Color by Axis is a Blender add-on that allows you to check whether the edges of an object are aligned with the X, Y or Z axis, by creating a color overlay.
⚠ This add-on is still a work in progress. Currently tested on Blender 3.0 and above.
Download the source code as "zip" and install it like any other Blender add-on.
The add-on will create a Panel in the N-Panel, called Color by Axis. Here is an explanation about the main items:
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Color by Axis checkbox:
- Activates the overlay over any selected object.
- Once created, it will allow will to navigate the viewport, but will be turned off as soon as you type or click.
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Axis type option:
- GLOBAL: Compare your object's edges with global axis.
- LOCAL: Compare your object's edges with its local axis.
- REFERENCE: Compare your object's edges with a selected reference object. If no reference is provided it will work as LOCAL.
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Reference object:
- Select the object which will be used by the REFERENCE axis type.
Note: the colors of the overlay are attached to Blender's default theme, for consistency. If you want to change this, you have to change preference > themes > user interface > axis & gizmos colors > Axis x, y, z
- Add a default cube, make a copy and rotate it 30 degrees in Z axis.
- Add an empty and rotate it 30 degrees in Z axis.
- Select both cubes and enter "Edit Mode".
- Click the checkbox "Color by Axis" in the N-panel. The edges of the cube will be colored according to the global axis that they are parallel to.
- If "LOCAL" Axis Type is selected, it will color the edges based on the local coordinates of the objects.
- If "REFERENCE" Axis Type is selected, choose the empty object as reference. It will color the edges based on the local coordinates of the reference object.
