Rename "Boolean" modifier to "TopoMix"
I know it sounds crazy but if we think by logic and word-sound it will makes sense to you, Let me explain-
- TopoMix consist of two words Topology+Mix and Topo is quite used in blender like the word Topology that we always manipulate, retopo is the process that is used heavily in production.I mean when we just hear the sound Topo it instantly click in our mind as some sort of geometry with edges and points.
- Mix is quite familiar to blender user in shador editor and geometry node to mix two values with some operation like Addition, substraction, divide etc which exactly sound like Union, substraction, intersection etc. Also users are familiar with the word mix in photoshop as well for different blending modes as well.
- I also see the limitation of word Boolean because people just think boolean as difference operation only because the word boolean itself has no relevent sound to other word while TopoMix has word mix which gives the indication that mixing can be done in various ways like add(union), substrat(substraction), multiply(intersection) etc.
it may seems very little but it will definitely change the way people think of boolean. that will also translate to a better name in Geometry node because in any node program naming of each node is very crucial to easily remind user. i also used grasshopper and thats why i think such small changes should be made so user got aware of what process is going behind the node and TopoMix instantly does that.
People may show resistance in start because they have very familiar with boolean name but after sometime they will understand that this words sounds very familiar to what they do. a very famous quote in design is "Form follows function" so function should come first and form (Here TopoMix) itself should just point toward function. The word boolean is just taken from previous software but Now it is the time when blender should make right vocab in the industry as it is already doing so by translate project that is going on currently.
5 Comments
Boolean - Wikiwand
No.
First, boolean operations share a name across 3DCC, we all know what those are. Either Zbrush, Maya, Max or Blender. It's universal.
Second, name is not random, arises from boolean algebra, the part that explains boolean operations, to be precise: OR, NOT and AND. These three logical operations are what we call "add", "substract" and "intersect".
Is not a casuality at all, the boolean operations are literally logical operations, even in the 3D world, whe're creating a new group from different groups following a logical operation.
So it's not true that the word "boolean" was taken from previous software without context, because that "previous" is still contemporary software.
Blender has been hard at work lately trying to be more compatible with other software, following some industry specifications for VFX , adopting USD, enhancing the industry keymaps, etc. Changing now what are universally accepted words and concepts to a totally made up buzzword is not the way to go.
I disagree.
Who even uses the industry keymaps? Maybe it would be better to get rid of it.
You'd be surprised. I myself changed some mouse controls to match 3DS Max and have a consistent experience or else I was going to lose my mind. And the QWER controls for grabbing, rotating, etc. are so widespread and consistent it can be simply better to use those in Blender too.
Agreed that most people don't care and use Blender default options, but it's about customisation and being able to choose.
I agree that naming few things with same name is confusing. But inventing random words is worse. Instead of that You should just use preexisting name for geometry boolean - CSG , and name eg. „Boolean CSG‟, or „Mesh CSG‟, or „Geometry CSG‟.