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Is there a button or a shortcut that will align the view to the nearest global axis?

For example: You use the shortcut that will the align view so that you're looking down the X axis. Then you rotate the view slightly (say 10 degrees, for example). Is there a shortcut that will snap the view back to the X axis because it's the closest one?

If I had manually rotated the view more than 45 degrees away from the X axis and then used the shortcut that I'm seeking, I would like it to snap to the closest of the other two global axes.

In Unity there's a control in the top right-hand corner of the view that lets you quickly align the view to a specific axis. The control rotates with the view, meaning that if you keep clicking on the handle on the right-hand side of the control, the view will keep rotating around the pivot in the same direction.

If I have to install a plugin to enable this, I'm willing to do so.

enter image description here

Ady M
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  • If you use Shift+Numpad 1, 3 or 7 to align view to selected face and then press Numpad 4 or 6 it will rotate around current viewport camera location, so viewport will continue being aligned with the axis specified above – Mr Zak Feb 03 '18 at 12:52
  • Thank you for your suggestion, but it would not align the view to the nearest global axis, unless I've misunderstood you.

    Aligning the view to a selected face when you're trying to align the view to the global axis would require that the face is already aligned to the global axis.

    Besides, before pressing Shift+Numpad 1, 3 or 7, I would have to first check which axis I'm looking down and then decide whether to press 1, 3 or 7.

     – Ady M Feb 06 '18 at 07:00
  • I don't believe there is a built-in shortcut that does what you want but if you hold the Alt key down while tumbling, the view will snap to orthographic views. – Xtremity Apr 29 '20 at 03:48
  • Related https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/192527/how-to-snap-object-local-rotation-to-its-nearest-global-axis-with-python aligns a mesh to nearest global axis, could be edited to align view instead. – batFINGER Sep 15 '21 at 14:50

2 Answers2

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Use snap view. Hold the middle mouse button to start rotating the view. Then press Alt. If the view is close enough to snap, it will. If not, it snaps to another 45 angle view.

Crantisz
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If you have a number pad it is quite easy otherwise it is under view

http://www.blender.hu/tutor/kdoc/Blender_Cheat_Sheet.pdf

Alfons Marklén
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  • Thank you for your answer, but I don't think it answers the question. Which button would you press to align the view to the nearest axis? – Ady M Feb 06 '18 at 06:51
  • Did you even check the link? I don't think there is a shortcut to align the view to the nearest axis, probably because it would need extra logic but the number pad is used for the view. – Alfons Marklén Feb 06 '18 at 17:31
  • if you really need to set the view to weird angles you can use the camera for it. – Alfons Marklén Feb 06 '18 at 17:32
  • Yes, I did check the link. This isn't the first time I've looked through that cheat sheet.

    I'm confused. Why would you say "If you have a number pad it is quite easy" if you don't think there is a shortcut to align the view to the nearest axis? Were you talking about rotating the view around the object when you wrote that?

     – Ady M Feb 07 '18 at 18:18