One of the coolest things about Blender is its extensive feature palette. You can do anything from modeling and 3D printing to creating high-end visual effects. And if you somehow reach any limitations, there’s probably already an add-on to get around it.

Add-ons are software extensions that aren’t included in the default version of the program. There are two kinds of add-ons: those already included in the software download that need to be enabled in the settings, and others that you must first download from an appropriate website. Blender has a reputation for its vast amount of compatible add-ons, which include some of the best Blender add-ons to enhance your workflow.

This is why we want to give you an overview of the most important pre-installed add-ons that we especially recommend enabling.

How to enable Add-ons

You can find all the integrated add-ons listed in the user preferences. To get there, search for the Edit menu in the top left corner, select Preferences, and choose the Add-ons tab on the left side. Here you’ll find a directory with all the add-ons. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar in the top right to find the add-on you want to enable. Once found, check the box next to the name to activate it. Click on the little arrow next to it to open up more details about the add-on. When you are done, press the button in the bottom left corner and ensure that Auto-Save Preferences is enabled to save the changes.

All add-ons are listed up in the user preferences.

Essential Pre-Installed Add-ons

1. Node Wrangler

Node Wrangler is a favorite add-on, making shading and compositing much faster and easier. It's a must-have in your collection of essential Blender add-ons, especially for those looking to streamline workflows with shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + T in Blender. It adds extra shortcuts to help you with the most common tasks when dealing with nodes. Here are the most essential shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Shift + Left Click on a node: Preview the output of the selected node. Click multiple times on the same node to scroll through the different outputs. This is really helpful to compare various parts of your node tree.

• Ctrl + T: Adds a texture coordinate and mapping node when a node with a vector input is selected. This is one of the essential Blender shortcuts.

• Ctrl + Shift + T: Opens a file browser when a Principled BSDF node is selected. You can then select all textures of a material, and it automatically arranges them in a PBR setup! This handy Blender texture shortcut, accessed with Ctrl + Shift + T, is a game-changer for speeding up your workflow.

• Ctrl + Shift + Drag: Quickly combine two nodes with a mix shader or mix RGB node.

There are many additional useful shortcuts that come with Node Wrangler, making it one of the best Blender plugins for those who rely on keyboard efficiency. If you've encountered issues like Ctrl + Shift + T not working in Blender or Blender Ctrl T inconsistencies, it's essential to ensure Node Wrangler is enabled. All the shortcuts are listed on blender.org/manual.

Bake Animation can also be pretty handy when optimizing animations. Check out our Blender 3D Glossary to learn all the terms you need.

2. Copy Attributes

The most well-known PC shortcut is probably Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, but for more advanced tasks, Ctrl T in Blender and Blender Control Shift T are crucial shortcuts that benefit greatly from this Blender shortcut add-on. The Copy Attributes add-on enhances the copy and paste tool in Blender, making it more effective.

Without this add-on, you can only copy objects. When active, however, you can choose exactly which properties you want to copy from one object to another, including transformations, constraints, modifiers, etc.

To use it, select as many objects as you want by holding down Shift while left-clicking. The last object clicked should have the attributes you want to copy. Then press Ctrl + C and choose what you want to copy.

The Copy Attributes menu after pressing Ctrl + C.

3. A.N.T.Landscape

Creating landscape renders in Blender is a lot of fun, especially with the A.N.T. Landscape add-on, which is perfect for those working with high-quality Blender assets. After enabling it, press Shift + A and choose Mesh > Landscape to add a landscape to your scene. After adding it, press F9 to open the landscape menu. It offers many customizable parameters and great presets. As soon as you enter edit mode or transform the object, the settings will be fixed and can’t be changed anymore.

Landscape created with the A.N.T.Landscape add-on.

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4. Extra Objects

Enabling this Blender extension provides even more objects in the Add > Mesh menu, making it one of the Blender must-have add-ons for anyone looking to expand their modeling options. You’ll get a rock generator, special torus objects, math functions, pipe joints, single vertices, diamonds, and much more! It is definitely worth going through these options to check if there’s anything useful for your project.

A few of the extra objects you get with this addon. They are all customizable.

5. Blenderkit

BlenderKit is an online library with tons of 3D objects, materials, and brushes, making it a perfect resource for those who are exploring Blender’s capabilities. If you’re just getting started, our Complete Guide to Blender 3D for Beginners can help you make the most of these tools. This add-on adds a search bar to the 3D viewport, allowing you to quickly search for assets and add them directly to the library. It’s free, but there’s also a subscription version for access to more assets and cloud storage for your objects and shaders.

Blenderkit enables you to search, download and import models, textures and brushes inside the 3d viewport.

6. Modifier Tools

This is a very simple but useful add-on. It adds four buttons on top of the modifier stack, allowing you to apply, delete, disable the preview, or open/close them all at once with ease. This tool is particularly useful for managing complex scenes with multiple modifiers.

Need to learn Armatures for Blender? Learn all terms related to Blender 3D from our Blender 3D Glossary.

This add-on adds four useful tools to the modifier stack.

7. Image as Planes

There are various reasons to import images projected onto planes in your scene, especially when utilizing Blender templates to save time and enhance your projects. One of them is “cheating” by using an alpha-masked image instead of a 3D object, saving hours of modeling and rendering time. With the Image as Planes add-on enabled, press Shift + A and select it from the Image tab. You can then choose an image from the file browser, and Blender will automatically map it onto a plane with the correct aspect ratio. Before you press Import Images as Planes in the file browser, you can set a few import options, such as how the material should be shaded, toggling transparency, or defining its placement.

The Lion in this scene is just an image projected on a plane.

8. MeasureIt

If you’re modeling something on a real-world scale, measuring is essential, particularly when tackling common Blender issues where precision is key. Blender has some measurement options in the viewport overlays and tool settings, but their functionality is limited. Fortunately, there’s a dedicated add-on for this purpose. When enabled, you’ll find the MeasureIt tools in the N-Panel (the panel in the 3D viewport that opens when you press N on your keyboard) under the View tab. Enter edit mode to add measurements, select the corresponding parts, and choose a Segment, Angle, or Area measurement from the add-on. MeasureIt offers powerful tools and options for every application, solidifying its place among Blender's best add-ons for precision modeling. It’s worth trying out to understand what it can do.

The MeasureIt add-on in action.

We hope this article expands your horizons on what is possible with Blender, especially with the best Blender add-ons and shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + T on Mac or Shift Ctrl T in Blender.

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FAQs:

1. What are the best Blender add-ons for beginners?

   • Blender offers several must-have add-ons for beginners, including Node Wrangler, Copy Attributes, and A.N.T. Landscape. These tools simplify workflows and enhance creativity, making them essential for those new to the software.

2. How do I enable add-ons in Blender?

   • To enable add-ons in Blender, go to the Edit menu, select Preferences, and navigate to the Add-ons tab. From there, you can search for the add-on you want and check the box next to its name to activate it.

3. Why is Ctrl + Shift + T not working in Blender?

   • If the Ctrl + Shift + T shortcut isn’t working in Blender, it could be due to the Node Wrangler add-on not being enabled. Ensure Node Wrangler is activated in the Add-ons tab under Preferences to use this shortcut.

4. What is the Node Wrangler add-on, and why should I use it?

   • Node Wrangler is a powerful Blender add-on that simplifies the shading and compositing process by adding useful shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + T for texture mapping. It’s an essential tool for anyone working extensively with nodes.

5. Can I add custom objects to Blender’s Add > Mesh menu?

   • Yes, by enabling the Extra Objects add-on, you can add custom objects such as rocks, pipe joints, and mathematical shapes to the Add > Mesh menu, expanding your modeling capabilities.

6. How do I use the MeasureIt add-on in Blender?

   • The MeasureIt add-on provides tools for accurate measurements in Blender. After enabling it, you can add segment, angle, or area measurements directly within the 3D viewport, making it perfect for precision modeling.