KIT OPS 3 User Manual By Chipp Walters

The docs do not always reflect the most current iteration of features in KIT OPS.
For that reason, we recommend you reference the video guides at the top of the documentation first to learn more about KIT OPS PRO and KIT OPS FREE

New features for 3.1.5

New thumbnail generator and editor and much more. Blender 5.0 compatible.

KIT OPS Video Guide

KIT OPS works with Blender 3.6+

What is new in KIT OPS 3

While KIT OPS 3 has many of the same features as before, it has a brand new underlying engine architecture.

New engine much FASTER and does not rely on Depsgraph

Paramount among the new changes is KIT OPS 3 no longer relies on Blenders Depsgraph functionality. There is a detailed explanation for why in the Appendix of this document. Depsgraph is used in many addons and the more addons that use it the slower the performance of Blender.

Primarily the big benefit of removing Depsgraph is a tremendous improvement in speed and performance. More KPACKS can be open and have more INSERTS in your scene without any degradation in performance due to Depsgraph conflicts. You can now easily access network files as well as move and duplicate INSERTS.

New buttons and custom shortcuts for all buttons

Previously, we used a modal button called Group mode to toggle the ability to select an INSERT (with multiple objects) or select an individual object inside an INSERT. Now we have a command to do the same, the Select INSERT and Select All INSERTS buttons which can be easily attached to a shortcut key if you like. This makes it easier to move things around as you’re not always checking to see if Group mode is on or not– and Group mode no longer gets in the way of other operations.

We also have new dedicated buttons (and shortcuts) for Duplicate INSERT and Delete INSERT as well.

When Duplicating an INSERT you can use the X,Y,Z keys to restrict axis movement, and of course the snapping to faces, edges, center-edge and vertices still work as well.

There is a new Search INSERTs button that will open the prefs panel to KIT OPSS where you can use the search feature there to find any registered INSERT regardless if it’s KPACK is loaded or not.

New Factory Mode

You can now press the Edit INSERT button and your INSERT will be opened up in a new instance of Blender, where you can edit it and save and then reload it in your existing Blender instance. This is a very powerful feature and it makes it very easy to modify and change existing INSERTS. See instructions for more information on this.

Extra Utils addons

There are some new optional addons that come with KIT OPS that if installed will appear in the Tools section of KIT OPS also provide shortcut keys for their function:

These tools make it much easier to clean up and manage memory regarding images and textures, and there are also some great tools to help change the display mode of INSERTS as well.

And, there is also a beta version of a 2D Boolean tool that uses an included KPACK to help create 2D shapes. See the details here for all the Extra Utils.

And… much more

There are many features that have been added or updated recently you may not be aware of. Some are made easier to use, others are ones previously not documented here. Please read below to understand fully all the key features of KIT OPS 3.

What is KIT OPS?

KIT OPS is a Blender addon designed to enhance your 3D modeling workflow, compatible with Blender version 3.6 and above. It uses the systematized application of Blend files called KIT OPS INSERTS, to instantly add or cut to existing objects to create standalone objects. The primary objective of this addon is to facilitate the rapid creation and exploration of new designs.

Moreover, KIT OPS serves as a comprehensive asset browser, offering a more intuitive way to apply and manage your assets compared to Blender’s default asset browser. You can effortlessly organize your assets, apply materials, and add decals. With the pro version, you can even create and sell your own KITOPS assets.

When used effectively, KIT OPS dramatically improves efficiency and speed in creating objects and scenes. For example, you can seamlessly INSERT doors and windows into walls or generate complex industrial designs in a single session. KIT OPS leverages the power of Blender’s Modifiers to accomplish these tasks seamlessly.

KIT OPS uses

Kitbashing

Kitbashing entails the practice of assembling individual components from different pre-made models to construct entirely new ones. With KIT OPS, you have the flexibility to merge diverse pre-existing assets and utilize boolean operations to carve out and create detailed and intricate models.

Asset Browser

KIT OPS includes a robust asset browser feature, allowing you to conveniently store all your assets, including materials, and access & use them effortlessly. You can not only place objects on surfaces, you can also scale them and rotate them before dropping them. With the Pro version, you gain the ability to convert nearly any asset into a KIT OPS asset, enabling you to organize them according to your preferences.

Asset Creation

KIT OPS allows you to quickly and easily create assets (we call INSERTS) with automatic or manual thumbnail generation. You can have your INSERT include multiple objects and materials. You can include boolean subtract or union objects in your INSERT. You can store your INSERTS anywhere on your filesystem and access them later via a thumbnail browser. You can also save material INSERTS as well as Decal INSERTS.

Precise Placement Control

In traditional Kitbashing, you manually place, scale, and rotate assets, which can be a tedious process. With KIT OPS, you gain complete control over how INSERTS are added. You can adjust the scale, effortlessly rotate, move them or even delete them. With the pro version, you can activate automatic snapping to objects, ensuring precise placement and enabling seamless creation of intricate designs with absolute control. Additionally, you can effortlessly transform a KIT OPS INSERT into a mesh and stack multiple INSERTS atop one another. This feature broadens the scope of asset creation, offering limitless creative possibilities.

Save and Apply Materials to any Material Slot

With KITOPS, you can effortlessly organize and apply materials to any mesh in Blender including adding materials directly to material slots.

We’ve created a video highlighting 9 reasons why you should use KIT OPS PRO to manage your materials in Blender.

Create and Apply Decals

With KITOPS you can easily add decals to any object. Decals created in KIT OPS already have the ability to wrap around objects as well as decompose their decal texture map. You can create your own Decals with any PNG file.

Create, Buy and Sell Assets (Pro Feature)

KIT OPS INSERTS are stored in folders called KPACKS. There are hundreds of KPACKS for sale on Blender Market and Gumroad, or you can create your own for sale or personal use.

Features

Storage Location

By establishing a Masterfolder to contain all your KPACKS, you break free from any location and storage constraints. This folder can reside anywhere on your computer or online platforms like GDrive or Dropbox. By simply linking this path to the addon, you gain effortless access and organization for your assets. Moreover, you have the option to further organize your assets by creating multiple Masterfolders, should you so wish to do so.

The addon lets you designate groups of Masterfolders for display within the addon. So, for instance you could have a group for materials, for humans, for cutters, for props, etc…

Search feature

KIT OPS has a search feature that allows you to quickly search all INSERTS in your KPACKS and lists them in a table where you can click on one to go directly to it in the addon– ready for INSERTion.

Replace feature

You can easily replace all selected INSERTS with a designated INSERT with a single button.

Snapping feature

When adding an INSERT you can choose to snap to the face, edge, center-edge or vertex of the target object.

KIT OPS Free vs KIT OPS Pro

What is KIT OPS FREE?

KIT OPS FREE comprises the KIT OPS Blender addon + basic set of KIT OPS INSERTS + documentation. You can freely add any KIT OPS INSERTS from any KIT OPS KPACKS you own. You can view many of the KPACKS for sale at http://cw1.me/kpacks

KIT OPS FREE allows you to create your own INSERTS, but you cannot use any of the FACTORY advanced features like using boolean modifiers or creating custom thumbnails. It also will not save Materials nor Decals.

What is KIT OPS PRO?

The KIT OPS PRO version consists of the KIT OPS add-on, updated to KIT OPS PRO, which includes the INSERT FACTORY authoring toolkit, and like KIT OPS FREE, is provided with this documentation. The FACTORY mode allows you to easily author your own KIT OPS INSERTS as well as save MATERIALS to KPACKS.

Pro also has many other features, like extra utilities, favorites list, Masterfolder sets and more. See this webpage for more information on the differences.

Elements of KIT OPS

INSERT

A KIT OPS INSERT is the basic building block, used either as a kitbash piece or a boolean cutter object. It helps create various designs, from sci-fi elements to complex structures.

An INSERT can be:

  1. An object
  2. A group of objects
  3. A material
  4. A decal

KPACK

KIT OPS assets are unique .blend files stored within a designated folder known as a KPACK folder. Also residing in the same KPACK is a thumbnail PNG representing the INSERT. In the KPACK browser, the name of this folder is displayed. Each thumbnail INSERT file within the KPACK collection bears the name of its corresponding .blend file, excluding the .blend extension.

KPACK Masterfolder

You save and organize multiple KPACK folders within a Masterfolder. This Masterfolder acts like a group folder where you store KPACKS. When you add new KPACKS, just save them in this Masterfolder. Then, in the KIT OPS Preferences File Paths Tab, specify the location of this Masterfolder. It’s important to remember that the name of the Masterfolder doesn’t show up in the KIT OPS INSERT browser.

You can have as many Masterfolders as you like. Typically, when you purchase KPACKS from online, they come grouped in a Masterfolder. Just unzip and then reference that Masterfolder from within KIT OPS Preferences and all KPACKS will be registered.

How to install KIT OPS?

KIT OPS 3 PRO consists of 2 addons:

  • The main KIT OPS 3 PRO addon: kitops-v3.x.x.zip
  • KIT OPS Extra Utils addon: kitops_extra_utils-vx.x.zip

To install the addons:

  1. If you already own KIT OPS then go into the KIT OPS addon prefs and Export your settings.
  2. Delete the KIT OPS addon from Blender by unchecking it and removing it.
  3. If you use kitops-toggle-display addon be sure and REMOVE it as well.
  4. Restart Blender
  5. If you’re using Blender 4.2+ just drag/drop the KIT OPS zip file onto the Blender viewport display window and it will automatically install. If you’re using Blender 3.6.x to 4.1.x then install as you normally would via the install button in the addons pane. KIT OPS 3 only runs in Blender 3.6+ or newer.
  6. Do the same with the Extra Utils addon.
  7. Import your settings.
  8. Save your prefs
  9. Restart Blender

To install KPACKS

Included with KIT OPS 3 is a collection of assets (actually special .blend files we call INSERTS) organized into KPACK folders which are in turn organized into Masterfolders. To use these you will need either KIT OPS 3 FREE or KIT OPS 3 PRO.

First, unzip each of the Masterfolder.zip files.

After unzipping, Masterfolders can be added to KIT OPS 3 in the KIT OPS 3 preferences pane (see preferences). When they are added, all of the KPACKS will then be visible in the KIT OPS interface. For more info on how to install KPACKS:
http://cw1.me/installkitops

If you need help with the addon, we first ask you to Help Us Help You: http://cw1.me/helpushelpyou

*One common issue causing KPACKs not to show up may be the presence of unnecessary additional folders.

Below is a good visual representation of Folder Structure

Masterfolder (any name, any location, Default or Custom)
├── KPACK 1 folder (any name)
│ ├── INSERT 1.blend
│ ├── INSERT 1.png (256x256 PNG thumbnail)
│ ├── INSERT 2.blend
│ ├── INSERT 2.png
│ ├── etc…blend
│ └── etc…png
├── KPACK 2 folder
│ ├── etc…blend
│ └── etc…png
└── KPACK 3 folder.
├── etc…blend
└── etc…blend

Export your KPACK preferences

In the KIT OPS prefs General tab, at the bottom, is an Export Settings button which when pressed will export your existing settings as a json file. If for some reason Blender or KIT OPS is reset, you can always Import the settings to get back to the state you last saved them.

KITOPS 3 PREFERENCES {#kitops-3-preferences}

The General Tab

  1. Check for Updates (deprecated)

Just above the 3 tabs is the Check for Updates function. As the addon and blender progresses to develop there will be continuous updates to ensure continuous improvement and added features. The Check for Updates button will check if you are using the most updated version of the addon and indicate to you that you need to update the addon.

If the addon needs to be updated, you can typically just install it and it will install over the existing addon unless we provide instructions to remove the addon.
Always be sure and use the Export Settings button to save all your settings before installing.

  1. General, File Paths and Search Tabs

The three tabs. The General has most set once settings. The File Paths is where you load your KIT OPS Masterfolders. The Search tab is where you can search for any INSERT you have Masterfolders registered for (note: the Masterfolders do not need to be loaded, just registered). 3. ### Author With the KIT OPS addon you can create your own KIT OPS INSERTs and KPACKS. By entering your name in this field, the metadata for your INSERTs and KPACKS will be automatically updated with your information. 4. ### INSERT offset X & INSERT offset Y

Horizontal and Vertical offset distance used for INSERTS when using the Thumbnail panel. Leave as default unless you’re having a hard time placing INSERTS after you’ve picked them from the panel.

  1. Boolean Solver

With KIT OPS, you can set the Boolean modifier FAST or EXACT setting, within the addon. Every time you use an INSERT with this modifier, it will already be configured by default as per your preference.

Fast is the default mode, and Exact is the more accurate but takes longer. KIT OPS will default to whichever you choose.

  1. Thumbnail Labels

When enabled, this will display the names of INSERTS under the thumbnails in the preview of the addon.

  1. Remove KIT OPS Props

This removes the KIT OPS properties of an INSERT when you add a KIT OPS INSERT to a scene with no target selected. This is turned on by default so that you can continue to add KIT OPS INSERTS to the INSERT you just added. Always an INSERT will add itself to the selected target. If you add an INSERT to an INSERT that has a target, then the INSERT will be added to the same target.

This pref comes in handy when you want to start building an object using an INSERT as the base object.

  1. Sort Modifiers

When enabled, this allows you to select which modifiers will always be placed AFTER any modifiers KIT OPS INSERTs. Leave unchecked unless you are sure about what you want. The selected ones shown are the weighted normal modifier which always helps a model after many boolean modifiers and the last bevel modifier which is good if you’re wanting to add that last bevel on an object full of KIT OPS INSERTS. Of note: this does NOT place modifiers, only sorts existing modifiers.


NOTE: In version 4.1there are 2 new normal modifiers for different types of auto-smoothing. We recommend you keep them in the default selected mode as shown in order to move the auto-smooth modifiers to the bottom of the modifier stack. These will not show up in older versions of Blender.

  1. Export Settings & Import Settings

The Export and Import Settings feature in KIT OPS allows you to save and restore your custom preferences with ease, ensuring a seamless experience when reinstalling the addon. They save your favorites settings as well as all your Masterfolder settings.

  1. Thumbnail Caching

With the recent updates to KIT OPS, you now have INSTANT THUMBNAIL viewing for your KIT OPS INSERT. You just need to click this button and this will install the Thumbnail Caching engine. See here for how to uninstall the caching engine.

  1. Favorites

This option clears all Favorites you have set within KIT OPS

  1. Hardpoints Preview Color

You can set your preferred color of display for Hardpoints. Hardpoints is a feature where you can snap INSERTS to other INSERTS like lego blocks. For instance, you can use this feature to create a Mech Warrior with different arms and legs and just snap them to a given torso.

FILE PATH Tab

This section enables you to connect your Masterfolder and KPACK Folders to the addon. To ensure you fully understand the process, we recommend reviewing the “Install KPACK” section, where you’ll find a detailed explanation of how to install Masterfolder(s) and KPACKS.

Additionally, you can create Sets for KPACKS, allowing you to selectively view or hide specific items. To create a Set, simply enter a name of your choice in the “New Set” field and toggle the view button for the items you want to display or hide. For example, you could create a Set named “Materials” and toggle on all Material KPACKS, while toggling off all other KPACKS.

Once you’ve created your Sets, you can easily switch between them based on your needs, making it quick and convenient to access the KPACKS you require.

SEARCH TAB

The Search tab can be opened from the main KIT OPS panel and allows you to search for a named INSERT in any KPACK whether it is loaded or not. It will search through all the registered Masterfolders looking for a fuzzy match to the name you type and present you with a list of all hits. Clicking on an INSERT will automatically load that KPACK into the KIT OPS Panel.

We have prepared a comprehensive video tutorial that covers these features in detail.

Using KIT OPS

KIT OPS Workflow

The KIT OPS workflow is fairly straightforward. you identify a Target object and then choose the INSERT you want to place on the object by pressing the Add INSERT button. Once placed, you can drag the INSERT around the target, using snapping modes if required. You can also at this time rotate and scale the INSERT as well before dropping it.

NOTE: We do not use a drag and drop action because we also want to be able to rotate and scale the INSERT as we’re dragging it around the target object requiring mouse buttons. This would be impossible if we dragged it out of the panel and tried to move it around the object.

KIT OPS has the unique ability to actually add Boolean INSERTS to the target object. This allows for quickly creating dynamic shapes, cutting windows and adding doors in them as well as doing CAD level type placement of objects.

Because an INSERT can include multiple objects you can create a hole in the object and then fill it with another object. For instance, you can create a screw hole and fill it with a screw.

KIT OPS Interface

Note: You can right-click on an INSERT or right-click in the viewport to access many of the same features listed below in the panel description.

Main

  1. Toggle panel KPACKS filtering (PRO).
  2. allows you to load different sets of KPACKS (see Preferences for more details).
  3. Link to documentation Favorites KPACK toggle button (PRO).
  4. Shows and hides favorites Favorites KPACK reorder button (PRO).
  5. Moves favorites up and down the favorite list.
  6. Most recent used KPACKS (PRO).
  7. Favorites list (PRO) shows up to 3 rows of favorite KPACKS for quick access.
  8. Recent KPACK list (PRO) Press the star (it will turns blue) to add to the favorites list Name of the selected KPACK in the thumbnail browser (PRO).
  9. The Refresh arrow button reloads all KPACKS in case files have changed.
  10. Thumbnail of INSERT Arrows to select a different INSERT in the current KPACK Add the chosen INSERT to the target or if no target selected places the INSERT at the cursor location Add the chosen Material to the target or if no target selected the material is added to the scene ready to be applied to any object(s).
  11. Selects the whole INSERT including all of its objects.
  12. Useful for moving an INSERT that has multiple objects.
  13. Selects all INSERTS.
  14. Useful for deleting, moving or replacing with a different INSERT Duplicate selected INSERT and constrain movement to X,Y or Z direction by pressing the X,Y or Z keys.
  15. Deletes the selected INSERTS and also removes and modifiers from the target object Relocates the INSERT.
  16. You can rotate and/or scale the INSERT using the scrollwheel (scale) or alt-scrollwheel (rotate).
  17. Edit the INSERT shown in the thumbnail by launching a separate instance of Blender and loading the INSERT into it.
  18. Remove KIT OPS Props is used when trying to add an INSERT to an existing INSERT without any target Replaces the selected INSERTS with the thumbnail INSERT Open Blender Preferences window to use INSERT search feature.
  19. The name of the target object for the selected INSERT.
  20. Can be changed by deleting and using the eyedropper to select a new target.

Modifiers and Controls

  1. Mirrors the INSERT about the X,Y or Z of the target object using its origin Arrays the INSERT based on count and offset settings Allows for same or custom scaling of INSERTS.
  2. This is handy when you know you want an INSERT applied at 50% scale (or other).
  3. Must have Auto Scale INSERT turned on.
  4. Turns on Auto Scale INSERT for the above controls Parents the INSERT to the target object when applied Places an INSERT on a selected INSERT when no target is available Flips the direction of an INSERT in the Z direction when placing on target Different Snap Modes (PRO) None, vertex, edge, face, hard points.
  5. See the status bar when dragging for more options Different alignment options when adding an INSERT.

Tools

  1. Will remove any empty boolean modifiers from the target object.
  2. Creates an INSERT from the selected object in the current KPACK directory (including thumbnail).
  3. Note: you can also right-click the object and select Create INSERT from the KIT OPS menu Opens file window so you can select a PNG file to create a decal with– then creates an INSERT in the selected KPACK directory.
  4. Creates a material INSERT from the selected object Converts to Mesh the selected object.
  5. Opens the current KPACK directory Removes wire INSERTS that are not used by KIT OPS anymore Converts Asset Manager assets to KIT OPS KPACKS.

New KIT OPS addons (KIT OPS PRO 3 only)

There are 2 different addons that now come with KIT OPS PRO.

Both are typical addons and are installed from the .zip file just as you would any other addon. When installed, they will appear at the bottom of the KIT OPS PRO N-panel. You can move them where you like by sliding them up or down the panel using the touch area.

The first is called Extra Utils and it has a section Materials Tools:

  1. Clean Up Dupe Materials - finds duplicate materials by name, remaps their users and removes those duplicates. For instance: if you have a material gold and you duplicate it by copy/pasting or bringing it in from Asset Browser then you will have a new material gold.001.
  2. Remap Material Images - finds duplicate images (in materials only) by binary checksum and remaps their users. This means even if an image in a material is named differently, if it is identical, it will be remapped.
  3. Delete Unused Images - finds the material only images which now are orphans (0 users) and deletes them. Typically you use this after Remap Material Images.

There are some other neat utilities as well:

  1. Purge Recursive Data Blocks - clears all orphaned data blocks without any users from the file. This is the same as File > Clean Up > Recursive Unused Data-Blocks
  2. Set Obj Origin to Bottom - Simply sets the origin of an object to its bottom. You’ll want to do this before parenting any children to the object. This helps when creating an INSERT.
  3. Toggle Obj Display Type - This is particularly useful when you want to see or edit the boolean cutter being used. It will toggle the viewport display mode for the selected object(s) between solid, wireframe and bounds. The shortcut key is Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z
  4. Align Verts (edit mode only) - Aligns selected vertices in Viewport and UV Editor in X,Y or Z directions. The shortcut keys are: Ctrl + Alt + Z or X or C (y directions)

The second add-on is currently alpha and is called 2D Bool. It comes with a KPACK you can install which will let you create 2D shapes by adding INSERTS to a 2D shape as designated by the addon. You should use the 2D Bool KPACK that comes with it.


 It has the following features:
  1. Fix Cutters - automatically fixes scale issues to properly display the non-destructive 2D booleans.
  2. Convert to 2D - Used when you want to apply all the cutters (subtract and union) to the base 2D shape.
  3. Set 2D primitive - Used to create a base 2D shape ready for adding 2D INSERTS from the KPACK.
  4. Try to Clean - very beta but it can sometimes fix some broken 2D shapes after the Convert to 2D button is used.

Creating INSERTS, MATERIALS and DECALS

INSERTs can be objects, materials or decals. With regard to objects, they can be a single object, a group of objects, and objects that include Boolean cutters.

There are a number of ways you can create INSERTs in KIT OPS.

  1. In Scene Creation mode
  2. Open INSERT FACTORY mode
  3. New file FACTORY mode

We will review them here.

In Scene INSERT Creation mode

The simplest way to create an INSERT is to do it from the KIT OPS panel in the scene. Just select the object and press the corresponding button for the INSERT type you want to create. if you are creating an INSERT that has multiple objects then select the parent object and create the INSERT from it and it will automatically transfer all the child objects with it. (Note: in the case of DECAL INSERTS, it will open the file browser and ask you to choose a PNG file to create the DECAL).

The object will be saved in the current KPACK as shown in the thumbnail viewer and the thumbnail for the new object will be then displayed.

The origin of the INSERT will always be the origin of the parent object selected. And, the INSERT will always point upwards in the Z direction. You want to make sure that you apply scale and rotation to the INSERT before creating it or else you may have unexpected results.

You can also create INSERTs by right clicking on the object and scrolling down to the KIT OPS hierarchical menu and choose Create INSERT, Create MATERIAL, or Create DECAL. The Create INSERT can optionally change the position of the origin as well (you won’t want to use this option if the object has children).

Be sure the object you choose does not have a parent, or else it too will be added to the INSERT.

If the object you choose is a cutter, then it will be saved as such (Pro only).

Open INSERT FACTORY mode

You can edit any INSERT by selecting it in the KIT OPS panel and pressing the Edit INSERT button. This will launch a new instance of Blender and load the INSERT. This Factory mode has a completely different KIT OPS panel interface, which is shown below. From here you can edit the INSERT while adding different features which are not possible in the Scene INSERT Creation mode.

Once you are finished editing the INSERT, you can save it, close BLENDER and then refresh the KIT OPS Panel and reload the INSERT (or just select the original INSERT object and use the Replace INSERT button).

INSERTS can be made up of multiple objects. In order to do this, one of the objects must be the parent object. Typically, if you have a cutter boolean that subtracts from the target object, you may want to make it the top level or main object.

You cannot use an empty as the main object!

But, what you can do is create any object, like a cube, and set its properties to Wire and make it the main object and it will not render or display. Then you can use it for moving and snapping the entire INSERT.

Author name for INSERT If more than one object is part of an INSERT, then a Main object needs to be designated. Type of object for INSERT Type of Cutter (if cutter is selected) Solid (default) Wire (displays as wireframe and will not render). Useful for top level objects where you might use an empty. Cutter (Boolean Union, Difference, Intersect or part of the INSERT* If INSERT has animation associated with it When on, KIT OPS tries to figure out what objects are best to be parented. Best left off. Saves INSERT. DO NOT USE Blender>File>Save as this function does much more to correctly store the INSERT and its settings. Loads the Render Scene where you can create a thumbnail Removes unused wire objects Help Adds and Edit Hardpoints (see Hardpoints video)**

*An INSERT can have cutters that cut into the target object, and these are designated as Union, Difference or Intersection Booleans. But, if an INSERT has boolean cutters within itself, then they should be designated an INSERT cutter.

For example, take this INSERT:

Blue is the target object (not a parent) The cutter is marked in FACTORY as Difference The bolt head is marked as SOLID The cube cutter is marked as INSERT because it only affects the INSERT and not the Target.

Cube cutter in FACTORY mode marked as Insert

**Hardpoints video:

New file FACTORY mode

If you start Blender and want to immediately start creating an INSERT, you will see the KIT OPS Panel is not set to FACTORY mode. You can save the .blend file in a KPACK folder as designated in Prefs and then when you open it again KIT OPS will be in FACTORY mode. Then you can continue to create the INSERT as you like. Remember to use the Save INSERT button to do your final save of the INSERT.

Tips

How to use a boolean object’s material in the target object

Here’s how you can change the material of your boolean cutter and have it shown on your target object.

Smoothing issues and how to fix them when using INSERTS

Sometimes you may encounter smoothing issues. Here are a few ways of troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

To create your own material ball

Load Factory defaults in Blender. This disables both the KIT OPS and SYNTH addons. Edit the material.blend file found in your addons masterfolder, keep the same object name and save it. Then restart Blender.

KIT OPS 3 keeps throwing an error

Make sure you are using Blender 3.6 or greater.

If you’re still having trouble with the addon, please check out http://cw1.me/trouble
If that doesn’t fix it, then please check out http://cw1.me/helpyou

Not seeing any thumbnails

This can happen if you’re not using the fast thumbnail cache. Sometimes it can take quite some time for thumbnails to display. The thumbnail rendering routine in KIT OPS is the same as in many other addons, and is an integral part of Blender.

Be sure to enable Thumbnail Caching Engine in Preferences.

Thumbnails are “multi-threaded” and have a lower priority than other threads in Blender. This means if you have something else going on (like EEVEE rendering) it can slow down the thumbnail display– especially if you have a slower computer.

Also, be sure the INSERTS have a .png file with the same name as the .blend INSERT file. So if an INSERT file is named foo.blend, the thumbnail would be foo.png. If it is not, it will not render.

Where does Blender actually install addons?

To find Blender’s add-on directory, switch to Blender’s Python Console window, type the following commands:

import bpy
bpy.utils.script_path_user()
Blender will tell you where the add-on directory is.

Why is my INSERT being added upside down?

This is because either your INSERT has flipped faces, or the object you’re adding to has flipped faces. See the diagram below to show the status of all faces (blue are correct and face outwards, red are reversed and face inwards– you want to add to blue faces).

Why does my INSERT throw off the smoothing of the target object?

You may need to check your auto smooth settings or apply a Smooth by Angle modifier (Blender 4.1+) to the modifiers for the target object.

Or, you may have custom split normals on your cutter as shown below (If it says Clear Custom Split Normals Data– then you do have custom split normals.)

See for more details:

Why can’t I load KPACKS?

You need to unzip them first. See Installing KPACKS

Uninstalling the Thumbnail Cache Engine ( Pillow ) {#uninstalling-the-thumbnail-cache-engine-(-pillow-)}

delete the following folders from c:\users\ <username> \appdata\roaming\python\python37\site-packages: PIL Pillow-8.2.0.dist-info(edited)

Why don’t my INSERTS display the correct texture maps?

There are a few reasons why this might be the case.

  1. Firstly, make sure the material you use has a unique name. If KIT OPS adds an INSERT, and there are already materials in the scene with the same name, it will use the existing material that is already there. This way you don’t end up creating a huge material list which chews up all your graphics memory.

  2. You may need to turn on Automatically Pack into .blend under File > External Data. See image below. FWIW, most people enable this feature in their startup file. This has been fixed in the RAVEN Edition. So, if you’re still seeing this problem, then the issue is that you are using CTRL + S to save your INSERT and not the Save INSERT button. Always use the Save INSERT button!

Visit Our KIT OPS Store

You can access tons of different KPACKS from Blender Market.

You can also visit the KPACK Repository at http://cw1.me/kpacks

Appendix

What is Depsgraph and why is it important to addons? {#what-is-depsgraph-and-why-is-it-important-to-addons?}

Using the Blender Dependency Graph within a Python add-on can provide powerful capabilities for developers to create advanced features and custom tools. However, integrating with the Depsgraph in a Python add-on also comes with potential challenges and issues. Here are some of the common difficulties that might arise:

  1. Performance Overheads: Python, being an interpreted language, typically runs slower than native C/C++ code, which is what Blender’s core is written in. When a Python add-on heavily interacts with the Depsgraph, particularly in complex scenes or frequent updates, it can introduce significant performance overheads. The speed at which the Depsgraph can be accessed and manipulated from Python might not be as fast as when done from Blender’s native code.
  2. Complexity in Handling Dependencies: Understanding and correctly managing dependencies between various elements in a scene can be complex. Python add-on developers need a deep understanding of Blender’s scene structure and the Depsgraph to avoid introducing bugs or unintended behaviors, especially when dealing with intricate dependency chains.
  3. Concurrency Issues: Blender’s Depsgraph is designed to handle concurrency to utilize multiple CPU cores. However, Python’s Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) can limit the effectiveness of multithreading within Python add-ons. This can lead to difficulties in achieving optimal performance improvements when trying to perform parallel operations through the Depsgraph in a Python context.
  4. API Limitations: While Blender’s Python API is extensive, it may not expose all the functionalities of the Depsgraph that are available to Blender’s internal operations. Some more intricate or deeper aspects of the Depsgraph might not be accessible, or their manipulation might be restricted, limiting what an add-on can achieve.
  5. Version Compatibility: Blender is actively developed, and with each release, significant changes can occur in its API and internal structures, including the Depsgraph. Python add-ons that interact with the Depsgraph need to be carefully maintained and updated to ensure compatibility with new Blender versions, which can be resource-intensive.
  6. Error Handling and Debugging: Debugging issues related to the Depsgraph can be challenging, especially when trying to trace through complex dependency chains or when dealing with asynchronous updates. Errors might not be straightforward to reproduce or isolate, complicating the debugging process.
  7. Impact on Scene Integrity: Incorrect manipulation of the Depsgraph via a Python add-on could potentially lead to data corruption or instability in the Blender scene. This makes it crucial to handle all interactions with the Depsgraph carefully and to thoroughly test the add-on under various conditions.

Default KPACK Location

When you first install the addon, it should already include a default KPACK called ML Box, which comes with a few INSERTs. This is typically saved in the default path of the addon.

When you navigate to the addon preferences, you’ll find three main tabs: General, File Path, and Search. We’ll delve into these later, but for now, let’s focus on installing a KPACK.

In the File Path tab, you’ll see the linked folder. For example on a PC:

C:\Users(pcname)\AppData\Roaming\BlenderFoundation\Blender\4.0\scripts\addons\kitops\Master

The default location for Blender add-on folders on a Mac is

/Users/$USER/Library/Application Support/Blender/3.5/scripts/addons/

Editing the thumbnail generator scene

A quick video tutorial on how to edit the thumbnail scene: