Edge Slide

New to 2024, EdgeSlide brings the ability to slide points and edges across the surface of an object and create creases by using the Hold Edges mode and the Inset tool. Each mode has a separate UI button which is described below.

The new EdgeSlide tool (Polytools.p) works in four modes (there are separate UI entries for each mode):

Bevel (located in Modeler > Multiply > Extend > More > Edge Bevel)

Bevel splits an edge in two along its length. The new edges are the same distance away from the original edge on either side. You can use this in Point, Edge or Polygon mode.

Hold Edges (located in Modeler > Multiply > Extend > More > Hold Edges)

This requires an edge selection, but that doesn't need to be an edge loop. Holding the LMB down and dragging horizontally will tighten or widen the gap around your selection. Clicking Inset Original Edges and holding down Ctrl while dragging horizontally will inset or outset your edge selection.

Slide Edges (located in Modeler > Modify > Translate > Edge Slide)

The default mode. If you didn't have edges selected before starting the tool, you will be sliding all available edges against each other, which will have unpredictable results. If you select a loop of edges (select an edge segment then hit the right cursor) and start EdgeSlide, you will be able to move the loop up and down between segments. On a closed object, the slide won't go past segments. If you use the Percentage Slide mode, you'll that an edge will go between -100 % to 100 % and no more. If your edge is open, there's only other geometry on one side, then things are different.

In Percentage slide mode, while you can go as you like on the open side, the other direction will only ever go as far as positive or negative 100 %. In Distance slide mode, you can go as far as you like on either the open direction or over other geometry.

Slide Points (located in Modeler > Modify > Translate > Point Slide)

Points are highlighted with blue circles and can be dragged one by one. They cannot cross segments and dragged points are snapped to the horizontal or vertical line. A blue wireframe will show a point's original position and clicking the RMB will lock a modified point into its new location. At this point, the snapping will change to the new axes between points.

Image courtesy LairdSquared