Moving objects between collections in Blender is a fundamental task for organizing your scene. You can achieve this primarily through dedicated shortcuts that allow you to either move objects completely or link them to multiple collections.
You can move or link objects to different collections in Blender primarily using shortcuts like M and Shift + M. These shortcuts, among others like Ctrl - G, are essential tools for managing your scene hierarchy.
Using the 'M' Shortcut to Move Objects
The most common way to move objects is by using the M key. This shortcut is used to move selected objects to an existing collection or create a new one for them. When you use M, the object is removed from its current collection(s) and placed into the target collection.
Here’s how to use the M shortcut:
- Select the object(s) you want to move.
- Press M on your keyboard.
- A pop-up menu will appear listing your existing collections.
- You can either:
- Click on an existing collection name to move the selected object(s) into it.
- Click New Collection to create a new collection and move the selected object(s) into the newly created collection.
- Use the search bar in the pop-up to quickly find a collection.
This action effectively moves the selected objects, meaning they will only reside in the newly chosen collection(s).
Using the 'Shift + M' Shortcut to Link Objects
Sometimes, you might want an object to appear in more than one collection. This is where the Shift + M shortcut comes in handy. As noted in the reference, Shift + M allows you to add selected objects to a collection while keeping them in their current collection. This creates a link, making the object part of multiple collections simultaneously.
Here’s how to use the Shift + M shortcut:
- Select the object(s) you want to link to another collection.
- Press Shift + M on your keyboard.
- A pop-up menu similar to the one for the M shortcut will appear.
- Click on the collection you want to link the selected object(s) to.
The object(s) will now be listed in both their original collection(s) and the newly selected collection. This is useful for organization, visibility toggling, or instancing collections.
Other Relevant Shortcuts from the Reference
The provided reference also lists the Ctrl - G shortcut in the context of collections or grouping. Historically, Ctrl + G was used for creating Groups in Blender. While the grouping system has largely been replaced by Collections, Ctrl + G in modern Blender versions often relates to adding selected objects to a new collection, sometimes prompting for a name. Its exact behavior can vary slightly between Blender versions or specific contexts.
Summary of Key Shortcuts
Based on the provided reference, here are the primary shortcuts discussed for managing objects with collections:
| Shortcut | Action | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| M | Move selected objects to an existing or new collection. | Objects are removed from previous collections and moved. |
| Shift + M | Add selected objects to a collection, while keeping them in their current collection. | Objects are linked to multiple collections. |
| Ctrl + G | Listed in reference context. Often relates to adding to a new collection. | Typically creates a new collection and places selected objects in it. |
Mastering these shortcuts provides a quick and efficient way to manage your scene's organization directly within the 3D Viewport without needing to drag and drop items in the Outliner.
