by KVD·Modeling
Images © KVD. Used for product review; image policy.
Stands out in the superhive library for its point-and-snap approach to aligning meshes, backed by extras like local-axis display and origin matching.
3-Points Aligner is a KVD add-on for Blender that positions mesh objects by picking three points. You active-select your source mesh object, press the 'pick and align' button or a shortcut set in the preferences, then hover over the target object where each point snaps to the nearest corner. Left-click to confirm, repeat twice more, and the source object aligns.
Options control the result. 'Matched' scales the source to the target, while leaving it unchecked only aligns. 'Auto opposite' handles cylindrical objects by adding the opposite point on a diameter automatically. 'Apply Transforms' sets the source object's scale to 1 once alignment finishes, and you can change the color of the connecting lines.
An overlay shows whether the tool is active along with the count of picked points on the source and target, and it moves via x and y sliders. 'Auto show local axis' displays local axes when an object is selected. Extras include a 'Match Local' button that rotates the source to the active object's local axis, and a 'Change origin to active' button that rotates the source origin to match the target's rotation.
3-Points Aligner is best for blender users aligning mesh objects to one another, including cylindrical parts where the origin is not centered.
3-Points Aligner is completely free to download and use.
3-Points Aligner is listed for Blender versions 3.5 through 5.0. For Blender 4.0 to 4.4 you use the '3_points_aligner_V1' build, while Blender 4.5 and Blender 5.0 use the '3_points_aligner_V1_1' build. The add-on is marked Blender Extension Compatible and is distributed under the GPL license. If you are unsure which build matches your Blender version, check the developer's page before installing so you download the correct file for your setup.
3-Points Aligner starts by active-selecting your source mesh object; you do not need to select a target object at the same time. Press the 'pick and align' button, or use the shortcut key you set in the add-on preferences, to begin picking your first source point. Hover over the object you want to align to, where the target point snaps to the nearest corner, then left-click to confirm. Repeat this two more times and the source object aligns to the target.
3-Points Aligner includes an 'Auto opposite' option built for aligning cylindrical objects. You select a point on your source object's diameter, and the opposite point is added automatically; you then do the same on the target object. This option is needed when you want the source object to match the target object's diameter, and it is especially useful for objects with cylindrical parts where the origin is not centered. Without it, you can align using the standard three-point method instead.
3-Points Aligner is listed as free in this catalog, and the add-on is distributed under the GPL license. For current licensing terms and any pricing details, check the developer's page directly. The add-on is marked Blender Extension Compatible, so it installs as a Blender add-on for the supported versions between 3.5 and 5.0. A demo video is also available, and documentation is included with the add-on.
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