Grid Modeler is a convenient tool to create 3D model easily.
Grid Modeler let you Boolean Cut by drawn shape or Create mesh on top of each other. It is a new modeling workflow in blender. It is proven and very efficient.
Features
– Boolean Cut
– Create new faces
– Boolean Slicing
– Powerful Shape functions
– Advanced Grid System
– Construction Lines
– Create Pipes
Grids are very precise and easy to use. You can orient your grid plane by any directions. It is designed to be an very advanced grid system.
Table of content
– Features
– About Grid Modeler
– Updates
– Known Issues and Limitation
– Usage guide
– Useful Tips
– Hardware support
– Contacts and Support
About Grid Modeler
Grid Modeler is designed for speed modeling.
If you want to create :
– Quick static objects for game, background things, buildings
– Sword, shield, armor, when consistent scales and angles are needed
– Sci-fi, spaceship, robots, weapons, hard surface solid things
Then, Grid Modeler will become your helpful tool in blender.
Also, if you used Google Sketchup, Fusion360 or other CAD software before, you may feel that Grid Modeler is familiar. They have some similar concept and advantages.
For background story and design concept of Grid Modeler,
please visit my website :Â Â https://www.kushirocg.com
Updates
Version 1.24.4:
– Bug fix update
It fixed a grid bug occur on non-regular face
Version 1.24.3:
– Improved the P key , grid plane rotation
Now the size of the plane is stable when you rotate it by P key.
(before this update, the size always change and trouble)
Enjoy !
Version 1.24.2:
This is a critical bug fix
– Fixed a bug for 5 key (Boolean slice). The bug is caused by recently updates.
Version 1.24.1:
This is a minor bug fix
– Fixed a bug for Mac keyboard support (Alt key + 7, 8 key, or [ ] key).
This bug is caused by Maya-keymap-support added in previous updates.
Version 1.24.0:
This is a special update.
– Added a “Outer height” setting in Boolean Cut menu.
When you draw a shape and then bool cut, the shape will be extruded and cut into your mesh. However, sometimes the grid plane is shifted / the face is not planar, the cut will be “inside” the mesh. This value increase the backward height of the cutter, so the cut will be 100% “from top to bottom”.
Version 1.23.0:
This is a major update !
– Now the grid system is improved. The grid plane does not shift when resized / grids count changed !
– Grid plane is auto centered now!
– Fixed some bugs for Global Alignment (F6 key). Now it correctly align to global axis when grid count is changed.
Enjoy !!
Version 1.22.3, 1.22.4:
This is a follow up bug fix :
– For “Industry Compatible” keymap, fixed the problem in Selection Mode
Version 1.22.2:
This is a special update :
– Now Grid Modeler is compatible to blender’s “Industry Compatible” keymap ! (aka Maya keymap). Now if you use Maya keymap, you can hold Alt key to rotate the viewport without problem !
Enjoy !
Version 1.22.0, 1.22.1:
This is a major update !
– Add a new “Global Alignment” mode ! (F6 key)
When using Global Alignment, the grids will be aligned to the global axis instead of face.
(if the face is not facing any axis, it will has no effect)
It can be very useful for scene modeling task.
Version 1.21.0, 1.21.1:
This is a major bug fix update.
This update improved the stability of the grid plane system.
It fixed some crash bugs (for P key plane rotation).
All users please update to this version.
Enjoy 🙂
Version 1.20.5:
This is a bug fix update.
– Fixed incorrect hint text.
– Fixed minor bug for Line Slice function (bug caused by construction lines).
– Fixed OpenGL drawing problem for blender 3.0.0 (opengl calls are removed)
Version 1.20.3, 1.20.4:
This is a powerful update for Add-Object tool !!
(1.20.4Â fixed a rotation bug)
– Now you can draw “rectangle shape” to add object !
It will read the width + height from the rectangle for scale!
Just draw an rectangle, then press 6 key !
You can control the Z-scale in menu.
Enjoy !
Version 1.20.2:
This update add extra features to Add Object tool :
– Now there are 3 axis Rotation, Scale and Offset. You can rotate it in any angle.
– There is Object Picker now.
– New “Linked Object” option. It is same as “Alt-D” copy of blender, linking the copied object. When you modify the object, the copies will be modified too!
Version 1.20.1:
This update add extra features to the last update!
– Now there are “Scale” and “Offset” option for Add Object tool !
You can scale and move the objects directly right in the option menu !
Version 1.20.0:
This is a Major Update !
– Now “Add Text” tool is upgraded and become “Add Object” !
You can add object at your drawn location !
1. You need to create a collection named “GM”. Add your target objects into it.
2. Draw a line, press spacebar to finish then press 6 key.
3. Then you can choose which object to add !
Enjoy !!
Version 1.19.3:
– Fixed a minor bug (using new feature on Edge mode)
Version 1.19.0, 1.19.1, 1.19.2 :
This is a Major Update !
– Now you can use Boolean Intersection in boolean cut tool!
Just check the box “Intersection” in the Left-bottom panel.
– Now the “Line Split” tool is enhanced and re-designed !
Now it does not use Construction Lines. It use any normal white line ! Just draw and press Spacebar key to create line, then press 0 key to line cut !
– Now the Boolean Slice tool (5 key) has an option to slice the mesh without separate it. It is a very handy tool for creating details on surface (eg: sphere).
Enjoy !!
Version 1.18.8, 1.18.9 :
This is a bug fix update :
– Fixed a bug occur when using ngon cut, and some edges are overlapping
– Added extra keys for Macbook users.
Now you can use 7 key and 8 key for mouse-scroll actions. For example, when you want to change grid size, now you can use Ctrl + 7 or Ctrl + 8. Also to enlarge grid plane, you can use Alt + 7 and Alt + 8.
Version 1.18.5, 1.18.6, 1.18.7 :
This is a minor update!
– Now new circle has a center pivot point by default
– Now you can press L key to rotate the shape perpendicularly !!
1. Set one of the edge of the shape to be the alignment edge (Ctrl + Click on the edge)
2. Press L key to rotate
3. You can even rotate it by 5 degree using Ctrl + L key !
Enjoy !!
Version 1.18.4
This is a minor update!
– Enhanced Edge Pipe Smoothing function ! It has much better smoothing result and easier to use !
– Smoothing now become an checkbox instead of value.
– Fixed a bug when using two vertices point for running Grid Modeler.
Version 1.18.3
This is a minor update!
– Fixed the hint text (removed the incorrect Ctrl P hint)
– Now you can enable a new “Snap to shape” mode by pressing Ctrl + U key
In this mode, the cursor will snap to drawn points of the current shapes !
It is convenient for some use cases, eg: you want to create shape to connect duplicated shapes.
Version 1.18.1, 1.18.2:
This is a bug fix update.
– Fixed an error when there is a line and create-new-face is used.
– Fixed an rare bug occur on non-coplanar faces.
Version 1.18.0:
This is a major update :
– Now you can Resize the shape along X axis or Y axis !
Just select a shape, then press S key to resize, then X for X-lock, Y for Y-lock. (Similar to blender)
– The grid plane rotation is enhanced ! Now the rotation is easier (fewer rotation), and you can just press P key for face oriented rotation ( do not need Ctrl + P anymore).
Just press P key when you want to rotate plane. You can press P key when you are drawing shape.
– Now you can press Arrow key to move the plane !!
Press Arrow Up key to move up, and Arrow Down key to move down.
Enjoy !!
Version 1.17.1:
– Enhanced the mechanism of enlarging grid plane in “Relative Size mode”. Now the plane size is relative too. (easier enlarge for large mesh)
– Updated “Add Text” tool with few options:
– Now you can change font !
– Merge text into current mesh !
– Boolean Cut by the text !
Version 1.17.0:
This is a major update !
– Now you can add Text Object directly in Grid Modeler !!
Adding Text object and aligning is not easy in blender. Now you can add text object to any orientation, any angle and alignment !!
1. Draw a line
2. Press Spacebar key to stop
3. Press 6 key.
You can change text content, font size, offset in menu!
Enjoy !!
Version 1.16.1:
– Bug fix update : fixed small bug of create new face (flip normal option)
Version 1.16.0:
This is a major update :
– Improved Circle tool. Now the circle is aligned to grid axis. It is easier to stack circles or adding new shapes
– Now you can mirror everything with Alt N / Alt M (selection mode)
– Now you can center the grid plane to the face’s center ( G key )
– Now you can create new face as separated object (property menu)
Enjoy !
Version 1.15.1:
This is a small update :
– Fixed text color bug for blender 2.93 alpha version
– Added on screen hint-text for new shape edit functions
Version 1.15.0:
This is a major update !
More functions for shape editing.
– Now you can select vertices by drag and select !
– F key can fill or remove edge between two vertices !
– A key can add new vertex between two vertices or add to the end !
Enjoy !
Version 1.14.2:
– Bug fix and improved stability of Inset function
– Now W key switch between Selection mode and Normal mode. If you press W key in Selection mode, it switch back to Normal mode.
Version 1.14.1:
– Bug fix for last update (Inset shape of high vertices density)
Version 1.14.0:
This is a Major Update !!
– Now you can press I key to inset/outset the shape !
Just select the shapes and press I key. It works on both closed shape and open shape!
– Now you can Press W key to quick-switch to selection mode and select the last added shape !
– Experimental function arrived ! Now you can press F1 key to save the current status! Including grid plane and shapes. (save in memory only)
– When you run the addon again, you can press F2 key to load the saved grid and shapes !
Enjoy !
Version 1.13.1:
This is a bug fix update
– Fixed a bug caused by new data structure (Ctrl + Click alignment error)
Version 1.13.0:
This is a Major Update :
– Code rewrite (over 30%), using new data structure
– Now you can delete vertex of shape! (select a vertex in Edit Shape mode, press Del key)
– Now you can create symmetric shape easily !
Just create a open line segment (spacebar key during draw), then select the shape, and press Ctrl + M key
Enjoy !
Version 1.12.0:
This is a Major Update !
– Now you can do simple edit of the selected shape!
1. Select Shapes
2. Press E key to enter edit mode
3. Select vertices
4. G key to move
5. B key to bevel (mouse scroll to increase bevel cut)
– Now you can smooth the pipes !
Just create your pipes as usual, then you can change the smoothing right in the properties menu on Left Bottom.
Enjoy !!
Known Issues and Limitation
1.This addon is a direct modeling tool, without modifiers. Boolean operation is destructive and apply directly. The resulting mesh is filled by blender’s n-gon.
2. Overlapping shapes will cause strange geometry. However, you can overlap the shapes if you use “new face” mode, it will still create all shapes without problem.
3. This addon uses Blender’s dissolve API, it is a bit unstable and it does not fill the faces correctly sometimes. (for n-gon and triangle fill modes)
Usage guide
This is a simple usage guideline of Grid Modeler.
Grid Modeler has many in-depth functions and advanced usage, please refer to documentation ( https://www.kushirocg.com/gridmodeler )
Simple guideline :
1. Select a face, or multiple faces (co-planar), run the tool by right click menu. (you may add it to Q menu for quick access).
2. You will see the grid lines. Your mouse cursor will auto snap to grid lines.
3. Ctrl + mouse wheel to adjust the grid size.
– You may choose between two size modes (A key), relative mode and absolute mode :
Relative mode :
Measure your mesh edge length to set the size.
Absolute mode :
Use Blender’s system measurement. If you want to keep your objects same size, you may use absolute mode.
– You can use Alt + mouse wheel scroll to enlarge the grid plane. The grid plane can be larger than the face. When you want to add new mesh on top of selected face, you always want to Alt-scroll to enlarge the plane before drawing.
4. You can change the grid alignment. Ctrl + Left click an edge, it will align whole grid plane to the edge.
By default, the tool measure the face and orient the plane using longest edge of your face. You can override this by above method.
5. Now you can draw on the grids. During drawing, you can change the grid scale anytime (Ctrl + Scroll wheel), and you can change the alignment too.
6. On the left bottom of the screen, there are some hints for your convenience.
7. If you want to Copy / Paste / Delete your shape, you may enter “Selection mode“. You can switch to selection mode by Right Click mouse button once. (right click again to back to normal mode)
In Selection mode, you can drag and draw a yellow rectangle to select shapes. You can select multiple shapes.
You can delete them by pressing Delete key.
You can duplicate the shape by select it, then press D key.
Also you can press Ctrl + C to copy, and then Ctrl V to paste, Ctrl X to cut. You can paste it many times.
When you have selected shapes, you can press G key to move it, R key to rotate it, and press M or N key to flip it.
You can press B key to bevel the shape. Select shapes and press B, then move your mouse cursor to adjust. Scrolling the mouse wheel to increase bevel cut.
8. After all, you can Right Click again to leave selection mode, and go back to normal mode. You can continue and draw again.
9. When you finish, you can commit operation by pressing 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 key on the top of keyboard.
They represent different operations :
1 : Cut the face and fill by n-gon
2 : Cut the face and fill by triangles
3 : Create a new face from shape
4 : Boolean subtract cut
5 : Boolean slice
You can still change the operation after commit. (by the blender’s menu, left bottom of the screen)
10. When you draw, you can use Circle tool to draw Circle / Triangle / Square / Pentagon / Hexagon, or any edge-shape.
Press C key to activate, press C again to deactivate.
Shift + Mouse Wheel to change the number of circle edges. (turn to 3 edges will become a triangle)
Useful Tips
1. Absolute size mode is very useful and recommended. It keep the same grid size, across any face, any objects. It can make whole scene very cool and clean.
2. Boolean Cut mode, work well on the borders, and it is fun and great. If it does not cut correctly, you may try to align the grid to that border edge (Ctrl + Click)
If the Boolean fail (it does not cut anything), you should adjust the “offset” parameter, to make the faces of the geometry not overlapping. (blender’s boolean limitation)
Also, if the face’s normal is flipped (incorrect normal), you may need to fix the mesh normals first.
3. You may select multiple faces (with same normal, co-planar) and use this tool. You can draw across multiple n-gons, it works great.
Hardware Support
– Only standard mouse and keyboard are supported.
I only tested with standard mouse and keyboard. This addon does not officially support other device (eg: wacom tablet, 3d-mouse, vr glove, etc) yet.
Therefore, it may not work with your special hardware. I didn’t test them.
Please reconsider before buying it, thank you.
Download and Install
After purchase, you can download the zip file.
I uploaded two versions of Grid Modeler (one is latest, one is older), please install the latest file. The older file is for emergency only (if the latest one has critical bug).
Open Blender’s Edit > Preference > Add-ons, then click install on the top of dialog.
Select the zip file to install. (Do not unzip it, the zip file has to be installed as a whole)
Update :
When I release new update, I will announce it on Twitter.
Please come back here and download it. Before update please uninstall the old one in blender and remove it completely. Then install the new zip file again. If there is any problem, you may contact me by email or Twitter.
Contacts and Support
Thank you for visiting! Hope you enjoy it.
If you like this product, please buy it to support my development.
I am interested in making different kinds of blender’s addon, I enjoy it so much 🙂
* You only need to purchase once, and you can download updates for free !
You can use this addon for personal or commercial works.
Alternatively you can buy it on Blender Market:
https://www.blendermarket.com/products/grid-modeler
Please contact me by email for problems and bug report:
Email : [email protected]
Twitter :Â https://twitter.com/kushirosea
Instagram : kushirocg
For more information and documentation, please visit my website:
My youtube channel (contains videos of Grid Modeler)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKxXI-jD_xf5_kBo2xHNQow
