7 hidden Blender hacks that will improve your workflow

pavla writes:

Who doesn't love secret tricks? Because Blender is a comprehensive, versatile tool, there are lots of hidden Easter eggs - sleek tools and functions that lurk beneath the visible surface.

CG Cookie shares the best tips to improve your workflow.

#1 Easily select all objects in a collection
Often you need to select all objects inside a Blender collection.

One way to do so is to move your pointer to the Outliner, right-clicking on a collection, and choosing Select Objects.

But there’s another, easier way. Just select one object in the collection, then press Shift + G for Select Grouped, and choose Collection.

Now, all objects in the same collection will be selected.

#2 Use the Scale Cage tool for flexible scaling
Scaling single or multiple objects can be a pain, especially when objects have origins/pivot points that don’t match your desired scaling center.

Since Blender 2.8 there’s a tool that’s hidden and easily forgotten: the Scale Cage tool. Here’s how to use it:

• Select one or more objects you’d like to scale.
• In the Toolbar, press and hold the Scale tool button to get a roll-out. Select the second option: Scale Cage.
• Click and drag any of the Scale Cage points to start scaling the objects from that point towards the opposite point of the cage.

Read the full article on CG Cookie blog.