Shape Key Collections

Organizing shape keys is a nightmare because you just cannot give them structure due to the lack of any such mechanism in native Blender.

This is where Shape Key Collections saves the day and allows for full control over your shape keys. Bring structure to the chaos, a folder structure, that is.

With this new management system you can rename and organize which shape keys go in which folder collection, including the benefit of subfolders for full detail of your many shape keys.

The Master Shape Keys addon contains this addon in its full version -https://inlet.gumroad.com/l/master-shape-keys

In comparison to the original-unorganized list, this is a must.

Split Keys

Put together up to three shape keys and display each value in one place. This allows you to group related shape keys for easier management and control over your mesh. An example would be the left and right eyebrow as shape key 1 and 2, while the 3-rd would be both of them together.

FAQ

Are there tutorials?

• Of course, check the Documentation section below.

The .zip doesn’t install in Blender

• Please un-zip the archive and install the .py script.

How do I activate an addon?

• Use this 20 sec guide – https://youtu.be/wOv4oHO5Kqg

How many shape keys can I have on a model?

• You can have as many as your computer would allow you (performance wise). During testing the addon slowed down at around 1000 shape keys. Most of that slowness was only related to moving the shape keys up and down, and changing folders, not in regards to the rest of Blender.

I have v2 of the addon, will I lose my previous folder structures?

• You shouldn’t lose anything. But even if something goes wrong, reverting to v2 of the addon would bring your structure back.

How can I get more control over my shape keys?

• Apart from putting them in organized folders, you can merge and split them with Master Shape Keys, which also contains this addon in its full version – https://inlet.gumroad.com/l/master-shape-keys

Will this addon work on another computer?

• So long as the computer has the addon and the same Blender version, the Collections will work.

DOCUMENTATION

Actions

Add/RemoveAdd a new shape key or remove the active shape key or folder. If you remove an open folder, its children will become a child of the folder the now-removed folder was a child of (they will step down in the hierarchy). If you remove a closed folder, the folder and anything inside of it will be removed

Up/Down
Rearrange the order of shape keys or folders. An item may not be moved outside of a folder it belongs to, or into a folder it doesn’t belong to

Add Folder
Creates a ‘Folder’ object inside the list of shape keys, which can have shape keys or other folders put into them to create a structured hierarchy

Folder Toggle
Open and close the folder. Closing a folder hides everything inside of it, for a more tidy UI

Drop-down Menu

Duplicate
When a shape key is selected, this works exactly the same as New Shape Key from Mix. When a folder is selected, this will duplicate the folder and any folders or shape keys inside of it

Track Applied Keys
When Applying or Saving modifiers as shape keys, Track Applied Keys must first be enabled, or the new shape keys will not be added. First, enable tracking and the UI will be greyed out. Second, Save or Apply whatever modifiers you wish. Third, disable Tracking and the new shape keys will appear

Open/Close Folders
Opens or closes all folders in the object’s shape key list

Settings

Name
The name of the shape key (like in default Blender) or folder. You are safe to rename folders at any time, even if it has things inside it

Folder
The folder, or ‘parent’ of the active shape key or folder. Items that belong to a folder are bound to stay within that folder, and will move with the folder if the folder is moved around.

Value
The value of the shape key (like in default Blender).

Release notes

Version 3.4

• Added Split Keys for additional functionality

Version 3.3

• You can now duplicate a folder and its entire shape key contents with the 'Duplicate' button in the drop-down menu

Version 3.2

• Fixed selecting a new shape key when removing a shape key

Version 3.1

• Allowed user to add/apply Modifiers shape keys

Version 3.0

• Major code overhaul fixing issues like stability, performance and usability
• Refresh button removed, while fixing the problem of shape keys not showing up on 1-st time install
• Targeting folders now can be directly done in the list, instead of under it
• Working with the UI now feels smoother and accurate

Version 2.0

• Rewrote parts of the 'folder structure' management code to make it more stable and consistent
• Enabled editing the name of shape keys and folders by double-clicking their entry in the list
• Removed the ability to trigger an error by trying to remove a shape key when there are no shape keys
• Added a 'Refresh' button to update the list and show any shape keys that were in the model before the script was loaded
• On 'exporting' the model the shape keys' names no longer default to their auto-generated names
• On 'exporting' the order of the shape keys is maintained, so long as the folders are open