Hynds|Studio

It has been a Blender trademark that the user interface incorporated a non-overlapping window layout.  Pre-2.5, it was impossible to move views so that they overlapped each other.  This is no longer the case.  Simply Shift+Click on the upper right of the view, and drag downwards and to the left.  This will copy the view into an overlapping window, which can then be moved/scaled where ever you prefer.

Pros: You can have multiple overlapping windows if needed.  This can be handy for running scripts in separate windows, or moving specific windows onto separate monitors.

Cons: Currently, there’s no way to keep a window on top while editing underneath.  When you switch windows, the underlying window is forced to the top as the active window.  You could use a hotkey to switch between the windows of an application (i.e. Mac OS X users can use Exposé to switch between the windows using F10, could be different depending on preferences).

Edit: I’m told there are some work-arounds for the overlapping windows to stay on top.  They involve using the operating system’s window manager to do it.  I don’t know of any way to do this in OS X, but I hear that linux users can do it.  If someone knows, feel free to leave a comment about it.

Blender 2.5 Search Menu

If you’re anything like me, you probably have hundreds of materials and objects in your scene that easily get lost.  Or you can’t really find that tool that you’re looking for.  Fear no more!  Today’s Blender 2.5 Featured Feature is the new “Search” tool.

There are several ways to access Search.  The more noticeable way is the new addition of the Search field in the User Preferences window header.  Search works by simply typing what you’re looking for, and the live search finds exactly what you need as you type.  It also displays the hot-key command for each tool.  This is the perfect way to find the second way to access Search.  Simply type “Search” into the Search field and you’ll find that it can be invoked by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F.  This will bring up a menu at your cursor’s location.

Search is also being worked into other parts of Blender too.  Have hundreds of materials to hunt through in your project?  Search is now integrated into the Material settings, so you can easily find the one you need.

The Search feature is one of the many new features shipping with Blender 2.5.  Each day I will be featuring another Blender 2.5 Featured Feature, here at www.bchynds.com.  Want to check out Blender 2.5 yourself?  Download a build from www.graphicall.org.  If you don’t know what Blender is, then checkout www.blender.org for more information.