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Rectangle Tools

by shinmera·Modeling

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

Why we like it

Rectangle Tools takes a narrow, single-purpose approach: drawing rectangles on mesh edges, with conveniences like grid snapping, a Ctrl-driven midpoint extrusion mode, and the new edge auto-selected after each extrusion for quick adjustment. It's a small extension at 7.2 KB that requires no special permissions.

What is Rectangle Tools?

Rectangle Tools is a Blender add-on from shinmera for constructing rectangular geometry. The rectangle drawing tool works in both Object and Edit modes: select a mesh object, choose the tool from the toolbar, and it highlights the edge it will extrude a rectangle from along with the first edge point of the new rectangle.

By default the tool grid snaps with a precision of 0.1, which you can change in the tool options in the upper left of the 3D view. To create a rectangle, hold the left mouse button and drag out the size you want, then release to extrude it aligned with the source edge; right-click cancels. You can also start rectangles outside the selected edge to build larger shapes adjacent to smaller ones, or hold Ctrl to switch into a midpoint extrusion mode that moves both sides outward as you drag.

Clicking without dragging extrudes the entire highlighted edge to the current mouse position. After any extrusion, the new edge is automatically selected, so you can adjust it with Blender's standard shortcuts like r, s and g. The add-on works with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer and requires no special permissions.

Who is Rectangle Tools best for?

Rectangle Tools is best for constructing or prototyping video game level and architectural blueprint geometry from rectangular shapes.

How much does Rectangle Tools cost?

Rectangle Tools is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Draws rectangular geometry in both Object and Edit modes
  • Highlights the edge it will extrude from, along with the first edge point of the new rectangle
  • Grid snapping with a default precision of 0.1, adjustable in the tool options
  • Rectangles always align with the source edge; drag to set size, release to extrude, right-click to cancel
  • Ctrl toggles a midpoint extrusion mode that moves both sides of the rectangle outward as you drag
  • Clicking without dragging extrudes the entire highlighted edge to the mouse position
  • The newly created edge is auto-selected after extrusion for use with standard shortcuts (r, s, g)

Tags

#Blender#Modeling#rectangle#mesh editing#extrude#geometry#level design

Frequently asked questions

Does Rectangle Tools work with Blender 4.2?

Rectangle Tools is compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, so any Blender release from that version onward should support it. The extension requires no special permissions to run. Once installed, select a mesh object and choose the rectangle tool from the toolbar; it works in both Object and Edit modes. For the version history and any newer releases, check the developer's page at shirakumo.org, which also handles downloads and issue reporting.

How do I install Rectangle Tools in Blender?

Rectangle Tools installs in two ways: drag and drop the extension directly into Blender, or download the file and use Install from Disk. It requires no special permissions. After installation, select a mesh object and pick the rectangle tool from the toolbar. The tool then highlights the edge it will extrude a rectangle from, along with the first edge point of the new rectangle, and it works in both Object and Edit modes.

How does grid snapping work in Rectangle Tools?

Rectangle Tools grid snaps with a default precision of 0.1 as you draw. You can change this precision in the tool options located in the upper left corner of the 3D view. To create a rectangle, hold the left mouse button and drag out the size you want, then release to extrude it aligned with the source edge. Holding Ctrl switches the tool into a midpoint extrusion mode, moving both sides of the new rectangle outward as you drag.

What changed in version 1.0.2 of Rectangle Tools?

Rectangle Tools version 1.0.2 fixed issues with objects that have a transform applied and addressed requested changes. This version is compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, and the add-on requires no special permissions. For the full version history and any newer releases, you can visit the developer's page at shirakumo.org, which also hosts the download and lets you report issues with the extension.

Is Rectangle Tools free to use?

Rectangle Tools is listed as free in this catalog. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later together with the Zlib License, and it requires no special permissions to install. For the most current licensing terms and to grab the latest download, visit the developer's page at shirakumo.org. Installation is handled by dragging the extension into Blender or by installing it from disk.

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