“Parametrizer” is the Blender add-on for interactively changing mesh geometry through the customizable parameters.
With “Parametrizer” you can make a set of parameters for any mesh that regulates its sizes and ratios. Then you can quickly modify the mesh geometry by simply sliding the parameters fields.
Usage:
To add a new parameter, click “Add new parameter”
Configure the parameter in its panel:
Name – give the parameter a name
Mode – set the mode
TRANSLATION – for moving
ROTATION – for rotation
SCALE – for scaling
By axis – set axes for change the mesh geometry
Vertices – this parameter will be applied to the selected vertices
Orientation – adjust the direction of the axes
Origin – and set the origin for geometry transformation
After pressing the “OK” button the parameter will be added to the mesh
Now sliding the parameter slider in the “Parametrizer” main panel, you can quickly change the mesh geometry
By pressing the “Modify active parameter” or “Remove active parameter” buttons you can change or remove existing parameters
When creating or changing parameters an orientation widget is displayed on the mesh – three axes (green, red, and blue) that show the current parameter coordinate system. All further transformations will perform according to this coordinate system.
Clicking the “Use current orientation” button you will align the parameter coordinate system to the currently visible axes of the mesh.
Clicking on the “Current origin”, “From cursor” or “From selection” buttons you move the widget to the mesh origin location, cursor location or the center point of the active selection.
Parameters are saved with the mesh and can be used later when the mesh is appended to another scene, which allows you to create libraries with easily modifiable objects.
Demonstration video:
Current add-on version: 1.1.0.
Location and call:
“3D Viewport” window – N-panel – the “Parametrizer” tab
If I created a box using 5 separate meshes, eg.(2 Sides, 2 Ends, & a Bottom); Will your add-on allow me to set it up to “resize” the assembled box parametricly, with the parts maintaining the specific dimensions that I don’t want changed, eg.(Material thicknesses)?
It is a very useful thing, for sure.
I can create a cabinet with drawers and doors, or doors and shelves. For example. I can constrain the thickness of the sides, top, bottom & back which I assemble and group into a basic cabinet box, then constrain them together using a formula, eg. back width = box width - (side thickness*2). Then when I change the dimension of the width of the box, the back width changes to match the new dimension less the combined width of the sides, and the sides maintain their constrained thickness. The same would work with changes in height and depth. If a cabinet has doors and drawers, all parts resize to fit within the constraints imposed upon each individual part. So I can build a library of cabinets and resize them quickly as I lay them out, and not have to create them again.
If you’re interested, I would be willing to create a video demonstrating how I do it in SketchUp.
If I could do the same in Blender, then I have modeling, materials, lighting, and rendering, without the hassle of, exporting, importing, scaling, and the cleaning up of meshes.
