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Wiki Last Updated: July 27th 2022

What is keKit?

keKit is a Blender Add-on that provides extensive options for tweaking fast custom workflows.
The add-on contains dozens & dozens of scripts; tools, macros and pie-menus etc. in an all-in-one collection.
Modular : The kit is composed of separate modules that can be enabled or disabled.
At your discretion: Use what you want - the rest will be there when you need them!

How do I use it?

Download & Install

Check the download page for download & installation instructions. (+updating instructions)

That page also contains the latest release log, for the most up to date changes.

Manage your own Shortcuts

As many of the scripts are often intended to replace default shortcuts, there is no predefined add-on keymap.

Such solutions are common with other (more special purpose) add-ons, but this is not feasible in this case:

(There's a LOT of scripts. It would be like replacing half the default keymap)

You assign whichever operator you like, to whichever shortcut you like:

Right Mouse Button to assign shortcuts on keKit panel items.

Exception:

The Shading Pie Menu has a custom class operator with a preset shortcut (hard to use, for you to change).

Tips:

Some features require mouse position or other viewport action, so I recommend assigning a temporary (unused) shortcut for features you want to try out first.
Mouse-over items in the keKit panels for tool-tip description pop-up menus.
Modal keKit Operators will have modal shortcuts displayed in the bottom status bar, with more information with onscreen 'Help' - toggled with 'H'. EXAMPLE.

Search Wiki

Just browser search (CTRL-F) on this page to find specific items.

keKit Add-On

Add-on Preferences

Version Check at Start-up

Enables notification in the main panel header

Viewport TT-Toggle Icons
Visibility for TT Toggle Mode icons in the viewport. Only relevant if Transform Tools Module is active.

Prefs Location
This is the default Export/Import location: Your user config folder. Cannot be changed: Intended for copy-paste.

Save keKit Settings

Saves current kit settings to a JSON file in your user config folder. Global, persistent and easily transferrable.

Also available in the main panel header.

Modules Enable / Disable

Pick whichever ones you want loaded and press 'Reload Add-ons"

kekit Modal Text Colors

Colors on keKit modal operator UI text. Example: IMAGE

Main Panel Header

Preferences

▢ Saves current kit settings to a JSON file in your config user folder (as shown in keKit Addon Prefs). Global, persistent and easily transferrable.

Remember to always save the kit prefs if you want them to be the "default".

Update Notification

This icon will be displayed when a new version of keKit is available for download. Click the icon for a link to the update page. Update manually as instructed.

Note: The check is only performed at Blender Start-up

MODULES

Modes

Direct Mode Switching

▢ Direct Mode Switch - Go directly to Vertex, Edge, Face or Object mode, regardless if currently in Edit or Object Mode.

(For shortcuts ex: 1,2,3,4)

UPDATE: Since Blender has similar hotkeys mapped by default since 3.0 , these are now "Legacy", included only for Mouse Over Option below.

▢ Mouse Over Option - For DMS; Select & switch to desired mode on any mesh you hover the mouse over.

▢ Space Toggle - Switches Edit & Object Mode when the mouse is over nothing (empty viewport area).

Duplication

Copy+

Cut+, Copy+ and Paste+ will temporarily store elements so you can quickly cut+/copy+ them into another mesh in Edit Mode with paste+ (or the same mesh if you like).

VIDEO

Update:

- In Object Mode either merge the cache into a selected object or paste as a new mesh (toggle button sets behaviour).

- In Object Mode; Blenders "Copy Object" will be used, as well as "Paste Object", if the copy+ cache is empty, for regular object copying.

Extract & Edit

Instantly cut (extract) elements into a new Object, set to Edit Mode.

Extract & Edit Copy

Instantly copy elements into a new Object, set to Edit Mode.

Itemize

Itemize / DupeItemize

Cut / Copy elements into a new Object using the Active Face or Active Edge normals for rotation (as new bottom). VIDEO

MouseMirror & MouseFlip

Mirror or Flip selection based on mouse position (for direction) and Orientation type selected. (recalculated)

Global: Mirror using world origo

Local:

Edit Mode: 'BBox mode' global axis.

Object mode: 'BBox local mode', rotation w. Ind.Origins. Any other; not.

Normal: Edit Mode - Only takes the Active Element into account for rotation/center and auto-selects connected mesh.

Cursor: Uses the cursor for center, and rotation if Pivot is also set to CURSOR, otherwise cursor rotation is ignored.

Old Modo Video for reference (close enough)

Linear Array

Creates an array modifier in a line where instances are spaced automatically between start and end (where you point the mouse).

When used in Local Orientation the object rotation will be used. Global (or any other orientation) will apply rotation.

Update: Numerical input & adjustment (run LA on existing LA array to re-enter live modal mode)

VIDEO

Radial Array

This is my circular array solution for Blender. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

(old) VIDEO

Option : Use Automatic arrange (as the video), or not.

Update: Adjustment mode toggles (not modifier keys):

X - Adjust radius
Z - Adjust depth
S - Adjust scale
A - Numerical Input (for array count)
1,2,3,4,5 - Adjustment step values - very fine -> large. (not in numerical input mode, obviously)

Numerical input mode works simultaneously with XZS.

Main

Get & Set Ops

Get & Set Edit Mode - Selects object under the mouse pointer and switches selection to Edit Mode. VIDEO

Options:

"Extend" variant will extend the selection (multi-object editing)
"Element Mode Pick" toggle will set the edit mode to the type of element directly under the mouse (vert, edge or face)

Get & Set Material - Grabs material from any object's face under the mouse pointer and applies it to the current selection. VIDEO

Local Mode by Distance

Include/Exclude objects in local mode from selection by distance. Options in redo-panel for:

- Same Object Type Only (as selection)

- Invert Range

- Frame View on filtered selection

VIDEO

Zero Local

Temporarily stores & zeroes an objects Location & Rotation

& enter Local Mode
Run Zero Local again to exit Local Mode & restore Location & Rotation.

Zero Local R: Rotation only

Unhide or Local Off

Unhide hidden objects, or set Local Mode off - if currently in Local mode. Compatible with Zero Local.

Quick Measure

Contextual Measurement Tool by type of selection. VIDEO

Vertex - Two modes:

- BBox dimensions of selection

- Distance between 2 verts.

Update: You can now select any number of verts to calc distance between (shift select not needed).

Space-click/Clear if garbage data is cached. Video.

Edge - Each Edge's length and combined length.

Face - BBox dimensions of selection.

XY Area: Displayed in BBox dimension modes.

Round Snap: Built in snapping feature.

Freeze Mode: Stores selection for partial changes to whole.

QM FreezeMode - QM starts in freeze mode. VIDEO

Render

Render Visible

Render Image of only what is currently visible in the viewport - Regardless of outliner object render toggles.

Optional: Toggle for using Slot Cycling.

(Temporarily sets render-toggles & uses a modal-timer hack to enable visible render progress.)

Render Image Slot Cycle

Render Image to the first empty render slot (supports any nr of slots*).

Wrap toggle off:No overwrites, you will be notified when all slots are full.

Toggle on: Start step cycle over existing starting from slot 1.

* Tip: You can add extra slots in the render window + save startup scene as default (Set Slot 1 as active!)

BG Sync

Sync the Viewport Preview shading EXR to world render

(incl. built in EXR's) with rotation and strength values.

It will file/node-manage for you, and reuse when possible. Like this.

It is also available in the extended shading pie.

Bookmarks

Cursor Bookmarks

▢ Store Cursor - Saves Cursor Loc & Rot into slot.

▢ Use Cursor - Uses stored Cursor Loc & Rot from slot.

Default/Blank Slot is the reset Cursor position (0 loc, 0 rot)

To Clear Slot: Assign reset Cursor position.

View Bookmarks

▢ Store View - Saves current View transform into slot.

▢ Use View- Uses stored View transform from slot.

▢ Get View- Grabs current View transform (to input slot)

▢ View Input - Copy/Paste View data. Mail your coworker.

▢ Set View- Applies View transform (from input slot)

To Clear slot:

Use stored view, dont move view, store in same slot.

Added - Cycle View Bookmarks. As the name suggests.

Snapping Combos

▢ Bookmarks the current snapping settings to store in 6 slots. Hotkey the stored slots (1-6) or use the snapping pie menu.

The combo tools are located in the regular snapping menu (not the keKit panel) ➔
The Snapping Combos can be renamed (for the pie menu) in the Bookmarks panel.

Orientation & Pivot Combos

Set up 6 combo-operators that will set Orientation & Pivot to your most commonly used combinations.

▢ O & P Operator (Assign Hotkey and/or use in pie menu)

▢ Set Orientation & Pivot for OPC1 Object Mode.

▢ Set Orientation & Pivot for OPC1 Edit Mode.

Update: You can now rename the Combos (for the pie menu)

Select & Align

Cursor Menu

Adds a custom 3D-Cursor Menu in the Viewport Header

Contains tools to manipulate the 3D Cursor.

Align To View
Local Cursor Axis Step/Snap Rotation via preset steps or custom step value
Align towards an object selected in menu
Match rotation of the object
Direct access to Cursor Location & Rotation (dupe of View/3D Cursor menu, for ease of access in one place)
Snap To items (as in the pie menu)
Icon can be disabled separately in Add-on prefs.

Cursor Fit & Align

Edit Mode :

Snaps 3D Cursor to selected elements and orients 3D Cursor to FACE/VERT/EDGE selection for cursor rotation/location.
No selection = Cursor reset

Object Mode:

No object selected and mouse is over nothing resets Cursor.

Pointing over ANY object will just align the cursor to the face under the mouse, regardless of selections.
1 Object selected and pointing mouse over NOTHING will align cursor to the selected objects location & rotation.
2+ Objects selected and pointing mouse over NOTHING will align the cursor rotation/location to the vector (using Z) between two objects.
3+ Objects selected uses active (or random (=last in selection sorted by name) if no active in selection) for rotation, with averaged location as before.

Option : O&P Toggle - Sets Orientation & Pivot to Cursor.

(Release) VIDEO

Also availabe in pie menu.

Note: This is meant to supplement to standard cursor placement tool (which has snap-drag for offset, for example), not a complete replacement.

Clear Cursor Rotation

Clears the cursor's Rotation. Also found in keSnapAlign pie menu. and in the Cursor Menu, along much more.

Align View

Align the viewport to:

Cursor : Orthographic Toggle. Run again to restore view. (Cursor Fit & Align recommended for correct rotation)

Selected : (Active) Orthographic Toggle. Run again to restore view.("Align View To Active" SHIFT-NUM7 replacement)

Ortho Snap : Snaps view to nearest Ortho View. Not a toggle - Just rotate view to go off ortho.

Frame All or Selected

Frame selection in View, or everything if nothing is selected

Geo Only Toggle

With nothing selected, will ignore non-geo objects (Lights, Cameras etc).

Align Origin(s)

Align selected objects' origin Location/Rotation to:

Cursor (Edit & Object Mode)

Selection: Selected element normal (Edit Mode)

Sel.Loc: Selection Location average (Edit & Object Mode)

Quick Origin Move

Run grab tool for selected objects origin (in modal) to avoid having to set "Affect origin only" on and off.

Auto Axis Variant : Will use Mouse Axis instead of default.

Align Object(s)

Align selected Object(s) Location/Rotation to:

Cursor (Cursor Fit & Align recommended)
Active Object (Location, Rotation, Scale)
Origin (Selected to Origin)

- As "Geometry to Origin" but also works in Edit Mode for element selection.
- Will work with multiple selected objects (In Edit Mode too); Each object will use its own origin.
- Find In keSnapAlign pie-menu or Select & Align keKit panel.
- Object Mode uses "Set Origin" - so all the other modes are available in the redo panel :
- Origin to Geo, Origin to Cursor, Origin to Center Mass (Surface & Volume)

(old) VIDEO

Match Active Bounding Box

Scales selected object(s) to last selected object's bounding box (along axis - set in redo-panel)

Place & Rotate origin(s) beforehand for scaling operation to behave as expected - if needed.

Scale will be auto-applied (Note: Does not check for negative scale, flipping normals.)

Straighten

Snap an objects rotation to the nearest 90 degree angles. Or custom degree override in the redo panel. (Also available in the Step Rotate Pie Menu)

Swap Places

Swap places (transforms) for two objects. loc, rot & scale. (Apply scale first if you dont want to swap scales.)

Lock, Lock Unselected & Unlock

Easy acces to assign shortcut(s) for locking (Same as "Disable Selection" in the Outliner). Unlock (Selection Enable) applies to all locked objects.

Select Boundary+

Select Boundary ('region_to_loop') op that also sets one edge to Active. (Handy for scripts that need an Active edge.)

Inner Region Toggle: When you have a boundary selected, you can run again to toggle between region & boundary)

VIDEO

Select Inverted Linked

Inverts Edit Mode element selection - only on connected / linked mesh geo.

Regular Invert-select in object mode.

Mouse Side of Active

Like vanilla Side of Active, but with active vert, edge or face and mouse position to calculate which side of the active element to select

Quick VIDEO demo.

Show in Outliner

Locate the selected object(s) in the outliner
Aslo appended to Object Context Menu (intended use location)

Set Active Collection

Set selected object's parent collection as Active
Aslo appended to Object Context Menu (intended use location)

Select by Display Type

Select visible objects in scene by viewport display type
Option: "Active Collection Only" toggle

Modeling

Solo Cutter & Solo PreCutter

The "Cutter" term is used for an object used in any boolean operation by a boolean modifier.

"Solo" = Hides all other modifiers except the boolean modifier used by the selected "cutter".

PreCutter variant only hides other modifiers after the boolean in the modifier stack.

VIDEO

Flat/Smooth Shading Toggle

Toggle for selected object(s) in Object or Edit mode.

Triangulate Modifier Toggle Option: Used for more accurate shading.

Merge To Mouse

Vert & Face Mode: Merge selected vertices to the selected (or edgelinked) vert closest to the Mouse Pointer. VIDEO

Edge Mode: Collapse selected edges to edge(s) closest to the Mouse Pointer. VIDEO

Merge To Active

Similar to Merge To Mouse, but using Active Element selection instead
Vert Mode will use "Merge To Last" if an Active Vertex is found, otherwise "Merge Collapse".
Face mode is always Collapse.
Edge mode - Collapses edges towards the Active Edge.

Merge Near Selected

Merges other verts near selected verts to them (in any element mode!) at set link-depth and distance (Adjust in redo-panel)
Useful for boolean clean-up & such.

VIDEO

Ground or Center

Ground or Center selected elements or objects. Select process in redo panel ->

Options:

Custom Z: Set custom Z-pos as ground.

Raycast: Stops on collision down the Z axis.

Ignore Selected: Selected objects do not collide with each other

VIDEO

Unbevel

Removes (or "re-bevels") beveled corners on meshes

- Select the the edges of the bevel you wish to "undo".

- You can also select a row of faces. (face bevel rows cannot be connected, use Auto-Ring or Edge mode for more granular needs.)

VIDEO DEMO

Adjust settings/options in redo-panel.

Auto-ring - Runs edge ring selection before unbevel.

Rebevel:

Keep Width - Keeps the size of the bevel (uncheck to expose new custom offset value)
Count - New segment count
Profile - as regular bevel profile
Merge UVs - As regular bevel option

BBox & Convex Hull

BBox: Generate mesh for the selection's Bounding Box.

Convex Hull: Generate a convex hull mesh for the selection.

- Supports Instance Collections

- Reference Style Shading viewport shading option. (Wire & not render)

VIDEO

Fit 2 Grid

Snap each vert in selection to nearest grid position.

Define grid spacing to use in redo-panel

Fit2Grid pie menus are available with preset grid sizes.

ZeroScale

Scales selection to zero (flatten on Z axis) using the cursor for location and rotation (Cursor Fit & Align recommended) IMAGE

Other ZeroScale variants (Zero Scale V / H / Normal / Cursor:

Scales selected elements to axis nearest screen vertical or horizontal. Normal: Using active element as basis. Or cursor.

VIDEO )

are available in the pie menu.

Scale from Face

Select 1 Face per Object in Multi-Edit mode & run Scale from Face to scale selected object(s) by the size(area) difference factor of selected faces to the last selected face. VIDEO

Scale will be auto-applied (Note: Does not check for negative scale, flipping normals.)

Quick Scale

Set dimension (in current scene unit). Unit sized from chosen axis. Obj & Edit mode (selection)

E.g: Selected model needs to be exactly 1.835m on Z. Enter into length and hit Z (with unit size option on to avoid stretching/squashing).

Nice Project

Knife Project, but nice. VIDEO
- Edit mode: Element selection is cutter
- Object mode: Active Object is cutter. All other visible mesh objects will be cut.

Options:

Cut-through (as Knife Project),
Edit Mode Only:
- Keep Cutter Geo (or delete it post op)
- Keep Cutter Selected (or select resulting geo)

Tip: As it uses Knife Project, it also works with Curves as Cutters (in Object Mode).

Note: Redo will use the current view = If you redo after you have changed the view since the last execution, the new view is the view that will be used.

Direct Loop Cut

Insert an edge loop on an edge at the mouse pointer. No selection needed (autoselects, with exceptions) VIDEO

Slide:

Uses built-in Edge Slide afterwards

Center Cuts:

With edge(s) selected & with the mouse over nothing or another object, a center-cut will performed

Multi-Cuts:

Center Cuts, as above, on all selected edges' edge rings.

Lmit Faces:

Selected faces (on the edge ring) will limit the cut to those faces. Point the mouse over intended starting edge (or near it in space for mid-cut). Note: This works on "checker-selected" faces too.

It also works on Loose Edges (select and point, or multi-cut as above)

Option: Selection-Only (or Mouse Pick) Toggle

Direct Insert Vertex

Variant of Direct Loop Cut that just inserts a single vertex.

Slide: Uses built-in Vertex Slide afterwards

Option: Selection-Only (or Mouse Pick) Toggle. (Shared with Direct Loop Cut)

MultiCut

Double-cut edge rings with optional middle cut. (Like Loop Cut combined with Offset Edge Slide for the ends) VIDEO

User customizable presets to use in the panel, as hotkeys or in the MultiCut Pie Menu.

The Presets will be named automatically based on the values (see screenshot -> )

or, use the "Manual Rename" button to name manually.

You can use relative (%) or fixed offset (in real measurements, like cm etc.) The one value will be used on both ends of the edge.

Note: Saving presets with fixed offset NOT zero will be saved as a fixed offset preset (Dont forget to save keKit prefs)

SubD Tools

Subd Tools

Step Viewport Level +/-

Set render subd level on selected Object(s) one step

Set VP Level

Set viewport subd level on selected Object(s)

Set Render Level

Set render subd level on selected Object(s)

Subd Toggle

Toggle (modifier visibility) or Assign subd modifier if none exists.

Toggle uses the options. (Set up your new subds exactly how you like them)

AutoSmooth Option (using SubD Toggle):

ON : Autosmooth is turned off by toggle when subd is on - and vice versa
OFF : Autosmooth is not changed by toggle

Unrotator

Unrotates geo using active element as new 'bottom'

Places selection to face normal/position on other mesh or object under mouse pointer (if different geo than selected)

Object Mode: Resets rotation or places on mouse over.

Update: Uses modal to temporarily use object face snap in object mode. LMB to place, RMB to cancel. Snap settings will be restored.

(bonus: ESC will place the object in center of the face first under the mouse)

Note: Rotation tweak (redo-panel) will not work if you move the viewport camera, and is not available after modal.

VIDEO

FitPrim

Creates (unit or unit+height) box or cylinder primitive based on element selection. (or face under mouse in Object Mode)

Vert Mode: Fits *along* 2 Selected verts.

Edge Mode: Fits *inbetween* selection/s.

Face Mode: Fits *on* selection/s."

VIDEO1, VIDEO2

Update:

- Numerical input for cylinder modal mode

- Plane Primitive is also available. VIDEO

Assign shortcuts for fast operation,

+use FitPrim Pie Menu

Context Tools

Context Bevel

Launches appropriate bevel tool by selection mode:

VERTS: Vertex bevel Tool

EDGES: Edge bevel

FACES: Inset. Has Ctrl-drag to extrude (effectively "Extrude Region Faces Along Normal" Tool)

Korean / Flat Bevels Toggle:

Global toggle for Korean (aka Flat Bevels) or regular.

Context Extrude

Launches appropriate extrude tool by selection mode:

VERTS: Vertex Extrude

EDGES: Edge Extrude

FACES: Face Extrude Region Normal

Update: Toggle for TT Toggle support for transform start mode.

Context Delete

Deletes elements by type by selection mode.

(VERTS, EDGES or FACES)

Update: Toggle for hierarchy delete in Object mode.

Context Dissolve

Dissolves elements by type by selection mode.

(VERTS, EDGES or FACES)

Context Select / Extend / Subtract

Performs different selection by selection mode (similar to Modo+):

EDGES: Loop select

POLYS: Linked select

VERTS: Select Border Edges on mesh, or Linked Select if no borders.

Intended for Double-click LMB: Assign dbl-click in preferences / Shortcuts

Shortcut Mapping Example

Bridge or Fill

Bridge, except when ONE continous border edge-loop is selected: Grid Fill.

F2 mode: 1 EDGE or 1 VERT selected

Face Add Mode: with two edges (sharing a vert) or 3+ verts in vert mode.

Context Connect

Vert Mode selection: Connect Verts
Edge Mode: Subdivide
Face Mode: Splits along selection (single face uses mouse pos for direction)
No Element Selection: Knife Tool
Selection of resulting edge(s) (all modes)

Redo-Panel:

Adjust Nr of evenly spaced cuts (edge/face modes)
Square Corners (face mode)

VIDEO (new)

VIDEO (old)

Triple Connect Spin

Vert Mode selection: Connect Verts (smart path or pair)

Edge Mode selection: Spin Edges

Face Mode selection: Triangulate

Context Slide

Alternative one-click option for double-G slide.

(Vert Slide in vertex mode, Edge slide in edge mode)

Transform Tools

TT Toggle

Transform Tools Toggles (the 3 icons) will set in which way the transform tools are launched: Default ("Grab" with or without handles) , Mouse Axis or ViewPlane Contextual.

TT Move, TT Rotate and TT Scale can then replace each standard transform tool shortcut.

TT Dupe: Launches duplicate as per TT Mode.

The TT Mode (+Linked Global Toggle) can be also be set with viewport icons (but intended for shortcut assignment, with the icons just identifying the current mode) or with;

TT Mode Cycle. VIDEO

Options:

Use Handles: Use handles. or not.

Use MAS - Mouse Axis Scale: Uncheck to override Mouse Axis Scaling behaviour to unlocked (all) axis default.

Hide Icons: Hides the TT-viewport icons

(Also available in keKit Add-on Preferences)

TT Dupe Linked Toggle: Will make linked duplicates.

This will also affect Mouse Axis Dupe and VP Dupe.

Force Linked/Unlinked Dupe: Overrides the toggle value.

Reminder: Preferred scene default can be set by saving kekit prefs.

Mouse Axis

Runs Grab, Rotate or Scale (Resize) with Axis auto-locked based on your mouse movement using recalculated orientation based on the selected Orientation type (except Gimbal). (recalculated)

Recalculated = Not the "current" Orientation, as it is not exposed and must be recalculated; If you set Normal Orientation from a face in Edit Mode and go back to Object Mode it will result in Local being used, for example. Only "fresh" orientations will behave as expected.

Move Dupe: Duplicates selection first. Intended for "drag-copy" operation. For example, hotkey assigned like THIS.

Move Cursor: Moves the cursor with Mouse Axis.

View Plane

VPDupe - Duplicates selection before running Grab.

Grab, Rotate or Resize with View Planes auto-locked based on your viewport rotation. VIDEO

Options:

Global Or Tool:

Grab, Rotate or Resize in auto locked view plane (like VPGrab etc. above) when in Global transform - otherwise launches default transform tool. IMAGE

Auto Global: Will always set Global transform.

Note: Overrides Global or Tool.

ID Materials

Applies "ID" Material to Object(s) / Faces. Common baking utility. Usage tips: IMAGE

Applies automatic Alpha Blend (& no shadows) setting when using transparency - for not-baking use cases (retopo etc.)

Also available in materials pie menu

Clean-Up Tools

Macro Mesh Clean

All the important cleaning operations in one click.

Bad Geo Example Image

Customize options --->
Run on Selected Object(s) in Object mode.
Select Only Mode or Clean Mode

Tiny Edges: (Select only. If any edges under the Limit remain after Cleanup, these will be selected, not removed)

Purge Tools

Purge unused data blocks by category - or All

Selection Tools

Select Collinear Verts (Edit Mode)
Select Flipped Normal Faces (Edit Mode)
- Pick method in Redo Panel
Select Elements by vert count in selected Object(s) (Edit or Object Mode) Note: Ngons = 5+