# FAQ

## What is this based on?

ViewStretch recreates the **Non-Proportional Scale** tool from Autodesk Alias, where you rescale a model along the screen axes to test proportions on the fly. The gesture and the intent are the same; the implementation is native Blender and non-destructive.

## Does it modify my mesh?

No. ViewStretch never edits mesh data. It creates a hidden, view-aligned Empty, parents your objects to it with their world transforms preserved, and scales only the Empty. A reset restores the original transforms and parenting exactly and deletes the Empty. Nothing is baked into your geometry.

## Why does the shortcut do nothing in Edit Mode?

That is intentional. In Edit Mode the keyboard shortcuts pass through so they never intercept routine editing gestures (for example `Ctrl+Alt` edge-ring selection). In Edit Mode the stretch is available only through the viewport button, and it affects only the object(s) you are editing.

## The viewport button is not showing. Where is it?

Open **Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > ViewStretch** and make sure **Show Viewport Button** is enabled. If it is enabled but off-screen, lower **Button Offset X** and **Button Offset Y** to bring it back below the navigation icons.

## What is the difference between View X/Y and Uniform mode?

**View X/Y (stretch)** is the non-proportional behavior: horizontal drag scales along the view's X axis and vertical drag along the view's Y axis, so you can change proportions. **Uniform** scales everything equally on all axes at once, like a normal scale. Set the mode in the preferences.

## Can I stretch cameras and lights too?

Yes, in Object Mode. Enable **Include All Object Types** in the preferences. By default only geometry-like objects are stretched so your cameras and lights stay put.

## Why does the button turn blue?

The button turns blue whenever a stretch rig is live in the scene. It is a reminder that the current view is stretched and that a reset (click the button, or `Ctrl+Alt+RMB`) will return everything to normal.

## The stretch went along the wrong axis. Why?

The stretch is always relative to your current view. Horizontal and vertical are measured on screen, not in world space, so orbiting the viewport changes which world axes are affected. Reset, orient the view the way you want, and stretch again.

## Are my preference settings saved between sessions?

Yes. Stretch Mode, Sensitivity, the object-type option, and the button visibility and position are stored in Blender's user preferences and survive restarts and reinstalls.

## Which Blender versions are supported?

Blender 4.2 and newer, on Windows, macOS, and Linux. ViewStretch is distributed as a Blender extension (`blender_manifest.toml`).