by SiLi·Modeling
Images © SiLi. Used for product review; image policy.
Slice & Separate stands out in the superhive library for a focused job: cutting one mesh into separated pieces along a chosen axis, with a direct tie-in to Unreal Engine lightmapping.
Slice & Separate for Blender slices a selected mesh based on a defined distance or number of slices and an axis. You can set the axis manually or let the add-on detect it, in which case the axis runs parallel to the longest side of the object. After hitting the "Slice & Separate" button, it cuts the object and separates out each slice as its own object. Once installed, it adds a new side panel named "Slice & Separate".
This can be especially useful when using light baking or the GPU Lightmass in Unreal Engine. Instead of one big mesh that requires a very large lightmap texture, you can work with smaller meshes and smaller lightmap texture resolutions.
Version 1.1.0 slices multiple objects at once and improves performance for objects with high triangle counts. It also adds a progress bar for visual feedback, a warning message and confirmation dialog for bigger calculations, and a "Grid Mode" that can be enabled in the add-on preferences.
Slice & Separate is best for blender users preparing meshes for light baking or GPU Lightmass in Unreal Engine, where smaller meshes allow smaller lightmap texture resolutions.
Slice & Separate is completely free to download and use.
Slice & Separate lists compatibility with Blender versions 3.6 through 4.5, and it is distributed under the GPL license. After installation it adds a side panel where you slice a selected mesh by distance or number of slices along an axis. If you are on a version outside that stated range, or you want to confirm behaviour on the exact build you use, check the developer's page for the latest details before installing so you know what to expect.
Slice & Separate is described as especially useful for light baking and the GPU Lightmass in Unreal Engine. Rather than keeping one large mesh that requires a very large lightmap texture, you can slice it into smaller meshes and work with smaller lightmap texture resolutions. You set an axis and either a slice distance or a number of slices, hit the button, and each slice becomes its own separate object.
Slice & Separate adds a new side panel named Slice & Separate after installation. From there you select a mesh, set the axis or let the add-on detect it so it runs parallel to the longest side of the object, then set a slicing distance or a number of slices. Hitting the button cuts the object and separates each slice into its own object. Default slicing method, distance and number of slices can be set in the preferences.
Slice & Separate is listed as free in this catalog, and it is distributed under the GPL license. Pricing and licensing terms can change over time, so for current details it is best to check the developer's page directly. On the functional side, the add-on works inside Blender through its own side panel, slicing selected meshes by distance or number of slices along an axis and separating each slice into a standalone object.
Slice & Separate version 1.1.0 introduced the ability to slice multiple objects at once and improved performance for objects with high triangle counts. It also added a progress bar for visual feedback, along with a warning message and confirmation dialog for bigger calculations. A Grid Mode was added as well, which can be enabled in the add-on preferences. Earlier, version 1.0.1 added a slider for the number of slices and preference defaults for slicing method, distance and count.
by Community
LoopTools is a mesh modelling toolkit for Blender that gathers several tools to aid modelling. It was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons and is now offered as an extension, provided as it is with limited support.
by Community
Extra Mesh Objects is a Blender add-on that expands the Add > Mesh menu with additional mesh object types. Previously bundled with Blender 4.1, it now ships as a standalone extension for Blender 4.2 LTS and newer.
by nickberckley
Bool Tool brings quick boolean operators to Blender for hard-surface modeling, covering brush booleans, destructive auto boolean cuts, and workspace tools that carve objects with custom shapes in both object and edit modes.
by Community
Extra Curve Objects is a community add-on for Blender that adds extra curve object types. It lives under View3D → Add → Curve → Extra Objects and was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons.
by MACHIN3
MESHmachine is a mesh modeling addon for Blender focused on hard surface work without subdivision surfaces. It fuses and unfuses surfaces, creates variable fillets and washouts, edits bevels, and details meshes with plugs.
by Community
A.N.T.Landscape is a Blender add mesh add-on for generating landscapes and displacement. Originally a bundled add-on in Blender 4.1, it's now offered as-is with limited support, accessed from the View3D sidebar's Create tab.
