Blender 3D: Blending Into Python/2.5 quickstart

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In Blender 2.5 bpy replaces the old Blender module, introducing with it a completely new Python API. This page is designed to give an overview of how to perform key scripting tasks with bpy, and should be of interest both to newcomers and those transitioning from the 2.4x releases.

The console[edit | edit source]

The built-in Python console has had a major overhaul in Blender 2.5, and now supports autocompletion (press Ctrl+Space). This is great for exploring all the new functions, though inline documentation is sparse.

Latest version (14-7-2010) activate console: Shift+F4.

Context + Operation = Result[edit | edit source]

The 2.5 series introduces the bpy.ops module. Once you register your script as an "operation" it will integrate directly into the UI and can appear as a standard button identical to the built-in tools (which also use ops). Usefully for programmers, the function call of each operation appears in the tooltip of its button.

There is also a big conceptual change in ops: instead of being explicitly passed a target, operations deduce one from Blender's current "context". The context includes an array of what is currently selected, the current active object or bone, the active editing mode, the state of the Blender window, user preferences, and more besides.

Operations take no arguments and return no values. For this reason calling them from within complex scripts is considered sloppy, since you must indirectly set the operation's target, then (unless you already have a pointer) hunt indirectly for its results. Calling objects' functions directly is still supported, of course; unfortunately, as of 2.5 alpha 0 there are still a lot of ops that can't be replicated with direct calls.

Performing tasks in 2.5[edit | edit source]

Remember that ops functions do not return a value. After calling one to create an object, you will need to get a handle to the result yourself!

Creation and destruction[edit | edit source]

bpy.ops.object.add(type='EMPTY')
Creates an object and empty datablock, and links it to the current scene. See also #Manual object creation.
bpy.ops.scene.new(type='EMPTY')
Creates a new scene. Can be a clone or full duplicate of the current scene.
mesh_object.data.add_geometry(verts, edges, faces)
Adds verts, edges and faces to a mesh. Object mode only.
object.modifiers.new(type="ARMATURE",name="Armature")
Adds a modifier to an object.
bpy.ops.mesh.edge_face_add()
If two verts are selected, creates an edge. If three or more verts are selected, creates face(s) as well.
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add()
Adds a cube to the current mesh object. Other primitive_*_add() functions exist.
bpy.ops.armature.bone_primitive_add(name="Bone")
Adds a bone to the active armature.
bpy.ops.object.delete()
bpy.ops.*.delete()
Deletes the selected objects, mesh, etc. Many versions exist for different types.

Manual object creation[edit | edit source]

If you need finer control than ops.object.add() provides, or just return values, follow this example:

me_da = bpy.data.add_mesh('mesh_data') # a mesh datablock without an associated object
me_ob = bpy.data.add_object('MESH','mesh_ob') # a mesh object without an associated datablock
# N.B. in future releases the above calls will become bpy.data.<type>.new()

me_ob.data = me_da # Assign the datablock to the object

bpy.context.scene.objects.link(me_ob) # Link the object to the active scene

There is also add_armature(), add_image(), add_lamp(), add_material() and add_texture().

Getting objects and data[edit | edit source]

bpy.data.objects
bpy.data.meshes
bpy.data.*
A group of collections of Python objects. There are many - one for each type. As with normal dictionaries you can pick objects out by name or by index, to add new datablocks use new() or load() for images, sounds and fonts.
object.data
An object's datablock.
mesh.data.vertices
A mesh's vertex collection. Read-only.
armature.data.bones
armature.data.edit_bones
An armature's bone dict, in object and edit mode respectively. If you access the wrong object for the current context, it will appear empty.

Context management[edit | edit source]

bpy.ops.object.mode_set(mode='EDIT')
Set the current mode. Note that the mode may not end up exactly as you set it here: for instance, EDIT can become EDIT_ARMATURE.
bpy.context.active_object
bpy.context.active_bone
bpy.context.active_pchan
bpy.context.active_base
These functions return the user's currently active item, which is generally the last one of its type selected. active_base returns a generic Python type.
To set the active item, assign a Python object to one of the following values:
  • scene.objects.active
  • armature.data.bones.active or armature.data.edit_bones.active
The active object is highlighted white in the outliner.
bpy.context.selected_objects
bpy.context.selected_bones
bpy.context.selected_bases
Returns an array of the currently-selected objects. Other functions exist for editbones, "editable objects" and pchans.
object.selected
Boolean value defining whether the object is selected.

Registering an operation[edit | edit source]

See .blender\scripts\templates\operator.py. With your script registered, you will be able to add it to the Tool shelf and launch it from the spacebar menu.