Bend Flow X - User Guide

Bend Flow X - User Guide

Installation

Follow these steps to install the Bend Flow X addon in Blender:

1. Open Blender and go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons
2. Click the "Install..." button in the top right corner of the window
3. Locate and select the Bend Flow X addon file (.zip format)
4. Click "Install Add-on" to install
5. Enable the addon by checking the checkbox next to its name

Note for Blender 4.2+: You can also drag and drop the .zip file directly into Blender and confirm the installation.

Key Features

• Interactive Bending Tool: Use intuitive on-screen controllers to bend meshes in real-time
• Dual Controller System:
  • Bottom controller for pivot position and rotation (drag to rotate, Alt+drag to move pivot)
  • Top controller for bend angle and radius (drag for angle, Alt+drag for radius)
• Smart Bending Modes: Toggle between unidirectional and bidirectional bending with Shift+click
• Non-Destructive Workflow: Preserves original geometry, allows reverting or resuming edits anytime
• Session Management: Tracks all bend operations with history panel for easy session restoration
• Visual Feedback: Real-time preview with adaptive UI text and detailed tooltips
• Undo/Redo Support: Full undo history (Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y) with snapping functionality (Ctrl+drag)

Quick Start

1. Select any mesh object in your scene
2. Press J (default hotkey) or find "Interactive Bend Tool" in the menu
3. Use the on-screen controllers to bend your mesh interactively
4. Access the Bend Manager panel in the sidebar (N-panel) to manage bend sessions

Preferences

[Add your preferences screenshot here]

Customize the addon behavior through Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Bend Flow X:

• Custom N-Panel Name: Enable to set a custom category name in the sidebar
• Hotkey Configuration: Change the default activation key (J) to your preferred shortcut

Note: The Bend Flow X addon provides professional-grade bending capabilities with an intuitive interface, making complex mesh deformations accessible to artists of all skill levels.