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Cross Select

by RARA·Workflow

Images © RARA. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Cross Select earns its place in the blender_extensions library by reworking a selection behaviour familiar from Rhino and CAD into Blender, with full and partial match modes tied to the direction of the drag.

What is Cross Select?

Cross Select adapts Blender's native box selection to behave like the selection tools in Rhino, CAD, and 3ds Max. The direction of your drag changes the result: dragging from left to right activates full match mode, selecting only objects whose vertices sit completely within the selection range, while dragging from right to left activates partial match mode, selecting any object with at least one vertex inside the range.

The add-on covers cross-selection of vertices, edges, and faces in Edit Mode, and meshes and other objects in Object Mode. It works with both Box Selection and Lasso Selection drawing modes, and includes a range of shortcut keys that can be reviewed on the plugin's Preference Settings page. Built on top of Blender's native selection function, it adds only a small amount of performance overhead.

Version 1.0.9 improved panel sorting, added Blender 5.2 compatibility, and introduced a Perspective Selection parameter that enables see-through selection without X-ray.

Who is Cross Select best for?

Cross Select is best for blender users who want Rhino-, CAD-, or 3ds Max-style directional box selection in the viewport.

How much does Cross Select cost?

Cross Select is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Directional box selection: left-to-right for full match, right-to-left for partial match
  • Cross-selection of vertices, edges, and faces in Edit Mode
  • Cross-selection of meshes and other objects in Object Mode
  • Works with both Box Selection and Lasso Selection drawing modes
  • Configurable shortcut keys detailed on the Preference Settings page
  • Perspective Selection parameter for see-through selection without X-ray
  • Built on Blender's native selection with only a small added performance overhead

Tags

#Blender#selection tool#box select#lasso select#Rhino#CAD#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Does Cross Select work with Blender 4.2 and 5.2?

Cross Select is compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer. Its 1.0.9 release specifically added Blender 5.2 compatibility, alongside improved panel sorting for the add-on. If you are on a version between 4.2 and 5.2, the plugin is built to run across that range as well. For the current list of supported versions and any later updates, check the developer's GitHub page linked with this entry.

How do full match and partial match selection work in Cross Select?

Cross Select ties the selection result to the direction you drag. Dragging from left to right activates full match mode, where only objects whose vertices are completely within the square range are selected. Dragging from right to left activates partial match mode, where an object is selected as long as any of its vertices falls within the range. This mirrors the box selection logic found in Rhino, CAD, and 3ds Max.

Does Cross Select support Lasso selection as well as Box selection?

Cross Select adapts to two selection drawing modes: Box Selection and Lasso Selection, so you can choose whichever suits the task. It applies cross-selection to vertices, edges, and faces in Edit Mode, and to meshes and other objects in Object Mode. The add-on also includes a range of shortcut keys to refine the operation experience, with the details listed on the plugin's Preference Settings page.

Is Cross Select free, and what license does it use?

Cross Select is listed as free here, and it is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. The extension does not require special permissions to run. It can be added by dragging the file into Blender or installing it from disk. For the most current licensing terms, source code, and any changes to distribution, refer to the developer's GitHub page, where the project is published under that same GPL license.

What did the 1.0.9 update add to Cross Select?

Cross Select version 1.0.9 introduced three changes: improved panel sorting for the add-on, added Blender 5.2 compatibility, and a new Perspective Selection parameter that enables see-through selection without X-ray. The add-on was published in December 2025. This is the version currently listed for the plugin. For a full version history and any releases beyond 1.0.9, the developer's GitHub page is the place to check.

Alternatives to Cross Select

Also in Workflow for Blender.

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