:

  • Operation Type: A dropdown menu that allows you to change the fundamental type of the transformation you just performed, without needing to undo and re-run the operator from the main panel. This is a powerful tool for quickly iterating on a transformation.

    • Use Cases:
      • Switching Modes: If you executed a full Transform but realize you only wanted to apply the location difference, you can select Move from this menu to instantly see the updated result.
      • Testing Alignments: After performing an Align X operation, you can use this dropdown to instantly preview the result of Align Y or Align Z to find the correct orientation without re-running the operator.
    • Available Operations:
      • Transform (Full transform)
      • Move (Location only)
      • Rotate (Rotation only)
      • Scale (Scale only)
      • Align X, Align Y, Align Z (Axis-specific alignment)

  • Individual Scale Axes (X, Y, Z):

    • Function: These checkboxes allow you to enable or disable scaling on individual axes after the operation has been performed, providing precise non-uniform scaling control.
    • Availability: These options become available when the Scale checkbox is active in the Redo Last menu. They are enabled by default when using the dedicated Scale or Scale to operators.
    • Critical Behavior Difference: The axes they affect depend on the current mode:
      • In Object Mode: Scaling is applied along the object's own local X, Y, and Z axes. This is standard non-uniform scaling, as an object's transform cannot be sheared directly.
      • In Edit Mode: Scaling is applied along the gizmo's custom axes. This allows you to directly stretch and squash the selected geometry along any arbitrary orientation. Because this manipulates vertices directly, it can produce complex deformations and targeted shape changes that are impossible to achieve in Object Mode, which would require a combination of scaling and shearing.

  • Reverse: Inverts the direction of the transformation. When checked, the selected elements will transform from the Active gizmo's state back to the Previous gizmo's state, effectively swapping the start and end points for the operation.

  • Complex Dup: This option uses a more robust but slower duplication method. This ensures that complex relationships, such as modifiers that target other duplicated objects, are updated correctly. It is recommended to leave this behavior active for the most reliable results. However, if you are duplicating a high number of simple objects and experience a noticeable slowdown, you can deactivate this compatibility mode in the operator's Redo Last (F9) menu for a significant performance increase.