Backface selection without x-ray mode enabled

2024 is almost here, but is it still there? ? ? ? ?

developer.blender.org/T73479

I wrote a small script and I shared it on Devtalk with some instructions how to install it and add it to your keymap. You can use it as a workaround till this feature is properly implemented in Blender.

For now workaround is to turn on xray mode and move xray slider in view settings in right position. This way object mode will shade without xray. Edit mode will shade slightly transparent with possibility to select thorough..i works this way after Autodesk..

Same here, it's a default and expected behavior in most 3d DCC. I keep making the mistake of selecting verts without x-ray only to realize why my meshes look odd later... Why an extra step (x-ray) to do a basic manipulation?

If Blender users went on a Maya forum and disagreed with select-through then the Maya users would tell them to enable “Automatic camera-based selection” in the settings for the Select Tool.

The end.

Because Maya is flexible enough to let the user choose either selection philosophy (“select-through” or “you select what you can see”). You can make Maya’s component selection work exactly like Blender and you don’t even need addons or custom code. It’s built-in and everyone can be happy with their preferred selection philosophy.

In a broad sense the push/pull between newcomers and Blender veterans is indeed difficult but in this specific instance giving the user the ability to choose whether they want to select-through or not is already a solved problem and does not require overthinking. Both can exist in the same program. The “compromise” is to become more flexible and let the end user make their own preferred choice. Neither philosophy should be the only way to select things.

I think the whole select-through workflow needs to be reworked. In object mode it's default to select through (using box selection). Also, you can't turn on X-ray mode using Material Preview in Object mode, but you can turn on X-ray mode using Material Preview in Edit mode. So even the paradigm of "selecting what you can see" isn't even consistent in Blender. This is confusing for new users.

They assigned a new task, but I think traditional blender users would find it very odd to not be able to select objects/components that they can see. Hopefully a good compromise can be reached.

I think we should wait and see how many people jump ship with the next price hike and if any more sizeable studios add Blender to their pipeline to save on license fees.

I'm OK with this as an option, but I always find myself turning on Camera-based selection over there.