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Blender 4.4 Manual
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Blender 4.4 Manual

Getting Started

  • About Blender
    • Blender’s History
    • About Free Software and the GPL
    • The Blender Community
  • Installing Blender
    • Installing on Linux
    • Installing on macOS
    • Installing on Windows
    • Installing from Steam
    • Linux Windowing Environment
  • Configuring Blender
    • Introduction
    • Configuring Peripherals
    • Defaults
  • Help System

Sections

  • User Interface
    • Window System
      • Introduction
      • Splash Screen
      • Topbar
      • Workspaces
      • Status Bar
      • Areas
      • Regions
      • Tabs & Panels
    • Keymap
      • Common Shortcuts
      • Default Keymap
      • Industry Compatible Keymap
    • UI Elements
      • Buttons
      • Input Fields
      • Menus
      • Eyedropper
      • Decorators
      • Data-Block Menu
      • List View
      • Color Picker
      • Color Ramp Widget
      • Color Palette
      • Curve Widget
    • Tools & Operators
      • Tool System
      • Operators
      • Undo & Redo
      • Annotations
      • Selecting
    • Nodes
      • Introduction
      • Node Parts
      • Selecting
      • Arranging Nodes
      • Editing
      • Sidebar
      • Node Groups
      • Frame Node
      • Reroute Node
  • Editors
    • 3D Viewport
      • Introduction
      • Startup Scene
      • Object Modes
      • Navigating
        • Introduction
        • Navigation
        • Fly/Walk Navigation
        • Aligning
        • Perspective/Orthographic
        • Local View
        • Camera View
        • Viewpoint
        • View Regions
        • Contextual Views
      • 3D Cursor
      • Selecting
      • Controls
        • Transform Orientation
        • Pivot Point
          • Bounding Box Center
          • 3D Cursor
          • Individual Origins
          • Median Point
          • Active Element
        • Snapping
        • Proportional Editing
      • Display
        • Object Type Visibility
        • Viewport Gizmos
        • Viewport Overlays
        • Viewport Shading
      • Toolbar
        • Measure
        • Add Cube
        • Add Cone
        • Add Cylinder
        • Add UV Sphere
        • Add Icosphere
      • Sidebar
      • Viewport Render
    • Image Editor
      • Introduction
      • Navigating
      • Sidebar
      • Overlays
      • Image Settings
      • Editing
    • UV Editor
      • Introduction
      • Navigating
      • Overlays
      • Sidebar
      • Selecting
      • Snapping
    • Compositor
    • Texture Nodes
      • Introduction
      • Color Nodes
        • Combine Color Node
        • Invert Color Node
        • Mix Node
        • RGB Curves Node
        • Hue/Saturation/Value Node
        • Separate Color Node
      • Converter Nodes
        • Color Ramp Node
        • Distance Node
        • Math Node
        • RGB to BW Node
        • Value to Normal Node
      • Distort Nodes
        • At Node
        • Rotate Node
        • Scale Node
        • Translate Node
      • Input Nodes
        • Coordinates Node
        • Image Node
        • Texture Node
        • Time Curve Node
      • Output Nodes
        • Output Node
        • Viewer Node
      • Pattern Nodes
        • Checker Node
        • Bricks Node
      • Texture Nodes
        • Blend Node
        • Clouds Node
        • Distorted Noise Node
        • Magic Node
        • Marble Node
        • Musgrave Node
        • Noise Node
        • Stucci Node
        • Voronoi Node
        • Wood Node
      • Group
    • Geometry Node Editor
    • Shader Editor
    • Video Sequencer
      • Introduction
      • Sequencer
        • Introduction
        • Channels
        • Navigating
        • Toolbar
          • Introduction
          • Blade
        • Sidebar
          • Strip
          • Modifiers
          • Cache
          • Proxy
        • Display
      • Preview
        • Introduction
        • Header
        • Toolbar
        • Sidebar
        • Controls
          • Pivot Point
          • Preview Snapping
        • Display
          • Display Mode
          • Gizmos
          • Overlays
      • Sequencer & Preview
    • Movie Clip Editor
      • Introduction
      • Display
        • Viewport Gizmos
        • Mask Display
        • Clip Display
      • Sidebar Region
    • Dope Sheet
      • Introduction
      • Navigating
      • Editing
      • Modes
        • Action Editor
        • Shape Key Editor
        • Grease Pencil
        • Mask
      • Sidebar
    • Timeline
    • Graph Editor
      • Introduction
      • Channels
        • Introduction
        • Editing
      • F-Curves
        • Introduction
        • Editing
        • Properties
        • F-Curve Modifiers
    • Drivers Editor
    • Nonlinear Animation
      • Introduction
      • Tracks
      • Strips
      • Editing
        • Track
        • Strip
      • Sidebar
    • Text Editor
    • Python Console
    • Info Editor
    • Outliner
      • Introduction
      • Interface
      • Selecting
      • Editing
      • Usage
    • Properties
    • File Browser
    • Asset Browser
    • Spreadsheet
    • Preferences
      • Introduction
      • Interface
      • Viewport
      • Lights
      • Editing
      • Animation
      • Get Extensions
      • Add-ons
      • Themes
      • Input
      • Navigation
      • Keymap
      • System
      • Save & Load
      • File Paths
      • Experimental
  • Scenes & Objects
    • Scenes
      • Introduction
      • Scene Properties
    • Objects
      • Introduction
      • Object Types
      • Object Origin
      • Selecting
      • Editing
        • Transform
          • Introduction
          • Transform Control
            • Numeric Input
            • Axis Locking
            • Precision
          • Move
          • Rotate
          • Scale
          • Move/Scale Texture Space
          • Align to Transform Orientation
          • Randomize
          • Align Objects
        • Mirror
        • Clear
        • Apply
        • Snap
        • Duplicate
        • Duplicate Linked
        • Join
        • Asset
        • Parenting Objects
        • Modifiers
        • Constraints
        • Track
        • Relations
          • Make Single User
        • Link/Transfer Data
          • Link Data
          • Transfer Mesh Data
          • Transfer Mesh Data Layout
        • Shading
        • Rigid Body
        • Convert
        • Show/Hide
        • Clean Up
        • Delete
      • Properties
        • Transform
        • Relations
        • Collections
          • Introduction
          • Collections
        • Instancing
          • Vertices
          • Faces
          • Collection
        • Visibility
        • Viewport Display
        • Line Art
      • Tools
        • Toolbar
        • Tool Settings
        • Scale Cage
    • Collections
      • Introduction
      • Collections
    • View Layers
      • Introduction
  • Modeling
    • Introduction
    • Meshes
      • Introduction
      • Structure
      • Primitives
        • Mesh Plane
      • Tools
        • Toolbar
        • Tool Settings
        • Extrude Region
        • Extrude Manifold
        • Extrude to Cursor
        • Loop Cut
        • Poly Build
        • Spin
      • Selecting
        • Introduction
        • Select Mirror
        • Select Random
        • Checker Deselect
        • Select More/Less
        • Select Similar
        • Select All by Trait
        • Select Linked
        • Select Loops
        • Select Sharp Edges
        • Side of Active
        • By Attribute
      • Editing
        • Introduction
        • Mesh Operators
          • Transformation
            • Move, Rotate, Scale
            • To Sphere
            • Shear
            • Bend
            • Push/Pull
            • Warp
            • Randomize
            • Shrink/Fatten
            • Skin Resize
          • Mirror
          • Duplicate
          • Extrude
          • Merge
          • Split
          • Separate
          • Bisect
          • Knife Project
          • Knife Topology Tool
          • Convex Hull
          • Symmetrize
          • Snap to Symmetry
          • Normals
          • Shading
          • Set Attribute
          • Sort Elements
          • Clean Up
          • Deleting & Dissolving
        • Vertex Operators
          • Extrude Vertices
          • Extrude to Cursor or Add
          • Bevel Vertices
          • New Edge/Face from Vertices
          • Connect Vertex Path
          • Connect Vertex Pairs
          • Rip Vertices
          • Rip Vertices and Fill
          • Rip Vertices and Extend
          • Slide Vertices
          • Smooth Vertices
          • Laplacian Smooth
          • Blend from Shape
          • Propagate to Shapes
          • Vertex Groups
          • Hooks
          • Make Vertex Parent
        • Edge Operators
          • Extrude Edges
          • Bevel Edges
          • Bridge Edge Loops
          • Screw
          • Subdivide
          • Subdivide Edge-Ring
          • Un-Subdivide
          • Rotate Edge
          • Edge Slide
          • Offset Edge Slide
          • Loop Cut and Slide
          • Edge Data
        • Face Operators
          • Extrude Faces
          • Extrude Faces Along Normals
          • Extrude Individual Faces
          • Inset Faces
          • Poke Faces
          • Triangulate Faces
          • Triangles to Quads
          • Solidify Faces
          • Wireframe
          • Fill
          • Grid Fill
          • Beautify Faces
          • Intersect (Knife)
          • Intersect (Boolean)
          • Weld Edges into Faces
          • Shade Smooth & Flat
          • Face Data
        • UV Operators
      • Properties
        • Object Data
        • Vertex Groups
          • Introduction
          • Vertex Groups Panel
          • Assigning a Vertex Group
          • Vertex Weights
        • Geometry Data
      • UVs
        • UVs & Texture Space
        • Unwrapping
          • Introduction
          • Seams
        • Tools
          • Toolbar
          • Rip
          • Grab
          • Relax
          • Pinch
        • Editing
        • Workflows
          • Layout Workflow
          • UDIMs
        • Using UV Maps
      • Mesh Analysis
      • Remeshing
    • Curves
      • Introduction
      • Structure
      • Primitives
      • Tools
        • Toolbar
        • Draw
        • Curve Pen
      • Selecting
      • Editing
        • Transform Panel
        • Curve
        • Control Points
        • Segments
        • Other
      • Properties
        • Shape
        • Geometry
        • Path Animation
        • Active Spline
      • Curve Display
    • Curves (New)
      • Structure
      • Primitives
      • Tools
        • Toolbar
        • Draw
      • Selecting
      • Editing
        • Curves
        • Control Points
        • Segments
      • Properties
      • Curve Display
    • Surfaces
      • Introduction
      • Toolbar
      • Structure
      • Primitives
      • Selecting
      • Editing
        • Transform Panel
        • Surface
        • Control Points
        • Segments
      • Properties
        • Shape
        • Active Spline
    • Metaball
      • Introduction
      • Toolbar
      • Structure
      • Primitives
      • Editing
      • Properties
    • Text
      • Introduction
      • Selecting
      • Editing
      • Properties
    • Volumes
      • Introduction
      • Properties
    • Empties
    • Modifiers
      • Introduction
      • Common Modifier Options
      • Edit
        • Data Transfer Modifier
        • Mesh Cache Modifier
        • Mesh Sequence Cache Modifier
        • UV Project Modifier
        • UV Warp Modifier
        • Vertex Weight Edit Modifier
        • Vertex Weight Mix Modifier
        • Vertex Weight Proximity Modifier
      • Generate
        • Array Modifier
        • Bevel Modifier
        • Boolean Modifier
        • Build Modifier
        • Decimate Modifier
        • Edge Split Modifier
        • Geometry Nodes Modifier
        • Mask Modifier
        • Mesh to Volume Modifier
        • Mirror Modifier
        • Multiresolution Modifier
        • Remesh Modifier
        • Screw Modifier
        • Skin Modifier
        • Solidify Modifier
        • Subdivision Surface Modifier
        • Triangulate Modifier
        • Volume to Mesh Modifier
        • Weld Modifier
        • Wireframe Modifier
      • Deform
        • Armature Modifier
        • Cast Modifier
        • Curve Modifier
        • Displace Modifier
        • Hook Modifier
        • Laplacian Deform Modifier
        • Lattice Modifier
        • Mesh Deform Modifier
        • Shrinkwrap Modifier
        • Simple Deform Modifier
        • Smooth Modifier
        • Smooth Corrective Modifier
        • Smooth Laplacian Modifier
        • Surface Deform Modifier
        • Volume Displace Modifier
        • Warp Modifier
        • Wave Modifier
      • Normals
        • Normal Edit Modifier
        • Weighted Normal Modifier
        • Smooth By Angle Modifier
      • Physics
        • Cloth Modifier
        • Collision Modifier
        • Dynamic Paint Modifier
        • Explode Modifier
        • Fluid Modifier
        • Ocean Modifier
        • Particle Instance Modifier
        • Particle System Modifier
        • Soft Body Modifier
    • Geometry Nodes
      • Introduction
      • Inspection
      • Attributes
      • Fields
      • Instances
      • Baking
      • Node-Based Tools
      • Gizmos
      • Attribute Nodes
        • Attribute Statistic Node
        • Domain Size Node
        • Blur Attribute Node
        • Capture Attribute Node
        • Remove Named Attribute Node
        • Store Named Attribute Node
      • Input Nodes
        • Constant
          • Boolean Node
          • Collection Node
          • Color Node
          • Image Node
          • Integer Node
          • Material Node
          • Object Node
          • Rotation Node
          • String Node
          • Value Node
          • Vector Node
        • Gizmo
          • Dial Gizmo
          • Linear Gizmo
          • Transform Gizmo
        • Scene
          • 3D Cursor Node
          • Active Camera Node
          • Collection Info Node
          • Image Info Node
          • Is Viewport Node
          • Mouse Position Node
          • Object Info Node
          • Scene Time Node
          • Self Object Node
          • Viewport Transform Node
      • Output Nodes
        • Warning Node
        • Viewer Node
      • Geometry Nodes
        • Read
          • ID Node
          • Index Node
          • Named Attribute Node
          • Normal Node
          • Position Node
          • Radius Node
          • Selection Node
          • Active Element Node
        • Sample
          • Geometry Proximity Node
          • Index of Nearest
          • Raycast Node
          • Sample Index Node
          • Sample Nearest Node
        • Write
          • Set Geometry Name Node
          • Set ID Node
          • Set Position Node
          • Set Selection Node
        • Operations
          • Bake Node
          • Bounding Box Node
          • Convex Hull Node
          • Delete Geometry Node
          • Duplicate Elements Node
          • Merge by Distance Node
          • Split To Instances Node
          • Sort Elements Node
          • Transform Geometry Node
          • Separate Components Node
          • Separate Geometry Node
        • Geometry to Instance Node
        • Join Geometry Node
      • Curve Nodes
        • Read
          • Curve Handle Positions Node
          • Curve Length Node
          • Curve Tangent Node
          • Curve Tilt Node
          • Endpoint Selection Node
          • Handle Type Selection Node
          • Is Spline Cyclic Node
          • Spline Length Node
          • Spline Parameter Node
          • Spline Resolution Node
        • Sample
          • Sample Curve Node
        • Write
          • Set Curve Normal Node
          • Set Curve Radius Node
          • Set Curve Tilt Node
          • Set Handle Positions Node
          • Set Handle Type Node
          • Set Spline Cyclic Node
          • Set Spline Resolution Node
          • Set Spline Type Node
        • Operations
          • Curve to Mesh Node
          • Curve to Points Node
          • Curves to Grease Pencil Node
          • Deform Curves on Surface Node
          • Fill Curve Node
          • Fillet Curve Node
          • Grease Pencil to Curves Node
          • Interpolate Curves Node
          • Merge Layers Node
          • Resample Curve Node
          • Reverse Curve Node
          • Subdivide Curve Node
          • Trim Curve Node
        • Primitives
          • Arc Node
          • Bézier Segment Node
          • Curve Circle Node
          • Curve Line Node
          • Spiral Node
          • Quadratic Bézier Node
          • Quadrilateral Node
          • Star Node
        • Topology
          • Curve of Point Node
          • Offset Point in Curve Node
          • Points of Curve Node
      • Instances Nodes
        • Instance on Points Node
        • Instances to Points Node
        • Realize Instances Node
        • Rotate Instances Node
        • Scale Instances Node
        • Translate Instances Node
        • Set Instance Transform Node
        • Instance Transform Node
        • Instance Rotation Node
        • Instance Scale Node
      • Mesh Nodes
        • Read
          • Edge Angle Node
          • Edge Neighbors Node
          • Edge Vertices Node
          • Edges to Face Groups Node
          • Face Area Node
          • Face Group Boundaries Node
          • Face Neighbors Node
          • Face Set Node
          • Is Face Planar Node
          • Is Edge Smooth Node
          • Is Face Smooth Node
          • Mesh Island Node
          • Shortest Edge Paths Node
          • Vertex Neighbors Node
        • Sample
          • Sample Nearest Surface Node
          • Sample UV Surface Node
        • Write
          • Set Face Set Node
          • Set Shade Smooth Node
        • Operations
          • Dual Mesh Node
          • Edge Paths to Curves Node
          • Edge Paths to Selection Node
          • Extrude Mesh Node
          • Flip Faces Node
          • Mesh Boolean Node
          • Mesh to Curve Node
          • Mesh to Points Node
          • Mesh to Volume Node
          • Scale Elements Node
          • Split Edges Node
          • Subdivide Mesh Node
          • Subdivision Surface Node
          • Triangulate Node
        • Primitives
          • Cone Node
          • Cube Node
          • Cylinder Node
          • Grid Node
          • Icosphere Node
          • Mesh Circle Node
          • Mesh Line Node
          • UV Sphere Node
        • Topology
          • Corners of Edge Node
          • Corners of Face Node
          • Corners of Vertex Node
          • Edges of Corner Node
          • Edges of Vertex Node
          • Face of Corner Node
          • Offset Corner in Face Node
          • Vertex of Corner Node
        • UV
          • Pack UV Islands Node
          • UV Unwrap Node
      • Point Nodes
        • Distribute Points in Volume
        • Distribute Points on Faces
        • Points Node
        • Points to Curves Node
        • Points to Vertices Node
        • Points to Volume Node
        • Set Point Radius Node
      • Volume Nodes
        • Operations
          • Volume to Mesh Node
        • Primitives
          • Volume Cube Node
      • Simulation Zone
      • Material Nodes
        • Replace Material Node
        • Material Index Node
        • Material Selection Node
        • Set Material Node
        • Set Material Index Node
      • Texture Nodes
        • Brick Texture Node
        • Checker Texture Node
        • Gabor Texture Node
        • Gradient Texture Node
        • Image Texture Node
        • Magic Texture Node
        • Musgrave Texture Node
        • Noise Texture Node
        • Voronoi Texture Node
        • Wave Texture Node
        • White Noise Texture Node
      • Utilities Nodes
        • Color
          • Blackbody Node
          • Color Ramp Node
          • Combine Color Node
          • Mix Color Node
          • RGB Curves Node
          • Separate Color Node
        • Text
          • Join Strings Node
          • Replace String Node
          • Slice String Node
          • Special Characters Node
          • String Length Node
          • Find in String Node
          • String to Curves Node
          • Value to String Node
        • Vector
          • Vector Curves Node
          • Vector Math Node
          • Vector Rotate Node
          • Combine XYZ Node
          • Mix Vector Node
          • Separate XYZ Node
        • Field
          • Accumulate Field Node
          • Evaluate at Index Node
          • Evaluate on Domain Node
        • Math
          • Boolean Math Node
          • Clamp Node
          • Compare Node
          • Float Curve
          • Float To Integer Node
          • Hash Value Node
          • Integer Math Node
          • Map Range Node
          • Math Node
          • Mix Node
        • Matrix
          • Combine Matrix Node
          • Combine Transform Node
          • Invert Matrix Node
          • Matrix Determinant Node
          • Multiply Matrices Node
          • Project Point Node
          • Separate Matrix Node
          • Separate Transform Node
          • Transform Direction Node
          • Transform Point Node
          • Transpose Matrix Node
        • Rotation
          • Align Rotation to Vector Node
          • Axes to Rotation Node
          • Axis Angle to Rotation Node
          • Euler to Rotation Node
          • Invert Rotation Node
          • Rotate Rotation Node
          • Rotate Vector Node
          • Rotation to Euler Node
          • Rotation to Quaternion Node
          • Quaternion to Rotation Node
        • Deprecated
          • Align Euler to Vector Node
          • Rotate Euler Node
        • For Each Geometry Element Zone
        • Index Switch Node
        • Menu Switch Node
        • Random Value Node
        • Repeat Zone
        • Switch Node
      • Group
      • Hair Nodes
        • Deformation
          • Blend Hair Curves
          • Displace Hair Curves
          • Frizz Hair Curves
          • Hair Curves Noise
          • Roll Hair Curves
          • Rotate Hair Curves
          • Shrinkwrap Hair Curves
          • Smooth Hair Curves
          • Straighten Hair Curves
          • Trim Hair Curves
        • Generation
          • Duplicate Hair Curves
          • Generate Hair Curves
          • Interpolate Hair Curves
        • Guides
          • Braid Hair Curves
          • Clump Hair Curves
          • Create Guide Index Map
          • Curl Hair Curves
        • Read
          • Curve Info
          • Curve Root
          • Curve Segment
          • Curve Tip
          • Hair Attachment Info
        • Utility
          • Attach Hair Curves to Surface
          • Redistribute Curve Points
          • Restore Curve Segment Length
        • Write
          • Set Hair Curve Profile
      • Normals Nodes
        • Smooth By Angle Node Group
    • Transform
      • Introduction
      • Transform Modal Map
  • Sculpting & Painting
    • Introduction
    • Brushes
      • Introduction
      • Manage Brushes
      • Brush Settings
      • Texture & Texture Mask
      • Stroke
      • Falloff
      • Cursor
    • Selection & Visibility
    • Navigation
    • Sculpting
      • Introduction
        • General
        • The Brush
        • Gesture Tools
        • Visibility, Masking & Face Sets
        • Filters
        • Transforming
        • Painting
        • Working with Multiple Objects
        • Adaptive Resolution
        • Cloth Sculpting
      • Brushes
        • Brushes
        • Draw
        • Draw Sharp
        • Clay
        • Clay Strips
        • Clay Thumb
        • Layer
        • Inflate
        • Blob
        • Crease
        • Smooth
        • Flatten
        • Fill
        • Scrape
        • Plane
        • Scrape Multiplane
        • Pinch
        • Grab
        • Elastic Deform
        • Snake Hook
        • Thumb
        • Pose
        • Nudge
        • Rotate
        • Relax Slide
        • Boundary
        • Cloth
        • Density
        • Mask
        • Draw Face Sets
        • Erase Multires Displacement
        • Smear Multires Displacement
        • Paint
        • Smear
      • Toolbar
      • Tools
        • Brush
        • Mask Gesture Tools
        • Hide Gesture Tools
        • Face Set Gesture Tools
        • Trim Gesture Tools
        • Line Project
        • Mesh Filter
        • Cloth Filter
        • Color Filter
        • Edit Face Set
        • Mask by Color
        • Transforms
      • Tool Settings
        • Brushes
          • Introduction
          • Manage Brushes
          • Brush Settings
          • Texture & Texture Mask
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Brush Settings
          • Brush Settings
          • Texture
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Dyntopo
        • Remesh
        • Symmetry
        • Options
      • Controls
      • Editing
        • Sculpt
        • Mask
        • Face Sets
        • Expand
    • Texture Paint
      • Introduction
      • Brushes
      • Tool Settings
        • Texture Slots
        • Brushes
          • Introduction
          • Manage Brushes
          • Brush Settings
          • Texture & Texture Mask
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Brush Settings
          • Texture
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Mask
        • Symmetry
        • Options
        • Tiling
      • Editing
    • Vertex Paint
      • Introduction
      • Brushes
      • Vertex Paint Tools
      • Tool Settings
        • Brushes
          • Introduction
          • Manage Brushes
          • Brush Settings
          • Texture & Texture Mask
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Brush Settings
          • Texture
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Symmetry
      • Editing
    • Weight Paint
      • Introduction
      • Brushes
      • Weight Paint Tools
      • Tool Settings
        • Brushes
          • Introduction
          • Manage Brushes
          • Brush Settings
          • Texture & Texture Mask
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Brush Settings
          • Stroke
          • Falloff
          • Cursor
        • Symmetry
        • Options
      • Using Vertex Groups
      • Editing
    • Curves Sculpting
      • Introduction
      • Brushes
        • Selection Paint
        • Add Curves
        • Delete Curves
        • Density Brush
        • Comb Curves
        • Snake Hook Curves
        • Grow / Shrink Curves
        • Pinch Curves
        • Puff Curves
        • Smooth Curves
        • Slide Curves
      • Common Settings
  • Grease Pencil
    • Introduction
    • Structure
    • Primitives
    • Properties
      • Object Properties
      • Data Properties
        • Layers
        • Onion Skinning
        • Settings
    • Modifiers
      • Introduction
      • Generate
        • Array Modifier
        • Build Modifier
        • Dot Dash Modifier
        • Envelope Modifier
        • Length Modifier
        • Line Art Modifier
        • Mirror Modifier
        • Multiple Strokes
        • Outline Modifier
        • Simplify Modifier
        • Subdivide Modifier
      • Deform
        • Armature Modifier
        • Hook Modifier
        • Lattice Modifier
        • Noise Modifier
        • Offset Modifier
        • Shrinkwrap Modifier
        • Smooth Modifier
        • Thickness Modifier
      • Color
        • Hue/Saturation Modifier
        • Opacity Modifier
        • Tint Modifier
      • Edit
        • Texture Mapping Modifier
        • Time Offset Modifier
        • Vertex Weight Angle Modifier
        • Vertex Weight Proximity Modifier
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Link & Append¶

These functions help you reuse objects, materials and other data-blocks from another blend-file. You can build libraries of common content and share them across multiple referencing files.

Tip

Instead of using the menu, you can also Link/Append blend-files by dragging and dropping them into the Blender window.

Note

It’s not possible to Link or Append data from much newer blend-files.

Link¶

Reference

Editor:

Topbar

Mode:

All modes except Edit Mode

Menu:

File ‣ Link…

Link creates a reference to data in a source file such that changes made there will be reflected in the current file the next time it is reloaded. In the File Browser, navigate to the external source blend-file and select the data-blocks you want to reuse.

Linked data-blocks are indicated with a chain icon in the Outliner. They’re also listed in the Outliner’s Blender File Display Mode, along with the path of the blend-file they originate from.

Linked data-blocks are initially not editable. This even includes the location/rotation/scale of linked objects, which are locked to the transformation they have in the source file. There are ways around this, however:

  • If you link a collection with Instance Collections enabled or some object data with Instance Object Data enabled, the collection/object data will be referenced through an object created inside the current blend-file, which can be transformed. (This new object will be created at the 3D Cursor.)

  • You can also do some level of editing/animating on linked (and thus normally locked) data-blocks using Library Overrides.

Warning

Since it is not editable, linked data cannot be protected with the Fake User option. Adding a custom property pointing to an otherwise unused linked data-block (e.g. a Text block) is a good way to keep it referenced accross saves and reloads.

Options¶

These options are available in the right-hand panel of the File Browser.

Relative Path

Reference the external blend-file using a relative path rather than an absolute one.

Select

Select the newly added objects.

Active Collection

When enabled, objects and collections will be added to the active collection of the active view layer. Otherwise, they will be added to a new “Linked Data” collection in the active view layer.

Instance Collections

When enabled, each linked collection will be added to the scene as an instance collection (that is, a single object that represents the entire collection). You can add more such instances using Add ‣ Collection Instance, or replace an instance by the collection contents using Make Instances Real.

When disabled, the collections will be added as-is so you can see their content in the Outliner and create Library Overrides.

Instance Object Data

When enabled, an object will be created for each directly linked object data. Otherwise, no object will be created and the object data will not be visible in the scene until you create one yourself (e.g. by dragging the object data from the Outliner into the 3D Viewport).

Append¶

Reference

Editor:

Topbar

Mode:

All modes except Edit Mode

Menu:

File ‣ Append…

Append copies data-blocks into your blend-file without keeping any reference to the original ones. You can make further edits to your local copy of the data, but changes in the external source file will not be reflected in the current one.

In the File Browser, navigate to the external source blend-file and select the data-blocks you want to reuse.

Note

Appending data you already have linked will add objects/collections to the scene, but will keep them linked (and uneditable).

This is done so existing relationships with linked data remain intact.

Options¶

These options are available in the right-hand panel of the File Browser.

Select

Select the newly added objects.

Active Collection

When enabled, objects and collections will be added to the active collection of the active view layer. Otherwise, they will be added to a new “Appended Data” collection in the active view layer.

Instance Collections

When enabled, each appended collection will be added to the scene as an instance collection (that is, a single object that represents the entire collection). You can add more such instances using Add ‣ Collection Instance, or replace an instance by the collection contents using Make Instances Real.

When disabled, the collections will be added as-is so you can see their content in the Outliner.

Instance Object Data

When enabled, an object will be created for each directly appended object data. Otherwise, no object will be created and the object data will not be visible in the scene until you create one yourself (e.g. by dragging the object data from the Outliner into the 3D Viewport).

Fake User

Marks the appended data-blocks as Protected.

Localize All

Also copy all indirectly linked data, instead of maintaining the links.

Reload¶

Reference

Editor:

Outliner

Menu:

Context menu ‣ Reload

When the Outliner is in the Blender File Display Mode, you can right-click a linked blend-file and choose Reload to immediately update the current blend-file with the latest version of the linked data-blocks, without having to reopen the file.

Relocate¶

Reference

Editor:

Outliner

Menu:

Context menu ‣ Relocate

When the Outliner is in the Blender File Display Mode, you can right-click a linked blend-file and choose Relocate to replace it by a different file. This can be used to either fix a broken linked library (e.g. because the file was moved or renamed), or to switch to a variation of the same data in a different file.

Broken Libraries¶

If Blender cannot find a library while loading a blend-file, it will create placeholder data-blocks to replace missing linked ones. That way, references to the missing data are not lost, and by relocating the missing library, the lost data can be automatically restored.

Make Local¶

Reference

Editor:

3D Viewport

Mode:

Object Mode

Menu:

Object ‣ Relations ‣ Make Local…

Reference

Editor:

Outliner

Menu:

Context menu ‣ ID Data ‣ Make Local

Makes the selected or all external objects local to the current blend-file. Links to the original library file will be lost, but the data-blocks will become fully editable, just like the ones directly created in the current blend-file.

Options¶

The operation available from the Outliner’s context menu has no options and only affects the selected data-blocks.

The operation available from the 3D Viewport only affects the selected objects, but it can also make local the objects’ dependencies:

Type

Whether to localize only the objects themselves, or also their data and materials.

Known Limitations¶

For the most part, linking data will work as expected. However, there are some limitations to be aware of.

Circular Dependencies¶

In general, dependencies should not go in both directions. Attempting to link or append data which links back to the current file will likely result in missing links.

Scene-Level Settings¶

Scene-level settings such as the Rigid Body World will not be copied when linking objects. As an alternative, you can link the entire scene and use it as a Background Scene.

Compression & Memory Use¶

Referencing compressed blend-files may need a lot of memory because they have to be loaded in their entirety, even if you only link/append a small part of them. Once the data-blocks are loaded, however, memory usage is the same.

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Library Overrides
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Linked Libraries
Copyright © : This page is licensed under a CC-BY-SA 4.0 Int. License
Made with Furo
Last updated on 2025-05-10
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On this page
  • Link & Append
    • Link
      • Options
    • Append
      • Options
    • Reload
    • Relocate
      • Broken Libraries
    • Make Local
      • Options
    • Known Limitations
      • Circular Dependencies
      • Scene-Level Settings
      • Compression & Memory Use