Models and the grid

A voxel model is a Blender object that holds a grid of voxels. Each model has its own grid size (up to 1024 on each side), its own voxel size in metres, and its own 256-colour palette.

Making a model

Voxel tab ▸ Voxel Mode ▸ Add Voxel Model adds a model beside the ones already in the scene, so it never lands on top of your work. In an empty scene it goes to the 3D cursor.
Add ▸ Voxel (Shift + A in Object Mode) adds one at the 3D cursor, like any other object.

The New Model sub-panel sets what the next model starts as:

Setting	Meaning
Size	Grid edge in voxels. Default 40.
Voxel Size	Edge length of one voxel in metres.
Shape	Empty, Box, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Pyramid, Floor, or Room (a floor and two walls to build a scene into).
Hollow	Keep only a shell of the shape, which is handy if you plan to carve into it.

The grid is centred on the object’s origin, so the model’s pivot is in its middle rather than at a corner.

Filling and clearing

Fill With Shape puts one of the same primitives into the model at any time. Add puts it on top of what’s there, Replace throws the model away and leaves only the shape, Carve cuts the shape out, and Paint recolours what the shape covers without adding anything.
Clear All Voxels (the ✕ beside the model’s name) empties the model but keeps its grid, palette and position.

Both are one undo step.

Entering and leaving

Tab enters Edit Mode on the model, which is where the voxel tools work. Tab again leaves.
Enter Voxel Mode / Exit Voxel Mode in the panel do the same.
To switch to another model without leaving Edit Mode, hover it (it outlines yellow) and Ctrl + Alt + click.

Only the model you are editing responds to the brushes. Hovering another model only highlights it.

Resizing: a model never scales

Voxels in a model are all the same size, so a model is resized in whole voxels and never stretched.

In Object Mode, press S and drag. The grid grows or shrinks in whole voxels, keeping its proportions. A wireframe box previews the new size, and nothing is rebuilt until you click. Esc leaves it untouched.
Grid ▸ Resize Model does the same from the panel.
Grid ▸ Set Exact Grid Size sets an exact edge length (it makes the grid a cube).

If you scale the object any other way (the gizmo, the N-panel, a typed value), Voxel Mode turns that into the same whole-voxel resize once you let go. The object’s scale always goes back to 1. This matters for export: an engine sees voxels of exactly the size the model claims.

Duplicating and deleting

In Object Mode	Does
`Shift` + `D`	Duplicate the whole model, grid and palette included
`X`	Delete the model (asks first)
`Delete`	Delete the model (doesn’t ask)

The same actions are the icons beside the model’s name in the panel. Deleting is one undo step, so Ctrl + Z brings the whole model back.

Lining models up

Snap To Voxel Grid (on by default, in the Brush panel) moves models in whole voxels, so two models with the same voxel size line up cell for cell. It aligns the grid’s corners, not the object origins, so even and odd-sized models still meet cleanly. Align To Voxel Grid does it once for models that are already out of place.

Display ▸ Show Other Models outlines the models you are not editing, so you can build right up against them.

Grid tools

Button	Does
Rebuild	Rebuilds the model’s picture from its grid. You shouldn’t need it, but it’s there if a model ever looks wrong.
Benchmark	Times the edit loop on this model and prints the numbers to the system console.
Voxel Workspace	Switches to (and first creates) a Voxel workspace.