by Mark Kingsnorth·Modeling
Images © Mark Kingsnorth. Used for product review; image policy.
Shape Generator earns its place in the superhive library for turning random parameters into editable 3D shapes, with modifiers left intact and an Iterator for reviewing many designs at once. Its compatibility with the Plating Generator, Bevelled Extrude, Window Generator and DECALMachine makes it easy to fold into a broader modeling workflow.
Shape Generator is a Blender add-on from Mark Kingsnorth for quickly creating a wide variety of unique 3D objects. Each shape is built by specifying a random number and then varying the length, scale and rotation of the resulting extrusions, so you can generate ideas and abstract concepts to edit or sculpt, build base meshes for spaceships and game assets, or add background and peripheral details.
You control how shapes form: mirror them in the X, Y and Z axes with a mirror modifier or leave them unmirrored, add subdivision surface and bevel modifiers, keep faces from overlapping, and bias the algorithm toward a direction for flatter shapes. Scaling and rotation options change the overall profile, and multiple objects can be created at once. Modifiers are left intact for further editing.
Version 1.7.8 adds an Integrated Panel for revisiting parameters after creation, Big/Medium/Small Design Theory controls, an Iterator that renders a range of combinations using your scene camera, and baking. It's compatible with add-ons including the Plating Generator, Bevelled Extrude, Window Generator and DECALMachine.
Shape Generator is best for generating inspiration and abstract concepts, building base meshes for spaceships, game assets and background details, and creating curated object libraries for kit-bashing.
Shape Generator is completely free to download and use.
Shape Generator is compatible with several other add-ons, including the Plating Generator, Bevelled Extrude and Window Generator from the same developer, as well as DECALMachine. Because a generated shape keeps its modifiers intact after creation, you can hand it off for further editing or refine it with these companion tools. Combining it with the Plating Generator, for example, is called out as a way to quickly create more detailed models that you can then continue to work on.
Shape Generator is primarily a Blender add-on, but a Houdini version is also available separately through Gumroad. If you work in Houdini rather than Blender, that separate release lets you use the tool in your preferred host. For the Blender edition covered here, shapes are generated inside Blender and their modifiers are left intact afterward for further editing or sculpting. Check the developer's page for details on each version.
Shape Generator leaves the modifiers on a generated shape intact, so you can keep working on the result rather than committing it. Version 1.7.8 added an Integrated Panel that lets you click an object and return to its parameters through a dedicated Shape Generator tab, where earlier versions only allowed changes at creation time. The same update introduced baking, which prepares objects for editing or sculpting. Generated shapes are also meant as base meshes and starting points you can edit or sculpt further.
Shape Generator is listed as free in this catalog. Licensing terms can change, so check the developer's page for the current details before you rely on it. The add-on is offered by Mark Kingsnorth for Blender, and a separate Houdini version is distributed through Gumroad, which may carry its own terms. For feature requests or questions, the developer can be reached via the Blender Market website or on Twitter.
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