by Blender Guppy·Modeling
Images © Blender Guppy. Used for product review; image policy.
Panel Cutter earns its place in the superhive library as a focused, lightweight add-on that converts marked sharp edges into panel cut detail with a deliberately simple redo panel.
Panel Cutter is one of a series of small, independent Blender add-ons built to stay efficient and lightweight. Its job is focused: it generates panel cut details from edges you have marked sharp, making it possible to add detail to even the simplest geometry and work toward scifi models. The add-on runs in both object and edit mode.
By default the resulting panel cut geometry is a separate object, though you can choose to merge it to the original mesh or keep it non-destructive. Panel heights can be randomized, and a vertex group marks the panel geometry for easy selection. The operator button sits in the W specials menu in both modes, and the redo panel keeps only the functions needed to build different effects and workflows.
The panel details can be baked as normal details for specific areas of a model or across the entire model, so a simple object can be built up into a more complicated one. Panel Cutter is distributed under a GPL license and listed in the superhive library.
Panel Cutter is best for blender artists adding panel cut details to models, from simple shapes to more complicated scifi builds.
Panel Cutter is completely free to download and use.
Panel Cutter lists compatibility with Blender versions 3.6 through 5.0, so 5.0 falls within that range. It is also marked as Blender Extension compatible and published as an add-on type extension. If you are on a version inside that range, it should install and run. For the most current compatibility details and any version-specific notes, check the developer's page and the online documentation from Blender Guppy.
Panel Cutter's operator button can be found in the W specials menu in both object and edit mode. The redo panel, or operator menu, is kept simple and includes only the functions needed to create different effects and workflows. Because the add-on runs in both modes, you can reach the same tool whether you are working on objects or editing a mesh directly. Setup guidance is covered in the online documentation on the developer's page.
Panel Cutter creates the resulting panel cut geometry as a separate object by default, which keeps the process non-destructive. If you prefer, you can merge that geometry to the original object instead. This gives you more than one way to work: separate for flexibility, or merged into the source mesh when you want a single object. The panel details can also be baked as normal details for specific areas of a model or across the entire model.
Panel Cutter's listing notes Cycles and Eevee as the render engines used. The add-on itself generates panel cut geometry from edges marked sharp, and those panel details can be baked as normal details for particular areas of a model or across its entirety. If you plan to bake, that workflow applies whether you detail a small region or the whole model. For rendering and baking specifics, the online documentation from Blender Guppy is the best reference.
Panel Cutter is listed as free here in our catalog. Pricing and availability can change over time, so for the current terms it is best to check the developer's page from Blender Guppy. The add-on is distributed under a GPL license. A demo video is available, and online documentation covers how the tool is used, both of which can help you decide before installing.
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