Distribute Objects addon is Blender addon that allows arraying existing objects in your scene so they don’t overlap in an orthogonal grid arrangement with configurable spacing.
Useful mainly in two situations:
When linking multiple assets from an external file at the same time.
Distributing objects regularly over a scene like an array.
If you link many Collection Instances at once into a scene they will often be placed at scene origin or 3D Cursor position all overlapping each other. You can’t easily tell them apart or selected them.
With this addon separating them moving them is two mouse clicks away, easily incrementally moving them selected objects so the no longer overlap.
This may also be useful when populating a scene with different assets like distributing objects over a shelf, or a table.
This is not another of those array addons that duplicate the current objects, or creates new ones. This is meant to array different already existing objects through your scene.
In the spirit of free and open source I’m publishing it here for free in hopes it may be useful to anyone else. DistributeObjects_0_04.py (6.9 KB)
If you wish to support me, or help support the Blender Foundation through commissions, you can also purchase it at Blender Market for 10$
Thanks guys, glad you like it.
It’s a recurring task in my line of work, one that is time consuming and that I’d like to optimize.
Decided to make use of these troubling quarantine times and make an incursion into scripting territory, learn a few new things.
Duarte, this is really nice! Thank you sir. The only thing left for me was the “Distance Sort” and “Path Sort” feature in optional but free “BsMax” add-on, and the “Align Tools” bundled add-on. BsMax adds a feature in Object>Transform>Distance Sort. It evenly distributes objects between the two farthest objects selected, and it can also distribute them along a bezier curve (Object>Transform>Path Sort). It’s pretty basic at moment. For example, it does NOT respect the order of objects selected when distributing along a path.
Hi Coby, glad you like it. Thanks for the feedback.
Those sound like interesting ideas particularly distance sort, I might consider them later at some point, but not at the moment.
Right now I am focusing on trying to integrate radial arrays into this addon, not sure if I will succeed.
Fantastic. Was looking for something since the only other addon with distribution of objects in it (Oscurart) was yanked from Blender. Thanks.
Here’s a vid I did on it:
WOW~! this is amazing, its something like, spacing tools or space array like tool in 3DS MAX, can I ask if this tool can do along path (curve) and selected object functionality as well.
Thanks.
No, not at the moment. That is something I’d eventually like to add to the addon, along with other improvements I have in mind, but have been unable to dedicate additional time to this addon since then.
Not sure if my bare coding skills will suffice, but I’ll consider it when I ever get to work on it again.
I can place a tab in the 3D View properties sidebar with a button for the operator, but it won’t show all the buttons for the operator properties you get when you run it though.
Appreciate it, but no need for rewards, this is open source, use as you please to your hearts content.
Wish you all the success with your game. Hope it turns out great.
Well i made a list of everyone who contribute to my project even in the smallest way and they are all going to be in the credits and if i am successful i will personally reward every single one of them.
