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BLBlender

Blender Scenes Manager

by Olivier Crespo Barrio·Workflow

Images © Olivier Crespo Barrio. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Blender Scenes Manager stands out in the Superhive library for consolidating Scene, View Layer and Collection settings into a single interface, avoiding the data reload that comes with switching context in native Blender.

What is Blender Scenes Manager?

Blender Scenes Manager replaces the native interface for handling Scenes, View Layers and Collections in Blender. In standard Blender, changing a setting in another Scene or View Layer means opening it first, which prompts Blender to remove and load new data on each change. Blender Scenes Manager removes that requirement, letting you edit settings from a unified interface without changing the active Scene or View Layer.

The add-on exposes every setting, property and panel inside its own interface. You can adjust View Layer passes from a different View Layer, or even from a different Scene, and control Collection options such as Exclude, Hide In Viewport/Render, Holdout and Only Indirect from another View Layer or Scene. Switching between Scenes and View Layers directly, without changing the active one, is described as time and resource saving.

Beyond management, Blender Scenes Manager can build an automatic composition node group from a MultiLayer EXR file: select the file, set the layer order, and it mixes all layers and passes accordingly with a single button. It supports Blender 4 and later and works with Blender-Internal, Cycles and Eevee.

Who is Blender Scenes Manager best for?

Blender Scenes Manager is best for blender artists working with multiple Scenes, View Layers and Collections in larger projects.

How much does Blender Scenes Manager cost?

Blender Scenes Manager is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Switch between Scenes and their options directly, without changing the active Scene
  • Switch between View Layers and their options directly, without changing the active View Layer
  • Change View Layer order and create a new View Layer for selected objects or the active collection in one click, including recursive collections
  • Change View Layer passes from another View Layer or another Scene
  • Change Exclude, Hide In Viewport/Render, Holdout and Only Indirect of any collection from another View Layer or Scene
  • Automatic composition node group from a MultiLayer EXR file, mixing layers and passes in a set order with one button

Tags

#Blender#Scenes#View Layers#Collections#Compositing#EXR#Workflow#Add-on

Frequently asked questions

What Blender versions does Blender Scenes Manager support?

Blender Scenes Manager supports Blender 4 and later, with the listing citing Blender versions 4.3 through 5.1. It is Blender Extension compatible and distributed as an add-on. The developer notes the tool works with the Blender-Internal, Cycles and Eevee render engines. If you run a version at the edge of that range, check the developer's page and documentation to confirm compatibility before installing on a production project.

How does Blender Scenes Manager avoid reloading data when I change Scenes?

Blender Scenes Manager lets you switch between Scenes and View Layers and edit their options directly, without actually changing the active Scene or View Layer. In native Blender, changing something in another Scene or View Layer requires opening it first, which leads Blender to remove and load new data on each change. By keeping the active context unchanged, Blender Scenes Manager is described as saving both time and system resources, an effect that matters most on big projects.

Can Blender Scenes Manager build a composition node group from EXR files?

Blender Scenes Manager includes an automatic composition feature for MultiLayer EXR files. You select a MultiLayer EXR file, set the correct order for the layers, and the add-on mixes all layers and passes in the given order. It creates the composition node group with a single button press, which the developer notes saves time compared with building the group manually. This works alongside the add-on's Scene and View Layer management interface.

Is Blender Scenes Manager free, and what license does it use?

Blender Scenes Manager is listed as free in this catalog and is released under the GPL license. For current licensing terms and any purchase details, refer to the developer's page. The add-on is also noted as a Dev Fund contributor. Because pricing and availability can change over time, confirm the latest information on the developer's listing before downloading or relying on it for a project.

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