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Bool Tool

ADDON
📖3 min read
Latest Version: 5.2
Boolean Modifier and Bool Tool Tutorial for Blender 3D by Brandon 3D

Introduction​

Bool Tool is a built-in Blender addon that puts Union, Difference, Intersect, and Slice commands directly in the viewport menu. Instead of opening the modifier panel for every cut, you run the boolean from the right-click menu or Ctrl+Shift+B, and the addon handles the bookkeeping: the cutter is hidden and moved to its own collection, and a boolean modifier is added to the target.

Boolean operations are a core part of hard-surface modeling and architectural reconstruction: cutting windows into facades, joining volumes, carving paths into terrain.

Key Takeaways​

Quick Boolean Operations

Run Union, Difference, Intersect, and Slice directly from the viewport menu.

Non-Destructive Workflow

The operation is added as a modifier. Adjust or remove it at any time.

Brush Boolean

Convert an object into a reusable boolean brush you can apply to multiple targets.

Installation​

Bool Tool ships with Blender:

  1. Open Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
  2. Search for Bool Tool.
  3. Enable Object: Bool Tool.

Once enabled, the commands appear in the 3D Viewport under the Object menu, in the right-click menu, or via Ctrl+Shift+B.

Usage​

Select the objects· cutter + target

Select the cutter (the tool), then Shift-select the target (the object to modify). The target is the active object.

Run the operation· Ctrl+Shift+B

Press Ctrl+Shift+B or open Object > Bool Tool, then choose the operation.

Inspect the result· modifier

The cutter is hidden and moved to its own collection. A boolean modifier on the target holds the operation, so it stays editable.

Basic operations​

OperationDescriptionUse case
DifferenceSubtracts one object from anotherCutting windows into walls, creating holes
UnionCombines two objects into oneMerging building components, joining volumes
IntersectKeeps only the overlapping volumeFinding the overlap of two shapes
SliceCuts an object using another as a bladeSplitting objects along a plane

Brush Boolean​

Brush Boolean turns an object into a reusable boolean tool you can apply to several targets:

  1. Select the object to use as a brush.
  2. Open Object > Bool Tool > Brush Boolean.
  3. Select a target object and choose the operation.

Use it when the same shape goes into multiple places, for example a window frame cut into a repeated facade.

In an Investigation​

  • Architectural reconstruction: cut windows and doors into building facades.
  • Scene cleanup: remove unwanted volumes from scanned or modeled geometry.
  • Modular modeling: build interlocking components that fit together precisely.
  • Terrain editing: carve roads, trenches, or paths into a terrain mesh.
  • Camera matching: subtract obstructions from the scene so the reconstruction matches the reference footage.

Limitations​

  • Booleans work best with clean, manifold geometry. Overlapping faces, internal geometry, and non-manifold edges in the cutter cause errors and artifacts.
  • Two solvers exist (Fast and Exact). If you see artifacts, switch the solver in the modifier settings.
  • Many applied booleans slow the viewport. Set cutter objects to Display as Bounds to improve performance.
See Also

Resources​