Is it possible to bend an object like in this YouTube Tutorial without creating a reference cube for the Simple Deform modifier? The current workflow: freeze transforms, add a cube with Shift+A, center it, add the modifier, assign the cube as origin, and rotate it, feels overly long compared to Maya. Is there a faster way?
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2 Answers
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So the FASTEST way to achieve this without code or custom addons exactly as shown in the youtube video is Modeling the shape along the X axis, adding the loop cuts and using the simple deform modifier around the z axis. It gives the exact same results as the custom made addon shown as one of the answers here and without the need for an object to deform around as shown in the youtube video.
You can rotate the object and the effect will still work as long as you don't apply the rotation. There are a lot of ways to solve this problem using geometry nodes, using curves with extrude geometry, and modifying the vertices themselves with the proportional editing tool. Depending on your use case this may or may not be the best solution.
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The actions you perform in the 3D Viewport can be replicated and automated using Python by creating a custom Operator.
First ensure that Developer Extras is enabled under Edit > Preferences > Interface > Display. Then, paste the following script into Blender's Text Editor and click Run Script. Then, in the 3D Viewport, select the object you want to bend, press F3 and search for "Add Bend Modifier," and press Enter to run it. For even faster access, you can right-click the command list item in the F3 menu and choose Add to Quick Favorites, so next time you only need to press Q to add it.
import bpy
from mathutils import Vector
from math import radians
class OBJECT_OT_add_bend_modifier_with_cube(bpy.types.Operator):
"""Add a Bend modifier with a helper cube"""
bl_idname = "object.add_bend_modifier_with_cube"
bl_label = "Add Bend Modifier with Cube"
bl_options = {'REGISTER', 'UNDO'}
cube_rot_z: bpy.props.FloatProperty(name="Cube Rotation Z", default=90.0, max=360.0)
cube_loc_x: bpy.props.FloatProperty(name="Cube X", default=0.0)
cube_loc_y: bpy.props.FloatProperty(name="Cube Y", default=0.0)
cube_loc_z: bpy.props.FloatProperty(name="Cube Z", default=0.0)
bend_angle_deg: bpy.props.FloatProperty(name="Bend Angle", default=90.0, max=360.0, min=-360.0)
def invoke(self, context, event):
obj = context.active_object
if obj:
loc = obj.location
self.cube_loc_x = loc.x
self.cube_loc_y = loc.y
self.cube_loc_z = loc.z
return self.execute(context)
def execute(self, context):
obj = context.active_object
if obj is None:
self.report({'ERROR'}, "No active object selected")
return {'CANCELLED'}
mod = obj.modifiers.get("BendSimpleDeform")
if not mod:
mod = obj.modifiers.new("BendSimpleDeform", 'SIMPLE_DEFORM')
mod.deform_method = 'BEND'
mod.deform_axis = 'Z'
mod.angle = radians(self.bend_angle_deg)
cube_name = f"{obj.name}_bend_helper"
cube = bpy.data.objects.get(cube_name)
if not cube:
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=obj.location)
cube = context.active_object
cube.name = cube_name
cube.display_type = 'WIRE'
cube.select_set(False)
cube.location = Vector((self.cube_loc_x, self.cube_loc_y, self.cube_loc_z))
cube.rotation_euler[2] = radians(self.cube_rot_z)
mod.origin = cube
obj.select_set(True)
context.view_layer.objects.active = obj
return {'FINISHED'}
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(OBJECT_OT_add_bend_modifier_with_cube)
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(OBJECT_OT_add_bend_modifier_with_cube)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
# bpy.ops.object.add_bend_modifier_with_cube('INVOKE_DEFAULT')
You can also register this script to run at startup, so the operator is automatically available each time Blender launches.