Just Hide

by alexdepario in Addons


Just Hide Add-on for Blender - Documentation

Welcome to the documentation for the Just Hide Add-on, a simple yet effective tool that enhances your Blender experience by allowing you to toggle the visibility of selected objects quickly. Whether you're organizing complex scenes, isolating elements for editing, or improving your workflow, Just Hide makes managing object visibility intuitive and efficient.


Features

1. Toggle Visibility with a Single Key

  • Use the H key to hide selected objects or unhide previously hidden objects.
  • Works seamlessly in both the 3D Viewport and the Outliner.

2. Smart Visibility Management

  • Automatically detects the visibility state of objects and toggles accordingly.
  • Hidden objects are unhidden and reselected for easy identification.

3. Familiar Workflow Integration

  • Uses Blender's native shortcut key (H), making it intuitive for Blender users.

Installation

  1. Download the Add-on: Save the .zip file to your computer.
  2. Install in Blender:
    • Open Blender and navigate to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
    • Click Install, locate the .zip file, and click Install Add-on.
  3. Enable the Add-on:
    • Check the box next to Just Hide to activate it.
  4. The add-on is now ready to use. You can find it integrated directly into Blender's Object Mode with the H key shortcut.

How to Use

Hiding Objects

  1. Select the objects you want to hide in either the 3D Viewport or Outliner.
  2. Press H to instantly hide the selected objects.
  3. The objects will remain hidden until toggled back.

Unhiding Objects

  1. Select any hidden objects in the Outliner, or press H again to unhide all previously hidden objects.
  2. The objects will reappear in the 3D Viewport and will be automatically reselected.

Shortcut Details

  • H Key: Toggle visibility of selected objects.
  • The shortcut works consistently across the 3D Viewport and Outliner.

Tips for Best Results

  1. Organize Your Scene:

    • Use collections in the Outliner to manage groups of objects effectively.
    • Combine the add-on with Blender’s built-in visibility controls for even better scene management.
  2. Focus on Specific Objects:

    • Hide distracting elements to concentrate on the objects you need to work on.
    • Quickly unhide related objects when switching tasks.
  3. Large Scenes:

    • Use the Outliner to select hidden objects efficiently in dense scenes before unhiding them.

Troubleshooting

  1. No Objects Selected Warning:

    • Ensure you have selected objects in either the 3D Viewport or Outliner before toggling visibility.
    • Hidden objects can still be selected via the Outliner if they are not visible in the 3D Viewport.
  2. Shortcut Conflicts:

    • If another add-on or custom shortcut uses the H key, modify the shortcut in Blender's keymap settings under Preferences > Keymap.

FAQs

1. Does this add-on affect Blender's default hiding functionality?

No, it builds on Blender’s default behavior and enhances it by adding a smarter toggle functionality for hiding and unhiding selected objects.

2. Can I customize the shortcut?

Yes, the shortcut can be customized in Blender's keymap settings. Search for Toggle Object Visibility to assign a different key.

3. Does the add-on work with hidden collections?

The add-on is designed for individual objects. Hidden collections must be toggled manually in the Outliner.