Where’d that button go?

Posted on 25. Nov, 2009 by Andrew Price in Articles

When you open the brand new Blender 2.5 Alpha version, you will notice that a lot has changed. For one, buttons are now vertical, and most of them have new icons and names.

When they rebuilt Blender from the ground up, a few things were moved for the better. You know all those “industry professionals” that complain how awful the Blender interface is? Well these changes were designed to keep them happy. Most of your favourite functions are still there, just hiding.

This 2.5 interface guide should get you back on the straight and narrow. I have tried to include all the frequently used functions, as well as common blunders encountered when using Blender 2.5 for the first time.

Set Smooth/Solid

Previously…

set-smooth_old1

Now…

set-smooth_new

Add Menu

Previously…

Now…

add-menu_new

Join screen

Previously…

join-screen_old1a

join-screen_old2a

Now…

join-screen_new2b

(similarly, dragging the cursor in the opposite direction splits the screen)

Spin/Screw/Flip Normals/Rem Doubles

Previously…

spin_old

Now…

spin_newb

Background Image

Previously…

background-image_old

Now…

background-image_new

Logic buttons

Previously…

logic-buttons_old

Now…

logic-buttons_new1

logic-buttons_new2b

IPO Curve

Previously…

ipo-curve_old
Now…

ipo-curve_new

Move Header

Previously…

move-header_oldb

Now…

move-header_new1

move-header_new2b

Buttons

Side-by-side comparison…

buttons-side-by-side1

Window type

Side-by-side comparison…

Radiosity buttons

Previously…

Now…

its-gone

Missing something?

There’s a chance that the button you’re looking for is not actually hardwired into blender yet. But fear not! Because a useful function has been added that lets you create your own button.

For example, I use the ‘Center New’ button constantly, but strangely it’s missing from Blender 2.5.

Here’s how to add it to your toolbar:

addbutton1b

addbutton3

addbutton6

addbutton7b

You can do this for virtually any function in Blender. So if you’re tired of looking for a lost button, this can provide a temporary fix.

That concludes the Blender 2.5 interface guide. Was it useful? Is it missing something? It is by no means complete, so if you think something should be on the list, drop a comment below and I’ll see if I can help!

Tags: tips

196 Responses to “Where’d that button go?”

Extensor

30. Nov, 2009

@Tynatch – Try Control . (the period key on your num keypad) to center on cursor.

@ Andrew Price – no prob. Oh and thanks for all the great info on your twitter!
riaHK

30. Nov, 2009

when I add new Cylinder, how can I change Radius, Height, Vertices…. those params are not available in 2.5
and how can I change the size of the buttons so it fits the containing windows
Again, I have to say this interface is SEXXXXY, though it’s confused in first time ^^
Thanks to all the developers
Extensor

30. Nov, 2009

riaHK,

When you add a new mesh type you should see an Add Cube (or whatever you added) with a triangle thingy next to it at the bottom of the Tool Shelf panel. Click on the triangle to reveal the settings you are looking for.

Cursor over the buttons window and press the + or – on your num pad to change the size of the buttons.
riaHK

01. Dec, 2009

thanks Extensor, it works
to those who want to adjust the 2.5 interface to look like 2.49: you just open a .blend file that created in 2.49 and you got the 2.49 interface
Spender

01. Dec, 2009

riaHK

OK but surprising.

At my iMac dock i have two Blender ikons. One is Blender 2.49b beside him I have Blender 2.50.
If I press on ikon 2.49.b is everything 2.50 except for the interface?
I you say yes. Why we need this complicated 2.50 interface as take ages to learn if I have everything from 2.50 underneth the 2.49b.

Thank in advance.
riaHK

01. Dec, 2009

to Spender:
I’m sorry, it’s NO.
maybe you misunderstood, clicking 2.49 icon will bring the Blender version 2.49, and clicking 2.5 icon bring the version 2.5. These 2 are different (in features and interface) as they are contained in different folders in your machine.
In my previous post, I mean you created a .blend file in 2.49, then open it in 2.5 and you got the 2.49 interface
Cheers
spender

01. Dec, 2009

riaHK, Thanks for helping.

Normaly i think it take few years to learn Blender to be good enugh. I started with 2.43 and that was a easy way to learn step by step. 2,44-2.45-2.46-2.47-2.48 and 2.49.

I am little bit worried.
If I need to change over to 2.50 I need ( long )time to learn and start from scratch. Same if I change to Maya as I never been working on.

If I could continue from 2.49.b 2.50-2.51-2.52 + + + not so big step from each other.

Anyhow, Thaths exiting with new things.

Regards
Andrew Price

01. Dec, 2009

@spender
I think you might be looking too much into it.
Some key functions and features are missing because it’s the Alpha release, but most of it’s the same.

I basically wrote this article on the fly in about 6 hours, and feel as though I’ve grasped most of it. I really don’t think it’s as serious as picking up a new piece of software.

But for the record, I am still using 2.49 for most of my work. I am currently only using 2.5A if I have to use a new feature, ie. Smoke Simulation.

So if you want to save yourself a headache, do what I’m doing and wait for the official release
Spender

01. Dec, 2009

Andrew Price. I am very happy with Blender and 2.49b doing everything I need. Six months from now I am sure I understand more abouth 2.50.

Thanks
JacobM

01. Dec, 2009

Do you think it is worth using the 2.5 alpha for rendering raytraced images?
jadhav333

02. Dec, 2009

the new ‘Add Tool’ command is cool.. but how do we remove a tool that we have added.. maybe cox I may not need it any longer.. or if I have added a tool by mistake. .Thx
Michael A. Beaver

02. Dec, 2009

It should be understood that 2.5A is a test vehicle so the devs can somewhat arbitrarily put a stake in the ground vis-a-vis the features they are implementing. Your tutorial and the tuts from mfoxdogg make my 2.5 testing easier. I luckily know python3 quite well and marvel at the transformation which is going on at the code level. Lets face it — large parts of 2.4x blender code were unmaintainable.

Keep up the great work. We all need lots of help with all the changes which have been made to hot keys, UI and added features. Since the program can now be controlled by the user with Python3 this opens up a whole new dimension to art, creativity and new paths.

My web site is under construction. Not much to see. In fact nothing.
SLB

03. Dec, 2009

Hello, it seems I can’t find the bake button to bake my textures and save their images on files, either it seems I can’t save animations. Aren’t these functions implemented yet or I just can’t locate them? Thanks
FloridaJo

04. Dec, 2009

How do you remove a tool from the Tool shelf that one has added?
Bravo Zulu

08. Dec, 2009

Well, the workflow is different, but what can we do?

Thanks for showing us some of the changes, it will make the transition somewhat more bearable.
Bravo Zulu

08. Dec, 2009

Maybe they should write a new Essential Blender 2.5…
talachem

09. Dec, 2009

Does the spacenavigator from 3dconnexion still work? Since I’m using one on 2.49b, it changed a whole lot for me.
The Blendmaster#1024

09. Dec, 2009

WHERE THE HE!! IS “play rendered animation” got to!?
Karl

10. Dec, 2009

I can’t seem to find the load button to load a font… I’m on a mac with Snow Leopard
The Blendmaster#1024

10. Dec, 2009

did you try the tool shelf trick? and it should’nt matter that you’re on a mac.
rovy

10. Dec, 2009

does someone know how to get a render preview? shift+P doesnt seem to work…
Aussiedude

12. Dec, 2009

I think 2.50 is great, lots and lots of improvements, even now while it’s still in alpha and is miles away from being finished. I think though that there is a lot of stuff about the 2.49 interface that was in some ways a lot easier than new 2.50 interface. Hopefully when the team working on blender are finished they’ll be able to combine the good and bad from 2.49 and 2.50 together eh?

I’m also glad to hear that there is customisable keyboard shortcuts, because I think spacebar is much easier for the add menu. XD
orlando

19. Dec, 2009

I love this version dont give me such a headache. Great design for the best free editor. Im recommending this to all I know.
AlienMudPig

19. Dec, 2009

Wow…it sucks that background images don’t work. I’d have thought background images would be pretty basic functionality.

Has anyone figured out a way to load them?
Baldmartyr

22. Dec, 2009

Adding a background image:
1. Display the UV/Image Editor window
2. Click ‘Image’ to open an image. Navigate to desired image.
3. Display the 3D View window
4. Press NKEY to display Properties bar.
5. Check ‘Background Image’
6. Click on image field to display drop down box and select the image you just opened from within the UV/Image Editor window.
AlienMudPig

22. Dec, 2009

@Baldmartyr,

Awesome! Thank you very much for the instructions it worked perfectly. I never would have thought about loading it into the Image Editor first but I guess it makes sense.

Thanks again!
AlienMudPig

23. Dec, 2009

I don’t know if you guys know this already, because I certainly didn’t, but you can download new Blender 2.5 builds as they are created from http://www.graphicall.org.

I just got the latest version and tons of things are fixed including loading background images.
Quantum Anomaly

26. Dec, 2009

Thanks a million for posting this guide! I would never have found the “Center New” feature without it.

Blender 2.5 is awesome, btw… even in its alpha stage. I’m so happy I can run Blender natively on my MacBook now and don’t have to use a VM anymore to work around the infamous Leopard / Intel GMA bug.

Thanks for making it easier to learn this new version quickly!
JohnF

26. Dec, 2009

I don’t know if the hotkey is just not assigned yet, but I found you can change crease by pressing the NKEY for the properties panel (I think it is) – you’ll find it in the “transform” drop-down, near the top. Extensor mentions it’s in the Transform menu, but I did not find it by pressing the TKEY.

The hot key would be nice to have back, and with it mouse control of creasing.
Tom

28. Dec, 2009

Is there a way to open the tool tray in its own window like the old buttons window, or at least force the display of all the tools at one time, even if collapsed?

I’m spending a lot of time at work and only have a little time to blend right now, but I’m trying to adjust to what went where and that is probably my biggest complaint right now…sure I have some other problems with the new UI, but those might be able to be overlooked with the new features.
Ænima

10. Jan, 2010

Spender. Use Set Origin instead Set Center.
Devyn

20. Jan, 2010

If I’m running a fluid or smoke simulation, how can I tell what progress is being made? This new version doesn’t appear to have a progress bar for that, so you have to guess.
Devyn

20. Jan, 2010

Speaking of which, where did “TraShadow” go?
Erik

22. Jan, 2010

blender 5 is the same the same thing if u ask me but blender 4.9 can do more and u can change the look of blender 4.9 easily to the same look if u ask me blender 5 was a waste of time and money thats if the have to pay to make blender but still its a waste of time
Devyn

22. Jan, 2010

@Erik

Not true!

a) Blender is a fully open-source not-for-profit project run by the community.

b) A TON has changed at the scripting level, which will allow rapid development of plugins.

c) Personally, I find the UI a lot easier to work with. The eyecandy helps too =D

d) Sorry to be a versioning snob, but not “blender 5″ and “blender 4.9,” it’s “blender 2.50″ and “blender 2.49″ =P
salvis

31. Jan, 2010

Is it possible to “record to IPO” with the game physics simulation. In 2.49, this was under the “Game” menu…I can’t find it in 2.50 and don’t know what the similar command is.
Tyler

31. Jan, 2010

In the old blender to select certain vertices you could hit b twice for a circle thing to pop up. Now it doesn’t come up. Where is it? Is it gone??
Tyler

31. Jan, 2010

“In the old blender to select certain vertices you could hit b twice for a circle thing to pop up. Now it doesn’t come up. Where is it? Is it gone??”
DRX

04. Feb, 2010

Hello Andrew. I love interface of previous versions Blender. Can i modified interface of 2.5 to “usual” ? I have widescreen monitor, why i can use unuseable vertical menu ? I think 2.49b will be a last version, that i will be use. Very sad =(
Andrew Price

04. Feb, 2010

The vertical menu is perfect for widescreen monitor! It gives you bigger viewport!

You can of course reconfigure your layout like the old one very easily. Simply open an old .blend file from 2.49 and voila! The old layout should be loaded
Andrew Price

08. Feb, 2010

@salvis
I too would like to know this. I was needing the “record to IPO” feature in my last animation but couldn’t find it. So I just used 2.49, then later imported the objects into 2.5
mechanimation

09. Feb, 2010

where did “TraShadow” go?
is there another way to make alpha map create a shadow?
Eve

21. Feb, 2010

Hi Andrew. This is a handy Guide. Thank you. Could anyone tell me where the extrude is? It was just ekey in 2.49b but no matter how i search no extrude. I am very new at this. Thanks
Davod

21. Feb, 2010

@Eve

The ‘e’ key should still extrude (it does for me at least).
If it doesn’t work for you, you may still have the alpha 0 release. Try getting the alpha 1 release. Downloading that should fix the problem.
Eve

22. Feb, 2010

Hi Davod thank you for your reply. I have Alpha1 and I have found the extrude. It is the e key you are right. I only did not grap the vertex dot. Forgot that part, Duh!!! Anyway there is a lot to learn. Thanks.
Josh

26. Feb, 2010

I personally think that a program this awesome should have a walkthrough tutorial that is upgraded along with the program itself. All the questions would be given instruction and a noob like me could jump right in!!! I also just watched a video on youtube made with xfrog and terragen 2 that looked amazing. Maybe someone should unlock those typs a features! I really cant wait to figure this bad motha out so I can get to work on developing a new game! I hope there is a way to use the xbox 360 controller in gameplay.
Jeff Willeford

09. Mar, 2010

Hi in blender 2.52 were is the render settings I need to fine the vec button?
s16f

14. Mar, 2010

really cool and useful information, i was looking for the button how i can join a viewport… where i found it – yepp right @ blenderguru

Keep up the good work
rajesh

16. Mar, 2010

How can I Change the Colour of objects
ioio

16. Mar, 2010

How do you save your game as a runtime in blender2.50?