Parametric Objects via a Modifier (Maybe in Geometry Nodes?)
As an ex-Cinema 4D user, I would use parametric modeling techniques and objects a lot.
To bring this type of functionality to basic objects in Blender I think a good solution could be to store those editable parameters in a special "parametric" modifier that is applied to a single vertex object.
The idea being that when you add a new object (say a Cube) to your Blender scene, it shows a visible cube in the viewport, but in reality only creates a single vertex. That vertex would have the Parametric modifier already added to it. This modifier would have a drop down with all the possible parametric object types (cube, plane, sphere, torus, cone, etc.) Depending on the option selected, the modifier panel would display the applicable parameters for that object type. In this example "Cube" would be set and you'd see the parameters for the cube object.
If you wanted to edit the actual object geometry, the Parametric modifier would have to be applied to the object. Obviously at that point you lose the ability to go back, but then it's like a normal mesh object. If someone selects the parametric object and goes into edit mode, a dialog could display and remind the user they're trying to edit a parametric object, and give them the option to convert it (apply the modifier) or exit edit mode.
I know geometry nodes are being worked on and I hope there will be some sort of parametric node that will handle this, but if not I think this would be a great addition.
5 Comments
Already planned by the devs for the geometrie nodes project. It was, at least, in the initial design and it was mentioned a few times in the dedicaced blender chat and in the blender today live that it will be the case : developer.blender.org/T74967 (see the "New nodes" section) {attachment Screenshot_2020-03-22_at_123203png}
* @Shimoon * i wish it will be more like sverchok but just lilbit more user friendly ^^ it wil be the perfect parametric design tool linktr.ee/one_raw_artist
In addition to the geometry nodes, it'd be very useful to have it as a modifier too. "Parametric" is a great name or a start of a name for a modifier like this!
However, I don't think it should replace the existing Blender cubes, cylinders and so on. It should just be an extra option, where a Parametric modifier either replaces the existing mesh, or adds a parametric part to the existing mesh. If the modifier exists, it'd be super simple to have an optional add-on that adds a Parametric Mesh submenu to the Add menu, right under the Mesh submenu. So the people who prefer using parametric meshes would do Add > Parametric mesh > Cylinder, but for Blender users who don't want to do that, nothing would change when they do Add > Mesh > Cylinder.
I've had a similar idea for quite a while, but "Parametric" is a much better name for it.
I don’t understand why this wasn’t done when the first versions of the blender came out? Because of this, it is impossible to blocking the scene, because primitives lose their parameters. The person must have a choice whether to keep the object parametric or convert it to a polygon object. This should have been done much earlier, but it has not yet been done.
Oh yes great hope one Day blender can handle parametric CAD easily