Placing details on complex shapes often means tedious shrinkwrapping and manual cleanup. What if you could do it in one step?
Let us introduce you to Conform Object, one of the many add-ons created by Mark Kingsnorth. Conform Object allows users to project smaller objects onto the surface of a larger mesh in a single direction, almost like shining a slide projector on a wall.
Let us introduce you to Conform Object, one of the many add-ons created by Mark Kingsnorth. Conform Object allows users to project smaller objects onto the surface of a larger mesh in a single direction, almost like shining a slide projector on a wall.
This tool is similar to another one we saw on our blog, Quick Attach by Kushiro, but with a slightly higher price and a different feature set.
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Main Features
Let’s have a look at some of the features in this addon:
- Simple right-click menu option performs the operation in one go.
- Ability to gradually apply the effect from the bottom to the top of the object.
- Transfer surface normals to blend object shading.
- Optional deformation lattice to stretch an object around another surface
- Non-destructive workflow that leaves the underlying mesh intact
- Undo and apply options handle the underlying complexity of adding and removing modifiers.
- Support for conforming multiple objects at once
- Presets system to save your preferred settings.
Keep in mind that Conform Object assumes a basic understanding of how object location and orientation work in Blender. The quality of the result also depends on the mesh topology, so make sure your mesh has enough vertices and faces for smooth deformation.
This add-on works with Blender versions 2.9 through 4.5. For more details, refer to the official FAQ and Documentation.
Showcase
Let’s look at how some of the tools inside this add-on work, starting with the advanced Lattice Deformation feature, which lets you wrap an object around another.
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The Gradient Effect can be used to affect only the lower parts of an object, leaving the upper parts untouched.
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This also includes a new experimental Conform Object Modifier, in case you are curious how this one works, click here to watch a video showcase about it.
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Similar Alternatives
- Flowify – Also created by Mark Kingsnorth, Flowify is designed to bend or wrap objects onto a target surface made of evenly spaced quad faces or cylindrical forms. It uses a flat reference grid to guide the deformation. Unlike Conform Object, which projects in a single direction like a slide projector, Flowify is ideal when you need full surface wrapping.
- Blender Shrinkwrap Modifier – A built-in Blender feature that snaps one mesh’s vertices onto the surface of another. It lets you conform objects to complex shapes or prepare models for 3D printing by choosing a target object and a projection method, with options like offset to prevent Z-fighting. Unlike Conform Object, it works directly in the modifier stack and lacks the one-click, non-destructive projection workflow and presets that make the add-on so convenient.
- Quick Attach by Koshiro, which was featured on a previous blog post and works in a simpler way, attaching the faces of two meshes. You may check that blog post for more information about it.
✨ You can get the Conform Object add-on on SuperHive.
📘 Want to build your own Blender tools? Check out Blender Tool Development Fundamentals, a complete guide to building custom operators, UI extensions, gizmos, and Qt widgets for advanced add-on development.
📘 Want to build your own Blender tools? Check out Blender Tool Development Fundamentals, a complete guide to building custom operators, UI extensions, gizmos, and Qt widgets for advanced add-on development.
Check out our early access book!
We invite you to explore "Blender Tool Development Fundamentals", a comphensive book on the concepts and fundamentals seen in this post.
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