Add Selection functionality to weight painting mode #99113

New Issue

As discussed in today's #animation_rigging module meeting:

Many selection shortcuts don't work in weightpaint mode.
f.e. to select a single part of a mesh you always have to go back to edit mode, select it with "L" and set the weights there via vertex panel.
It would be awesome to have following short cuts to work as well

{key L} to select parts of a model (Already works in Face Select Mode)
Ctrl +/- for expanding/contracting face selection : #105607
Ctrl +/- for expanding/contracting vertex selection: #105633
{key Alt LMB} select a "ring" (implemented for faces)

Edit from @ChrisLend
In order to see the selection options you need to have either Face- or Vertex selection active:
This also makes the Select menu to the right show up. This menu has different entries depending on which mode you are in.
Operators need to be implemented for both modes and added to their respective menu.

As discussed in today's #animation_rigging module meeting: Many selection shortcuts don't work in weightpaint mode. f.e. to select a single part of a mesh you always have to go back to edit mode, select it with "L" and set the weights there via vertex panel. It would be awesome to have following short cuts to work as well - [x] {key L} to select parts of a model (Already works in Face Select Mode) - [x] Ctrl +/- for expanding/contracting face selection : #105607 - [x] Ctrl +/- for expanding/contracting vertex selection: #105633 - [ ] {key Alt LMB} select a "ring" (implemented for faces) Edit from @ChrisLend In order to see the selection options you need to have either Face- or Vertex selection active: ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F14082779/image.png) This also makes the `Select` menu to the right show up. This menu has different entries depending on which mode you are in. Operators need to be implemented for both modes and added to their respective menu.

Added subscriber: @EosFoxx

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Confirmed'

Added subscriber: @FedericaGallo

Hello everybody, nice to get to know you all

If I don't go wrong with it , these ones are the files : paint_intern.h, paint_utils.c, paint_ops.c
we can add something like "PAINT_OT_vert_select_linked" in order to implement the first requirement (L to select parts of a model)

If we want to select the linked vertices, I would take MESH_OT_select_linked_pick in editmesh_select.c as a reference

Hello everybody, nice to get to know you all If I don't go wrong with it , these ones are the files : paint_intern.h, paint_utils.c, paint_ops.c we can add something like "PAINT_OT_vert_select_linked" in order to implement the first requirement (L to select parts of a model) If we want to select the linked vertices, I would take MESH_OT_select_linked_pick in editmesh_select.c as a reference ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F13283887/image.png)

Added subscriber: @ArtisticBee

Removed subscriber: @ArtisticBee

Added subscriber: @ChrisLend

So I started looking at this.

It's been a while since I used weight painting in Blender. But I found out that
{key L} and {key Ctrl} {key L} already work but only in Face select mode. Not in vertex select mode though

I will update the task with a more detailled description.

So I started looking at this. It's been a while since I used weight painting in Blender. But I found out that {key L} and {key Ctrl} {key L} already work but only in Face select mode. Not in vertex select mode though I will update the task with a more detailled description.

Added subscriber: @edward88

This issue was referenced by 04aab7d516

This issue was referenced by 04aab7d51620d74c408d7e3e8f5296ce2af793f3

If the proposed keymap changes go into Blender 4.0 like currently outlined, the Alt LMB keybindings are already taken by other select operators:
https://devtalk.blender.org/t/draw-paint-sculpting-keymap-proposal-feedback-request/29253

The idea is to make it more consistent across painting and scuilpting modes which keys are used for selection between left & right click select.

The main benefit for Weight Paint Mode for example is that Shift LMB and Ctrl LMB can be used for inverted and smoothing brush strokes.

Action	LCS	RCS
Context Menu	RMB	W
Set Selection	Alt LMB	RMB
Extend/Toggle Selection	Alt Shift LMB	Shift RMB
Lasso Select	Ctrl RMB	None
Lasso Deselect	Ctrl Shift RMB	Ctrl Shift LMB

Alt RMB, Shift Alt RMB and Shift Alt Ctrl RMB would be availible for loop selection in RCS. But this isn't as straight forward in LCS.

If the proposed keymap changes go into Blender 4.0 like currently outlined, the `Alt LMB` keybindings are already taken by other select operators: https://devtalk.blender.org/t/draw-paint-sculpting-keymap-proposal-feedback-request/29253 The idea is to make it more consistent across painting and scuilpting modes which keys are used for selection between left & right click select. The main benefit for Weight Paint Mode for example is that `Shift LMB` and `Ctrl LMB` can be used for inverted and smoothing brush strokes. | Action | LCS | RCS | | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Context Menu | RMB | W | | Set Selection | Alt LMB | RMB | | Extend/Toggle Selection | Alt Shift LMB | Shift RMB | | Lasso Select | Ctrl RMB | None | | Lasso Deselect | Ctrl Shift RMB | Ctrl Shift LMB | `Alt RMB`, `Shift Alt RMB` and `Shift Alt Ctrl RMB` would be availible for loop selection in RCS. But this isn't as straight forward in LCS.

is there a place for loop select then?
unless we make it a tool it's hard to put in a menu

is there a place for loop select then? unless we make it a tool it's hard to put in a menu

The default answer to this question should be: Switch to a selection tool with the shortcut W (Box, lasso, circle select)
Then LMB is less in conflict beween action and selection operators.

RCS will not suffer from this issue.
LCS need to use a selection tool for loop select and ring select shortcuts (and shortest path selection if this ever gets supported)
3 Mouse button emulation has even less selection keybindings at they disposal and also need to switch the tool for select and select extend.

The default answer to this question should be: Switch to a selection tool with the shortcut `W` (Box, lasso, circle select) Then LMB is less in conflict beween **action** and **selection** operators. - RCS will not suffer from this issue. - LCS need to use a selection tool for **loop select** and **ring select** shortcuts (and **shortest path** selection if this ever gets supported) - 3 Mouse button emulation has even less selection keybindings at they disposal and also need to switch the tool for **select** and **select extend**.

So it would be a selection tool like the box, lasso etc tool
under here. I can live with that

So it would be a selection tool like the box, lasso etc tool under here. I can live with that ![image](/attachments/39e38acf-5aef-4089-b866-ee653958acb3)

image.png

41 KiB

Just to be clear, the loop/ring select operators would not be new tools.
They would be part of the keymap for the selection tools.
So instead of adding the shortcuts to weight paint mode, they should be part of the selection tools keymap.

Just to be clear, the loop/ring select operators would not be new tools. They would be part of the keymap for the selection tools. So instead of adding the shortcuts to weight paint mode, they should be part of the selection tools keymap.

Just noting that #83804 came up recently again, and taking away available keys somewhat contradicts having a key available to signal you actually dont want to select faces (but bones instead) -- this needs a bit of thinking though, just wanted to drop the case here.

Just noting that #83804 came up recently again, and taking away available keys somewhat contradicts having a key available to signal you actually **dont** want to select faces (but bones instead) -- this needs a bit of thinking though, just wanted to drop the case here.

just seen this now and the Loop Select is actually pretty important.
I switch to edit mode all the time to select loops. So I can set clean weights

when is "Set Selection Alt LMB" actually used ^^' It does nothing curently or it doesnt work ?
Couldnt google anything up

just seen this now and the Loop Select is actually pretty important. I switch to edit mode all the time to select loops. So I can set clean weights when is "Set Selection Alt LMB" actually used ^^' It does nothing curently or it doesnt work ? Couldnt google anything up

just seen this now and the Loop Select is actually pretty important.
I switch to edit mode all the time to select loops. So I can set clean weights

when is "Set Selection Alt LMB" actually used ^^' It does nothing curently or it doesnt work ?
Couldnt google anything up

This was added in 98d48c16a3
If it doesnt work for you, you could open a bugreport for this?

Btw., this task now seems complete?

> just seen this now and the Loop Select is actually pretty important. > I switch to edit mode all the time to select loops. So I can set clean weights > > when is "Set Selection Alt LMB" actually used ^^' It does nothing curently or it doesnt work ? > Couldnt google anything up This was added in https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/98d48c16a33789388dfebfff2e16592f26f9f62f If it doesnt work for you, you could open a bugreport for this? Btw., this task now seems complete?

Btw., this task now seems complete?

Not quite the vertex loop select is still missing

> Btw., this task now seems complete? Not quite the vertex loop select is still missing

stepping down from this because I don't know how to get the vertex loop select working
here is the abandoned patch
#108770: WIP: Paint: Vertex loop select

stepping down from this because I don't know how to get the vertex loop select working here is the abandoned patch [#108770: WIP: Paint: Vertex loop select](https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/pulls/108770)

Also note that like I pointed out before, the selection shortcuts were updated and loop selection is only availible while a selection tool is active: fb54d3f865

Unless right click select is used. In that case they are available anytime.

Also note that like I pointed out before, the selection shortcuts were updated and loop selection is only availible while a selection tool is active: https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/commit/fb54d3f865928ebe4042eb1a3a12eb02709332b8 Unless right click select is used. In that case they are available anytime.

as discussed in yesterdays module meeting this task will be closed. Loop select for vertices was running into technical difficulties and abandoned, everything else is done.
We can revisit loop select for vertices separately at a later date if required

as discussed in [yesterdays module meeting](https://devtalk.blender.org/t/2023-09-14-animation-rigging-module-meeting/31122) this task will be closed. Loop select for vertices was running into technical difficulties and abandoned, everything else is done. We can revisit loop select for vertices separately at a later date if required

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Add Selection functionality to weight painting mode #99113