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BLBlender

Vmdesk

by Y.T-LAW·Workflow

Images © Y.T-LAW. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Vmdesk earns a spot in the blender_extensions library for bringing modifier, geometry node, and mesh editing into a single interactive viewport environment. Keep in mind it targets Blender 5.1 and is unsupported on 5.2 and later, so it suits users on that specific release.

What is Vmdesk?

Vmdesk is a Blender add-on from Y.T-LAW that runs an interactive editor environment directly in the 3D Viewport. It's built for interactive, multi-purpose processing and covers several areas of Blender's editing workflow, including the modifier editor, geometry nodes, and the mesh editor.

Inside the modifier editor, Vmdesk lets you move single or multiple modifiers. The environment is customisable: you can adjust UI color and size, set up keymaps, and use built-in calculator functions. Text input is supported through pasting, though IME input isn't available in the current version.

A few limitations are worth noting. The subsystem closes automatically when you switch workspaces, load a new blend file, or move to local or quad view, and changing length units or unit scale requires restarting the editor. Vmdesk is compatible with Blender 5.1 and released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.

Who is Vmdesk best for?

Vmdesk is best for blender users on version 5.1 who want to move modifiers, work with geometry nodes, and edit meshes through an interactive, customisable environment in the 3D Viewport.

How much does Vmdesk cost?

Vmdesk is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Interactive editor environment inside the 3D Viewport
  • Move single or multiple modifiers in the modifier editor
  • Works across the modifier editor, geometry nodes, and mesh editor
  • Customisable UI color and size
  • Configurable keymaps
  • Built-in calculator functions
  • Text input with paste support (IME not supported)

Tags

#Blender#modifiers#geometry nodes#mesh editing#UI customization#3D viewport#add-on

Frequently asked questions

Does Vmdesk work with Blender 5.2 or newer?

Vmdesk lists compatibility with Blender 5.1 and is marked unsupported on 5.2 and above. If you're running a newer Blender release, the add-on may not function as intended, so check the version you have before installing. The extension page shows version 5.1.1, published in August 2024, as the available build. For the latest compatibility details, refer to the developer's page and version history on GitHub.

Is Vmdesk free to download?

Vmdesk is listed as free here in the catalog and is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. That license covers how you can use, modify, and redistribute the add-on. For current licensing terms and any conditions attached to future versions, check the developer's page on GitHub. As with any open-source project, reviewing the license before use is worthwhile if you plan to modify or share the code.

How do I install Vmdesk in Blender?

Vmdesk can be added by dragging and dropping the extension into Blender, or by downloading the package and using Install from Disk. Both routes are standard for Blender extensions. The download is a zip archive of roughly 9.7 MB. The add-on also requests file import/export permissions to a user-supplied path and clipboard access for copy and paste. Full setup steps, including installing updates, are covered in the user guide on the developer's page.

Why does Vmdesk close when I change workspaces?

Vmdesk automatically closes its subsystem when the workspace changes, when you load a new blend file, or when you switch to local or quad view. This is a noted behaviour of the current version rather than an error. A few other limitations apply too: changing length units or unit scale requires restarting the editor, and switching the Blender theme or UI font means manually pressing Reload Fonts. The user guide lists these limitations in more detail.

Does Vmdesk support IME text input?

Vmdesk does not support IME input in its current version, though text can still be pasted into fields. If you rely on IME for entering characters, this is worth knowing before you start. The developer also notes that previews of some color properties can appear inaccurate, tied to an internal Blender bug in the GPU module that causes certain colors to display incorrectly until it's fixed. These points are documented under the add-on's known limitations.

Alternatives to Vmdesk

Also in Workflow for Blender.

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