Installation

1. Edit → Preferences → Get Extensions (or Install from Disk).
2. Install node_angled_wires.zip.
3. Enable Angled Node Wires.
4. Open a node editor. Overlays popover → enable Angled Wires.

Fully quit and reopen after the first install if wires do not appear. Disable → Enable also reloads a new version.

Quick start

1. Open Shader, Geometry, Compositor, or Texture nodes.
2. Enable Angled Wires in the editor Overlays.
3. Existing links redraw as orthogonal paths. New links do the same.
4. Uncheck the overlay to restore native noodles instantly.

Routing

• Most links use a horizontal–vertical–horizontal path with a small fillet set by Theme → Node Editor → Noodle Curving.
• If the target is left of the source, the add-on builds a U-turn above or below both nodes instead of folding the stroke back through the body.
• Reroute diamonds stay on the grid; collapsed nodes keep sockets on the header.
• Geometry Nodes field sockets keep the native dashed pattern. Muted or invalid links use the theme error color.

Frames and zones

Wires are drawn in full, then node bodies cover them — the same order as the native editor. On Frame fills and Repeat / Simulation / For Each / Closure zones, the overlay redraws the stroke on the fill and punches the node rectangles so wires never sit on top of nodes.

Gestures

While Angled Wires is on, these keymap items target the visible orthogonal path:

• Add Reroute — default Shift+Right-drag. Drops a reroute on every hit stroke.
• Cut Links — default Ctrl+Right-drag.
• Mute Links — default Ctrl+Alt+Right-drag. Mute state propagates through reroute chains.

Insert-on-link still works: drag a node onto a wire and the orthogonal segment under the node is the one that highlights.

Performance notes

• Idle editors reuse GPU batches. Dragging a node only rebuilds links that touch the moving selection (including children of a moved Frame).
• Huge graphs will still be heavier than native Bézier drawing. If you hit a hitch, hide unused node editor areas or toggle the overlay off while you rearrange a very large tree.

FAQ

Wires do not show / native curves are still there. Confirm the overlay checkbox is on, then Disable → Enable the add-on. After a version update, fully quit once.

A wire misses a socket after opening an old file. The first frames estimate socket Y until the editor finishes layout. Move the view or wait a moment; the add-on harvests real socket positions and snaps.

Cut / reroute hits the wrong place. Leave the overlay on. The remapped operators test the orthogonal stroke. If you need the stock operators, turn the overlay off.

Does this change my .blend? No. Links, node locations, and socket data are not rewritten. Saving while the overlay is on stores the same tree as before.

Linux? Not a listed platform for this extension. Windows and macOS only.

Support

Include Blender version, OS, and a screenshot of the node editor when you write. GPL-3.0-or-later; source is the installed add-on.