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sorry for my English, I use translator

My profile on blenderartists.org

1. Fast switching between vertices, edges and polygons in edit mode

By default, to switch between the vertices, edges and polygons, you press Ctrl + Tab and in the dropdown menu select the desired option by clicking LMB or pressing 1,2,3.

I suggest replacing the hotkeys like this: 1 - vertices 2 - edges 3 - polygons. To select more than you need to press Shift +1,2,3. For example, I'm in the vertices mode. I press Shift +2 - editing vertices and edges, Shift +3 - editing vertices and polygons, Shift +2 +3 - edit vertices, edges and polygons.

You can select (Shift+1+2+3) and deselest (Shift+1+2+3) additional desired mod.

Of course this can also be done by clicking on icon with pressed Shift.

Example of creating (without Shift selection):

Good: - Fast switching between vertices, edges and polygons

Bad: - Can not switch between layers in editing mode, you need to change the hotkeys. But I think if you're in edit mode, editing is the primary task.

2.Multiple Loop Subdivide

Multiple Loop Subdivide

Let's look at how it works standard Loop Subdivide.

1. Press Ctrl + R

2. Move the cursor to the edges. Ghost Loop sticks to 50% of the center edge.

3. Click LMB to activate Loop Subdivide and slide over the edges.

4. Choose a location and click LMB to position the Loop Subdivide.

To create another Loop Subdivide, you need to repeat these step by step. What if we need to do 10 or 20 Subdivideb Loop?

Proposal. Multiple Loop Subdivide

How it should work

1. Press hotkey (maybe Ctrl + Shift + R)

2. Move the cursor to the edges. Ghost Loop stick directly to the cursor, not the mid-50% edge, and already slides along the edges. This will immediately put a loop where the cursor is located.

3. Press LMB for positioning Loop Subdivide.

4. Tool does not stop working. Repeat steps 2 and 3. MMB rotate the model and place loops, without interrupting tool works. 5. To stop the tool, press RMB or Estsape.

Example video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YLNVkSPOs

Wheel or + NumPad / - Numpad to control the number of loops.

You can choose what to use, the default Loop Subdivide (Ctrl + R) or Multi Loop Subdivide (Ctrl + Shift + R)

I think it's faster and more convenient for placing a plurality of loops.

3. UV. Pack Islands. Smarter algorithm for more compact packing

Blender UVs packing algorithm is not perfect, a lot of empty space, holes are not closed.

simple example:

We need better UVs packing algorithm with filling holes and compact packing

Is it possible to make the package more smart to better packaging? I think the machine (PC) handle this better and faster than a human.

Let the automatic packing lasts 5-10 minutes, it is still faster than manual packaging and save my energy))

Several principles of packaging:

Also we need more tools:

Manipulators (Move, Rotete, Scale)

Press G + Y, or G + MMB, this is slower than hold and drag manipulator axis

Display several UVs on one canvas

in the N or T-panel choose amount UVs

Packing Options

4. Quick Navigation & Transformation

Quick Navigation

Visible - restrict viewport visibility for the object types.

Example. If you choose only the Mesh Type, in the viewport will be visible only mesh objects, other types of objects will not be visible.

Selected - restrict viewport selection for object types.

Example. If you choose only the Curve type of object, in the viewport will be select only Curves, other types of objects will not be selected.

In the popup menu:

You can select or deselect the types of objects by clicking LMB on the check box.

Press A to select all and deselect all object types.

Press Ctrl + LMB click to select one type of object and deselect all others.

Alt + scroll to select one of the types of objects without unfolding window object types.

You can combine Visible and Selected Restrict for faster navigation in the viewport, and easier manipulation of objects in a complex and difficult scenes.

Quick Transformation

The same as Transformation, Rotation, Scale in N-panel.

Needed if you want to make the transformation to a specific size.

To switch between Transformation, Rotation, Scale chooses a manipulator (without Shift + click to select multiple) .

Move your cursor to the x, y, z value and press Alt + RMB - Reset Single to default value (Transform and Rotate to 0, Scale to 1)

Move your cursor to the x, y, z value and press RMB and choose:

5. Cycles. Material to override exclusion

Select the objects that retain their materials

Create a group.

Select a group in the "Override exclusion:".

This group of objects will not change their materials. For example Emission shader for lighting.

6. Bevel modifier

If Bevel modifier will have a loops around the the bevel

default modifier new modifier

Ofset loops - enable loops

Amount - Number of loops

http://wiki.blender.org/uploads/3/31/Bevelmodif06.gif

Width - default =1.

wight change

http://wiki.blender.org/uploads/4/42/Bevelmodif08.gif

tightly loops - automatic reduction of the number of loops if they do not have enough space

http://wiki.blender.org/uploads/6/62/Bevelmodif09.gif

change bevel wight with enabled Ofset loops

http://wiki.blender.org/uploads/f/f3/Bevelmodif07.gif

why I suggested it in modifier? To quickly create a procedural HardSurface.

1. you can quickly change the value of Bevel, or completely remove it

2. Only Bevel is not always enough, sometimes it needs additional loop.

7. Miror modifier

It would be very comfortable if add mirror modifier and not all of the geometry will be mirrored. I propose to add to the Mirror modifier exception vertex group. These vertices will not be mirrored.

8. Viewport Statistics

3ds max and Maya, and other 3d software hawe powerful viewport statistics. This is: vertices, edges, polygons, triangles, frames per second, UVs, etc. And the main feature of this is show polycount for the whole scene, and for the selected objects separately. it's good for the game development, when you need to know only one or several objects polycount.

3ds max Wiki

Maya Wiki

This is a very powerful tool, it is very easy to use, easily customizable, and shows all the necessary information in one place

Concept:

FPS: - Viewport Frames Per Second

fps: - Animation Frames Per Second

Objects - Total in scen and Selected count of objecs

UVs - Number of UVs vertices

9. Outliner, Object Layer Manager and more

This unites himself:

Outliner + Object layer manager

Paint layer manager

Texture, Video, Audio manager

Material manager

and Brush (paint/sculpt) manager

The main purpose of this tool: 1. More visual and fast control with objects, textures, sequences, video and audio files, materials, brushes. 2. Quick save and load them from the library (drag and drop).

"Manager" will be located in the panels , which will be opened in parallel Properties panel or on-site N-panel ( other hotkeys ) .

While it is only a sketch, based on a my personal feelings. If you make suggestions, I'll try to make them in the sketch.

Object Layer Manager - layers for the objects in the scene . There is the idea to make a connection to the library models collected on HDD. Paint Layer Manager - creating and working with layers for Texture paint. Save it in another format with or without preserving the layers . Texture Manager - more visual and easy to work with textures , quick search for them , loading and saving. Сataloging and management of rendering images. Maybe cataloging video, fast navigation and loading of the scene. Material Manager - work with the materials in the scene , saving and loading of your own library materials. Brush Manager - separate brush to paint and sculpt . Saving and loading new brushes from the library. Script manager? - cataloging scripts and text files, fast navigation and loading of the scene and saving to library?

Object layer Manager

Object layer Manager (short OLM)- Modernized Outliner. Keeping all properties Outliner and added new features. Probably should unite Outliner and Obetst Lajer Manager in one tool, or make possible switch Outliner to OLM mode, or make their individual instruments.

Let's look at.

OLM work with Blender layers (short BL).

If I use the BL, the layers in the OLM are created and deleted automatically. If you create a layer in the OLM, then asked to choose a layer in BL. Or automatically places layers in BL on the numbered order (you can Change in options).