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BLBlender

Layout Manager

by Pixel Egg Studio·Workflow

Images © Pixel Egg Studio. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Layout Manager earns its place in the superhive library for a focused job: capturing workspace layouts as presets and restoring them on demand, with JSON import and export and support across Blender 2.81 to 4.3.

What is Layout Manager?

Layout Manager is a Blender add-on from Pixel Egg Studio for saving the layouts of your workspaces and loading them back at any time. It's aimed at workflows where you switch between different layouts.

The add-on saves layouts as presets, with operators to move presets up and down in the list. It can save and load Dopesheet attributes for the Dopesheet Editor, export presets to a JSON file and import them back, and save and load add-ons in the workspace tab. Its N panel is available in the 3D view, image editor, and node editor.

Layout Manager runs across a wide range of Blender releases, from 2.81 through 4.3, and is distributed under the GPL license. One thing to keep in mind: save your blend file after saving layouts as presets, otherwise the presets will be lost. A demo video is available.

Who is Layout Manager best for?

Layout Manager is best for blender users who switch between different workspace layouts and want to save and reload them as presets.

How much does Layout Manager cost?

Layout Manager is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Save workspace layouts as presets and load them back at any time
  • Move presets up and down with dedicated operators
  • Save and load Dopesheet attributes for the Dopesheet Editor
  • Export presets to a JSON file and import them back
  • Save and load add-ons in the workspace tab
  • N panel available in the 3D view, image editor, and node editor

Tags

#Blender#layout#workspace#presets#management#interface#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does Layout Manager support?

Layout Manager lists compatibility with a broad span of Blender releases, from 2.81 through 3.0, 3.3, and 3.6, up to 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3. That range covers both older projects on legacy builds and recent versions. Version 1.1.0 fixed a crash that occurred in Blender 3.0.0, and version 1.0.1 addressed an attributes error in Blender 2.81. If you're running a version outside the listed range, check the developer's page to confirm current support before installing.

How do I stop Layout Manager presets from being lost?

Layout Manager stores your workspace layouts as presets, and there's one important step to keep them: save your blend file after saving layouts as presets. If you skip that save, the presets will be lost. Make it a habit whenever you create or update presets to save the file afterward. Do that, and your saved layouts will be there the next time you open the project. This tip comes directly from the developer's own guidance.

Can Layout Manager export and import presets as files?

Layout Manager can export presets to a JSON file and import presets back from a JSON file, a capability added in version 1.0.7. That makes it possible to move preset data outside a single blend file. Alongside JSON import and export, the add-on also lets you reorder presets with move up and down operators and save or load Dopesheet attributes for the Dopesheet Editor. For more on how these functions work, the developer's page and demo video are good starting points.

Is Layout Manager free?

Layout Manager is listed as free in this catalog, and it's distributed under the GPL license. Licensing can change over time, so if you plan to rely on it or redistribute it, check the developer's page for current terms before committing. Support is available through the developer's Discord, and they welcome feedback and feature requests sent directly. The add-on has a small number of user ratings on superhive, so its review history there is limited compared with more heavily reviewed tools.

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