2. Getting Started: The N-Panel
Most of NOVA ARC's controls are located in the 3D View Sidebar. Press N in the 3D Viewport to open the sidebar, then click on the "NOVA ARC" tab.
Enabling/Disabling the Overlay
Enable Overlay: This checkbox at the top of the panel is the master switch for NOVA ARC.
When checked (ON), the addon will perform measurements, display information, and update its overlay.
When unchecked (OFF), all addon functionality (measurements, overlays, updates) is disabled to save resources. The panel controls below this checkbox will also be greyed out.
Display Options
These settings control what is shown in the 3D viewport overlay and how it looks. These options are only active if "Enable Overlay" is checked.
Recs (Show Recommendation): Toggles the visibility of the segment count recommendation text (e.g., "32-36").
3D Line (Show Line): Toggles the visibility of the 3D line drawn between the measured points in the viewport.
Dist (Show Distance): Toggles the visibility of the calculated distance/diameter value in the 2D overlay.
Text Display Settings
These settings, grouped in a sub-panel, customize the appearance of the 2D text overlay.
Mode (Recommendation Mode):
Max: Shows only the maximum recommended segment count (e.g., "36").
Min-Max: Shows the range from "Min" to "Max" recommended segment counts (e.g., "32-36").
QA Mode: Designed for quality assurance. It displays:
Edges: [X] - The number of currently selected edges. This value is color-coded:
Red: If X is less than the recommended Min.
Orange: If X is between Min and Good (exclusive of Good).
Green: If X is equal to the recommended Good.
Cyan: If X is greater than the recommended Good.
Ref: [Min]-[Max] - The recommended Min-Max range for the measured diameter.
Font Size: Adjusts the size of the 2D overlay text.
Text Color: Sets the color for the standard recommendation text and distance text.
Offset X / Offset Y: Controls the horizontal and vertical position of the 2D text relative to the calculated screen position of the selection's center.
QA Mode Colors (only visible if Mode is QA):
QA Label Color: Sets the color for the "Edges:" and "Ref:" labels in QA mode.
QA Ref Value Color: Sets the color for the recommended Min-Max values (e.g., "20-24") in QA mode.
3D Line Display Settings
These settings, grouped in a sub-panel, customize the appearance of the 3D measurement line.
Start/End Color: Sets the RGB color for the ends of the 3D line and its arrowheads. The alpha component is controlled by "Start/End Alpha".
Start/End Alpha: Controls the transparency of the line at its start/end points.
Center Color: Sets the RGB color for the center of the 3D line. The alpha component is controlled by "Center Alpha". The line will have a gradient from Start/End Color to Center Color.
Center Alpha: Controls the transparency of the line at its center point.
Line Width: Sets the thickness of the 3D line in pixels.
Arrow Size (%): Defines the length of the arrow barbs at each end of the line, as a percentage of the total line length.
Restoring Display Defaults
Restore Display Defaults: Click this button to reset all "Display Options" (Text and 3D Line settings) back to their original addon-defined values.
Diameter Settings (Recommendation Rules)
This section, expandable by clicking its title, is where you define the core logic for segment recommendations. All diameter values here are entered and displayed based on the "Units" setting chosen directly above the list.
Configuring Units
Units: A dropdown menu to select the unit system for displaying and inputting diameter thresholds in the rule editor below.
Centimeters (cm)
Millimeters (mm)
Meters (m)
Inches (in)
Note: Internally, all diameter thresholds are stored in millimeters. This setting only affects how they are displayed and entered in this panel. The "Show Distance" overlay also uses this unit setting.
Managing Recommendation Rules
A list displays the current recommendation rules. Each rule shows: [Diameter Threshold] [Unit] - ([Min Sides] - [Max Sides]). The rules are applied based on the measured diameter: the addon finds the largest "Diameter Threshold" that is less than or equal to the measured diameter and uses its Min/Max Sides. If the measurement is smaller than all thresholds, the rule with the smallest threshold is used.
To the right of the list are control buttons:
+ (Add): Adds a new, empty recommendation rule to the list.
- (Remove): Removes the currently selected rule from the list.
▲ (Move Up): Moves the selected rule one position up in the list.
▼ (Move Down): Moves the selected rule one position down in the list.
AZ ↓ (Sort): Sorts the recommendation rules by their "Diameter Threshold" in descending order (largest diameter first). This is the generally recommended order for clarity, though the addon's logic will correctly find the appropriate rule regardless of list order.
↺ (Reset To Default): Clears all current rules and populates the list with the addon's default set of recommendation rules.
Editing a Rule
When a rule is selected in the list, its properties appear below the list for editing:
Diameter ([Unit]): The upper diameter threshold for this rule. The unit displayed (e.g., cm, mm) matches the "Units" selection above the list.
Min Sides: The minimum recommended segment count if the measured diameter falls into this rule's range.
Max Sides: The "good" or ideal recommended segment count for this rule's range. This is also used as the upper bound for the "Min-Max" display mode.
Note: Min Sides cannot be greater than Max Sides, and Max Sides cannot be less than Min Sides. The fields will auto-adjust if you try to set invalid values.
Presets Management
This section, expandable by clicking its title, allows you to save, load, and manage sets of "Diameter Settings" (recommendation rules and their associated unit system).
Preset (Dropdown): Lists all available presets.
Default: A built-in preset containing the addon's default recommendation rules and uses Centimeters (cm). This preset cannot be modified, updated, or removed. Selecting it will load the default rules.
Custom Presets: Any presets you have created or imported will be listed here by name.
Loading a Preset
Selecting a preset name from the Preset dropdown will automatically load its associated recommendation rules and unit system into the "Diameter Settings" section.
Creating a New Preset
Click the New button.
A dialog will pop up asking for a "Name" for the new preset.
Enter a name and click "OK".
The current "Diameter Settings" (rules and unit system) will be saved as this new preset. The new preset will automatically become the active one.
Updating a Preset
Select a custom (non-Default) preset from the Preset dropdown.
Modify the "Diameter Settings" (rules, unit system) as desired.
Click the Update button.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Click "OK" to overwrite the selected preset with the current "Diameter Settings".
Note: The "Update" button is disabled if the "Default" preset is selected.
Exporting a Preset
Select a custom (non-Default) preset from the Preset dropdown that you wish to export.
Click the Export button.
A file browser will open, allowing you to choose a location and filename (defaulting to PresetName.json) for the exported preset file.
Note: The "Export" button is disabled if the "Default" preset is selected.
Importing a Preset
Click the Import New button.
A file browser will open. Navigate to and select a .json preset file that was previously exported from NOVA ARC.
The imported preset will be added to your list of presets and will become the active one.
Removing a Preset
Select a custom (non-Default) preset from the Preset dropdown that you wish to remove.
Click the Remove button.
The selected preset will be deleted from your list.
Note: The "Remove" button is disabled if the "Default" preset is selected.
Last updated