It was just 2 months ago we released 985. Release time is always an exciting time for us and this release is no exception. I am happy to announce the release of Hard Ops 986_1 Mercury. This release aims to expand on our last endeavors while also bringing back a few forgotten classics.

Shoutout to: AR, Bon7, Loof, Proxe, and ST3

Release Image : Nik Vili

Video Overview

Showtime

When using a modal the T an N panels could obscure the help which caused problems.

Update Notification System

HOPS now has an update notification system. I wanted to make it as unobtrusive as possible.

The button is the easiest way to find out if you are up to date. Clicking it displays about which will say in the bottom right.

In the event of an update being needed or available additional icons for market links will be provided as well as a button explaining how to obtain updates. We hope this makes it easier to keep up what is going on with Hard Ops.

Hotkey Helper / Ctrl + K

With the enthusiasm shown for the button tutorial, AR wanted to expand on it even more. Now the button is capable of listing the default hotkeys of Hardops to make it even more intuitive for new users.

Ctrl + K will now bring up a hotkey manager for adjusting or changing hotkeys in Hardops. As with all prefs to keep them across sessions its important to save the preferences.

Boxcutter Notifications

Boxcutter received a very small micro update and HOPS has also been enhanced to display modal information for boxcutter.

This is something users can opt into via the opt in panel.

Sequential Q Menu

The Q menu is a never-ending quest to shrink while also expanding towards our dreams. In this update we wanted to add and opt-in to allow users to stack the Q menu in a different fashion making the options more accessible for smaller displays.

Wrap / Auto T and N Panel

Modals now have a custom wrap and border that can be toggled in preferences to be corners or boxes. This was something I felt added a bit of serenity to modals by quieting the experience.

Edit Mesh Multi Tool (EM Macro)

EM Macro aims to replace all 4 of these and combine them in one and bring them back front row. Grate, Knurl and Panel were some of the oldest tools in HOPS and now they have finally been remade for the new generation. Now all of them have interactive capabilities and go so much farther than their predecessors.

Curve Extract

Multi edit mode is something I am still getting used to. With the latest update multi curves can be extracted from multiple meshes in edit mode.

Array V2

ST3 Array was our first attempt at making an alternative approach to arraying. While it is the most entertaining array yet we didn’t want to stop attempting to make something even better. This update brings forth Array V2 which can be opted into and will replace the options in the menus and helpers for array.

This array starts off feeling like 2d classic default.

Pressing V changes from 2d to 3d changing the experience. Even adding additional count is a different experience.

This array is experimental so there is additional madness to opt into. Pressing G in 3d mode will activate both circle and tractor beam for users to experiment with. The goal is to make an array that allows for understanding of 3d positioning while arraying.

Helper New Material

New material in the helper has also been enhanced to work better. Now multiple indices are no longer being nuked and blank materials can be stacked and assigned properly.

Material List Count Pref

The material list was capable of getting long when there were tons of materials. A user kindly wrote about it and provided a solution and now I am happy to announce a better way to deal with out of control material lists.

Blank Material Cut

I admit this one is a little random. But cutting a blank material per cut was a long time dream for reasons I can’t remember.

Modscroll Smart Apply

Smart Apply has come to modifier scroll.

When using modifier the following now applies.

• Ctrl + LMB – applies current modifiers and reactivates deactivated modifiers.
• Shift + LMB – applies current modifiers and duplicates the mesh while removing deactivated modifiers

Viewport To_Render

Viewport adjust is done by pressing Alt + V >> V or selecing (v)Lookdev +.

During lookdev pressing T will set the flag for the operation to exit to blank light allowing for users to adjust lighting post lookdev. Now there is support for rotation.

Blank Light also has a tab for expanded mode. It is still in the process of being sorted but it does have an experimental world edit tab that can be used for adding various types of fog.

Post Release

Post release we generally aim to keep fixing things found by users. This release was no exception.

About Boxcutter

Boxcutter also received a small service update “716_6” to ensure things worked well with 2.9 as well. We remain grateful for those who report issues and keep on keeping on with HardOps.

With each release I feel we get closer and closer to the initial goal of creating a streamlined workflow for hard surface use. This release brings us a little bit closer while also providing a new ui and plenty of new things to enjoy.

First and foremost shout out to the team.

• proxe
• ar
• ST3
• neerhom / loof
• bonjorno7
• c0

Nika Zautashvili  (LTX Concept) 

I am proud to announce the release of HardOps 985: Neodymium… X.

 

 

Preference Enhancements

In addition to being cleaned up a bit there is now a panel category area. Deleting the entry removes the tab from the N panel.

Fast UI System

Over the course of this development we came to realize our typical approach was what could be considered “fast” and a new UI system was made by ST3 to keep up with us. Alternative to this is the expanded UI which I will get into next.

Color customization was big for me because I wanted my UI pink.

This system extends to most tools and modals.

Even operators display a ui similar to our first attempts. This was crucial to me. Having this information really helped ground the experience and maintain awareness.

And of course if you don’t like pink you can choose something more “fitting”.

Boolean / Parent Shapes

After a boolean F9 will bring up a panel where parent can be checked for booleans.

This can also be set by default in prefs.

Sharpen / Csharp – Remove Cutters

Csharp within sharpen has been expanded to be able to remove cutters when used. This is also able to be set in preferences as above.

Knife Curve Support

If a curve is selected and a mesh shift clicking knife will perform knife project in a way that utilizes curve now. Someday it will be even more automatic but for now this is a step in the right direction.

 

Circle Fix

C0 was diligent in his work with fixing circle and now it is performing better than last release. I still have hopes of rewriting and revamping it but now it survives once more.

Smart Apply Expansion

Smart apply was intended to be a smarter version of the apply system of Csharpen. In this release it has been expanded further to encompass more.

Shift clicking smart apply will create a new duplicate with weighted normal and the last bevel removed to assist with quick work.

 

Dice Improvements

Dice is now more capable than ever. Last release we added “big dice” where users can dice multiple objects using the same die. This time we allow for a bevy of new things:

to_dice – allow dicing of a primary object using the bounds of the secondary object.

selection_die – dicing using 2 points to determine an area (mesh intersect)

hidden_die – Dicing in edit mode on partially visible meshes.

Smart Apply Dice

A prop was added to the ctrl + ~ HardOps helper for choosing how to treat dice prior to use. When mods were present the dice would never go through so smart apply is here to help make sure dice works as desired. Without applying the last level of bevel or weighted normal.

Alt click will also do it unless emulate 3 button is enabled then no alt. .

Bstep

When sort bypassing users may now choose to add and adjust a bevel at that intermediate stage.

Curve / Extract

Curve extract will take a surface and either make it a curve or an extraction. Extractions without mods are also capable from this.

Shift + click for mesh extractions with solidify.

 

To_Shape

First we had to_box then to_plane then I didn’t want to add more of these. So now introducing to_shape. Now you can turn an area into a shape box, cube or cylinder.

 

KitOps Popup / ST3

Kitops has also received an update from within hops. If used with the Q menu option kitops will now have a floating, scalable and movable popup.

Shift + clicking the option will make it stay allowing for quick changing.

In closing

There’s quite a bit for hops I am sure is being missed in this log but I wanted to go over the most crucial. The UI system extends far beyond what was shown. As time goes on we hope to show a different way to approach things and further make systems optimized for users requiring simplicity.