UV SandBox
Introducing UV Sandbox
UV Sandbox is a Blender add-on that brings a playful, physics-driven twist to UV editing. It transforms the UV Editor into an interactive playground where you can move, shuffle, and simulate UV islands with ease. Perfect for experimenting with layouts or adding a bit of fun to your workflow, UV SandBox makes UV manipulation intuitive and engaging.
What It Does
UV Sandbox lets you manipulate UV islands like objects in a 2D physics sandbox. Drop them to watch them fall, collide, and bounce, or drag them into place for precise control. With a sleek interface, you can toggle simulations, adjust physics settings, and randomize layouts, all while keeping your UVs organized and editable.
Key Features
Physics-Powered UVs: Simulate gravity and collisions for UV islands, creating dynamic, organic layouts.
Interactive Controls: Drag islands to reposition, select multiple with a simple click, and see clear highlights for hovered or selected islands.
Smart Interface: Toggle a side panel with buttons to play/pause simulations, shuffle islands, and fine-tune physics settings like gravity.
Visual Feedback: Bold outlines highlight your focus, making it easy to track your work.
User-Friendly Access: Launch effortlessly from the UV Editor’s sidebar or a quick shortcut.
Why UV Sandbox?
UV Sandbox blends creativity with functionality, offering a fresh way to explore UV mapping. Whether you’re tweaking layouts or just playing with physics, it’s a lightweight tool that sparks inspiration. Built for Blender’s latest versions, it’s stable, open-source, and ready to enhance your UV workflow.
Documentation:
UV Sandbox turns UV editing into an interactive playground. Move UV islands by dragging, watch them fall and collide with physics, or shuffle them for random layouts. With an easy-to-use interface, it’s perfect for artists experimenting with UVs or anyone looking to add creativity to their workflow.
Compatibility: Blender 4.4+
Installation
- Download: Download uvsandbox0_1.zip
- Install:
- Open Blender 4.4+.
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
- Click Install, select uvsandbox0_1.zip, and enable "UV Sandbox".
- Verify: Look for "UV Sandbox" in the UV Editor’s sidebar (N-panel).
Usage
Starting UV Sandbox
- Open the UV Editor in Blender.
- Select a mesh with UVs (e.g., an unwrapped object).
- Launch the tool:
- Go to the N-panel (press N), find the "UV Sandbox" tab, and click Start UV Sandbox.
- Or press Ctrl+P.
Interacting with UV Islands
- Select: Click an island to highlight it; Shift+click to select multiple.
- Move: Drag selected islands to reposition them.
- Physics: Click Play to enable gravity and collisions; click Pause to stop.
- Shuffle: Click Shuffle or press Ctrl+S to randomize island positions.
- Adjust Settings: Use sliders in the side panel to tweak gravity or collision behavior.
- Toggle Panel: Press H to show/hide the side panel.
- Exit: Press Esc or click Exit to save changes and close.
Requirements
- A mesh with an active UV layer.
- Must be in the UV Editor to start the tool.