Skip to content
BLBlender

Surface Diagnostics

by JLBöhm·Modeling

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

Why we like it

Surface Diagnostics earns its place in the superhive library as a GPL tool: version 1.4 and later is free and open source on Extensions.blender.org, while paid licences add extra support and access to older versions.

What is Surface Diagnostics?

Surface Diagnostics is a technical surfacing companion for Blender, built to help achieve quality on surfaces with complex curvature across automotive, product design and game asset work. It brings a curvature graph and analytic shaders within a single click.

The addon includes a range of diagnostic tools: Zebra, Isoangle, Sections, Slice, Proximity, Draft, Radius and Curvature, along with a Curvature Graph and an Angle Graph. Every tool is a standard Blender nodetree, so you can also use them on their own in vanilla Blender, and they play well with the asset browser.

Diagnostic shaders are added to objects through geometry node modifiers, leaving your existing material set-ups untouched, while curvature graphs arrive as new mesh objects with a custom geometry nodes modifier. A custom scripted UI handles the single-click workflow, shipped as a complete addon with assets included. Documentation is available.

Who is Surface Diagnostics best for?

Surface Diagnostics is best for technical surfacing on complex curvature, including automotive, product design and game asset modeling in Blender.

How much does Surface Diagnostics cost?

Surface Diagnostics is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Diagnostic tools including Zebra, Isoangle, Sections, Slice, Proximity, Draft, Radius and Curvature
  • Curvature Graph and Angle Graph, with curvature graphs added as new mesh objects using a custom geometry nodes modifier
  • All tools built as standard Blender nodetrees, usable on their own in vanilla Blender
  • Diagnostic shaders applied via geometry node modifiers, leaving existing material set-ups untouched
  • Custom scripted UI for a single-click workflow, shipped as a complete addon with assets included
  • Works with the Blender asset browser
  • Documentation available

Tags

#surfacing#curvature#zebra#isoangle#automotive#product design#diagnostic#technical

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does Surface Diagnostics support?

Surface Diagnostics lists support for Blender 3.6 through 5.1. Version 1.4 and later is available free and open source on Extensions.blender.org, while paid licences also include access to older versions that work in Blender 3.6 to 4.2. If you are on an older release or want those earlier builds, the paid licence route covers that range. The developer's page has the current details on which versions each option unlocks.

Does Surface Diagnostics change my existing material setups?

Surface Diagnostics adds its diagnostic shaders to objects through geometry node modifiers, so your existing material set-ups remain untouched. The curvature graphs are created as separate new mesh objects, each carrying a custom geometry nodes modifier, rather than modifying your existing meshes. Because every tool is built as a standard Blender nodetree applied through a modifier, the diagnostics stay separate from your original materials and geometry, and you can even use the underlying nodetrees on their own in vanilla Blender.

Can I use Surface Diagnostics tools without the addon interface?

Surface Diagnostics is built around standard Blender nodetrees, which means every tool can be used on its own in vanilla Blender, independent of the addon's UI. The tools also play well with the asset browser. For faster work, a custom scripted UI provides a single-click workflow and ships as a complete addon with the assets included, so you can choose between the guided interface and working directly with the underlying nodetrees.

Is Surface Diagnostics free?

Surface Diagnostics is listed as free here. Version 1.4 and later was uploaded and approved on Extensions.blender.org, making it free and open source under the GPL licence. Paid licences on the developer's marketplace add extra support and access to older versions that run in Blender 3.6 to 4.2. For the current licensing options and what each tier includes, check the developer's page.

Alternatives to Surface Diagnostics

Also in Modeling for Blender.

Similar plugins