New modifier panel and list

After browsing all modifiers, here, are my critics and suggestions about current status of branch.

Data Transfer : Exposed settings are not the most important ones.

  • In master, Max Distance is greyed out by default. That is an advanced option like restriction to a vertex group.
    Both settings and Ray Distance could be into a subpanel labelled advanced.

  • Main settings are into subpanels precising data to transfer.
    That does not make sense to add a Vertex Group subpanel into Vertex Data subpanel.
    Layer settings could be greyed out if Vertex Groups button is enabled.
    I would prefer simply to hide options when it is not pertinent. But it is not guideline.
    It is true that situation is different in Face Corner Data. It is necessary to distinguish Vertex Colors and UVs settings when both are transfered.

Mesh Sequence cache : Subpanels don’t seem useful at all.

  • Except Apply and Copy button, all settings are under 2 subpanels.
    So, when you add mofifier : all pertinent settings are hidden.
    3 lines are displayed but that is as informative as if modifier is closed.

  • So, if first subpanel is removed to keep only second one. That is a subpanel just for 1 line.
    That is a riduclous gain of space compared to closing the whole modifier.

So, none should be kept.

Normal Edit : Here, again. What is exposed is not the most important.

  • It is easier to use an object as a reference in Viewport than tweaking offset values.
  • And Mix mode, hidden into subpanel, is crucial.

I would rather put Offset into its own subpanel with vertex groups ; and put back Mix mode,Mix factor and Max Angle as basics of modifier.

UV Project : Projectors list may be increased by user.
That may be useful to create a subpanel for that. But that is not frequent to use many of them.
So, if it is created, it should be opened by default.

UV Warp : Here, also, Offset, Scale & Rotation could be grouped into a Transform subpanel.
Most of time, 2 reference objects (From, To) are only settings precised.

Vertex Weight Edit : I understand that FallOff subpanel is there in case of Custom Curve use.
But for all the other uses, that does not make sense. It is one subpanel for one line.
That is why there is no such subpanel in Vertex Weight Proxility modifier.
Can’t it be possible to have a button to close Curve Widget, instead ?

Bevel :
Probably, Clamp Overlap, Harden Normals, Mark Seam, Mark Sharp options could be moved to Advanced subpanel.

But I would group things, differently.

  • Mitter Types, Intersections, Clamp Overlap & Loop Slide into an Advanced Geometry subpanel.
  • Face Strength, Harden Normals, Mark Seam, Mark Sharp and Material Index into a Shading subpanel.

Mirror :

  • I think that Vertex Groups option can move inside same subpanel than UVs mirrors.
    This subpanel could be renamed Data.
  • Clipping option can be used enabled without merge enabled.
    It should not be placed under the same panel but took current position of Vertex Groups option.

Multires : That design is not functional at all.
It lacks of several essential of modifier. I suppose that should be completed.

  • I would say that Quality, UV Smooth and Use Creases could be put inside an advanced subpanel. Optimal display as a frequantly used dislay option should not be inside a subpanel.
    Same remark is valid for Subdivision Surface.

Skin : Interesting arrangement of buttons. Why not doing that for multires ?

Solidify:

  • I know it will slow down usage. But maybe, it could have a Normals subpanel like Screw.
  • Fill Rim, Only Rim, Clamp, Angle Clamp and Vertex Groups lines could be inside a unique Advanced Geometry subpanel.

Wireframe : 2 columns + decorators are making names of options unreadable.
You could keep a unique Advanced subpanel and put Even Thickness, Relative Thickness, Vertex Groups and Crease lines in it.

Shrinkwrap : For Project Wrap Method, there could be a projection subpanel to include settings added by method.

Simple Deform : Although that is a coherent grouping, Orientation is a crucial point for this modifier. It can’t be inside a subpanel.
I would rather group Limits, Vertex Groups and Locks into a Restrictions subpanel ; and let Origin and Axis exposed like Angle.

Wave : I don’t understand why same XYZ buttons as elsewhere are not used, here.