Export with boolean modifiers applied not working #83442

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Max · 2020-12-05T20:37:10+01:00

Max commented

2020-12-05 20:37:10 +01:00

System Information
Operating system: Windows 10
Graphics card: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

Blender Version
Broken: 2.91
Worked: None

Short description of error

When I have an object that has boolean modifiers on it, for example some other objects used as cut-outs for the object, the object and all of these hidden objects all get exported together. I've ensured all these auxiliary objects are marked as hidden and un-rendered, and they don't show up when I render. I've also ensured that all the modifiers are marked as rendered as well, and when I export I check the "Apply Modifiers" checkbox, but this appears to have no effect. What I've had to do, in order to preserve the modifiers and be able to change them later, is to duplicate the file and apply all the modifiers in the duplicated file, then export, but this step shouldn't be necessary if the "Apply Modifiers" checkbox works as advertised.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Create a mesh object; let's call that Foo.
Create an intersecting mesh object, Bar.
Add a boolean difference modifier to Foo, with Bar as the target. At this point, Foo and Bar are both visible.
Make Bar hidden and also uncheck its render setting so that it does not get rendered. Now, only Foo should be visible with a Bar-shaped chunk taken out of it.
Export an STL of the entire file or just Foo.
STL includes both Foo and Bar meshes when it should be identical to the Foo-minus-Bar shape in (4).

Export-bug-demo.blend

**System Information** Operating system: Windows 10 Graphics card: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti **Blender Version** Broken: 2.91 Worked: None **Short description of error** When I have an object that has boolean modifiers on it, for example some other objects used as cut-outs for the object, the object and all of these hidden objects all get exported together. I've ensured all these auxiliary objects are marked as hidden and un-rendered, and they don't show up when I render. I've also ensured that all the modifiers are marked as rendered as well, and when I export I check the "Apply Modifiers" checkbox, but this appears to have no effect. What I've had to do, in order to preserve the modifiers and be able to change them later, is to duplicate the file and apply all the modifiers in the duplicated file, then export, but this step shouldn't be necessary if the "Apply Modifiers" checkbox works as advertised. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** 1. Create a mesh object; let's call that Foo. 2. Create an intersecting mesh object, Bar. 3. Add a boolean difference modifier to Foo, with Bar as the target. At this point, Foo and Bar are both visible. 4. Make Bar hidden and also uncheck its render setting so that it does not get rendered. Now, only Foo should be visible with a Bar-shaped chunk taken out of it. 5. Export an STL of the entire file or just Foo. 6. STL includes both Foo and Bar meshes when it should be identical to the Foo-minus-Bar shape in (4). [Export-bug-demo.blend](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F9479243/Export-bug-demo.blend)

Max commented

2020-12-05 20:37:10 +01:00

Added subscriber: @giantdeathrobot

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-12-08 18:01:39 +01:00

Added subscriber: @mano-wii

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-12-08 18:01:39 +01:00

Apparently this exporter also exports hidden geometry (it doesn't matter if it is used by a modifier or not).
But since nothing on the interface indicates that hidden geometry has to be ignored, I don't know if this is really a bug.

Apparently this exporter also exports hidden geometry (it doesn't matter if it is used by a modifier or not). But since nothing on the interface indicates that hidden geometry has to be ignored, I don't know if this is really a bug.

Max commented

2020-12-09 19:49:24 +01:00

Is there an exporter that would ignore hidden geometry? The problem is that I use Blender to design objects to be 3D-printed and I use boolean modifiers as a way to have holes and cutouts in objects that I can still adjust and change. For example, a hole through a panel that a bolt is supposed to fit through. If I want to change that hole so that a different sized bolt fits through it, it's much easier to do that manipulation on a cylinder that's being cut out of the object rather than making adjustments to the hole itself after it's been cut out. I try to keep my models as editable as possible even when they're essentially finished and ready for export. I thought this was standard practice in Blender, since much of the advice I've found says to keep modifiers intact without applying them so that they can be adjusted safely later.

Scott Ramsay commented

2020-12-09 21:02:09 +01:00

Added subscriber: @smramsay

Scott Ramsay commented

2020-12-09 21:02:09 +01:00

Exporters rely on selection, not visibility, to determine what to export.
So select only your final model with all of it's modifiers still on.
Then in the export window, you need to enable 'Include > Selection Only' and 'Geometry > Apply Modifiers'.

Exporters rely on selection, not visibility, to determine what to export. So select only your final model with all of it's modifiers still on. Then in the export window, you need to enable 'Include > Selection Only' and 'Geometry > Apply Modifiers'.

Max commented

2020-12-12 01:33:06 +01:00

That worked great. Thank y'all so much! This was driving me crazy over here.

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-12-14 23:11:48 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Archived'

Germano Cavalcante closed this issue

2020-12-14 23:11:48 +01:00

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-12-14 23:11:48 +01:00

Good to know that you have found a solution.
Thanks for the report but,
Since, as mentioned, visibility is not what defines what should be exported or not and that there is a way to "workaround the problem" (by checking the option to export selection), I don't think this report should be confirmed as a Bug, but a request for modified/improved behavior.
So closing as this bug tracker is only for bugs and errors.

For user requests and feedback, please use other channels: https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Communication/Contact#User_Feedback_and_Requests

For more information on why this isn't considered a bug, visit: https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Reference/Not_a_bug

Good to know that you have found a solution. Thanks for the report but, Since, as mentioned, visibility is not what defines what should be exported or not and that there is a way to "workaround the problem" (by checking the option to export selection), I don't think this report should be confirmed as a Bug, but a request for modified/improved behavior. So closing as this bug tracker is only for bugs and errors. For user requests and feedback, please use other channels: https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Communication/Contact#User_Feedback_and_Requests For more information on why this isn't considered a bug, visit: https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Reference/Not_a_bug

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Export with boolean modifiers applied not working #83442