NLA_stride is a Blender add-on designed to batch align, offset, and manage NLA strips in a non-destructive workflow.
- NLA: Refers to Blender’s Non-Linear Animation editor.
- Stride: Inspired by Cinema 4D’s stride concept, where animation timing can be offset to create staggered motion.
The core value of this add-on is: efficient timing control across multiple objects, tracks, and animation types.
Since Blender 4.0, a new Extensions framework has been introduced. The installation packages are divided into two types based on your version:
| File Name | Supported Blender Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
NLA_stride_vX.X.X.zip |
3.0 ~ 5.x+ | Legacy add-on format with wide compatibility. |
nla_stride-X.X.X.zip |
4.0 and above | New 4.0+ packaging specification (Recommended). |
Installation Steps:
- Download the corresponding ZIP file.
- Open Blender, go to
Edit → Preferences → Add-onsor for 4.0+:Edit → Preferences → Extensions. - Go to the top-right dropdown menu, click
Install from Disk...and select the corresponding ZIP file from the table. - Enable NLA stride.
- Records object selection order and applies it directly to the NLA offset logic.
- Push keyframes from multiple objects into NLA strips with a single click.
- Complex projects can utilize export lists to record the current selection order.
- 5 Alignment targets and 3 Alignment reference modes.
- One-click scale reset for NLA strips.
- Simple Stride Mode: Quickly set a fixed frame offset.
- Professional Stride Mode: Precisely control the start and end time of the overall animation.
- Object animation
- Shape Key animation
- Material animation
- Supports Linear / Ease In / Ease Out / Ease In-Out to give staggered offsets more rhythm.
- Object Mode: All strips move together (Material mode allows specifying offset targets).
- Single Track Mode: All strips on the same track move together as a group.
- Single Strip Mode: Supports overlap detection when moving multiple selected strips.
- Motion Graphics: Quickly transform simple base animations into complex staggered motion.
- Multi-object Animation Management: Scenarios requiring strict timing control, such as product explosions or architectural sequences.
- Non-destructive Editing: Adjust timing using NLA tracks without modifying original Actions.
- Data Sharing Issues: Shape Key and Material animations are "Data-based." If multiple objects share the same material or data (Instanced Data), adjustments may lead to unexpected results.
- Recommended Practice:
Before using this add-on, it is recommended to execute Blender’s built-in:
Object -> Relations -> Make Single User -> Materials / Object Data - Advanced Workflow: If you need to adjust data types not yet supported, it is suggested to drive that data via Custom Properties, then push those properties to the NLA to be managed by this add-on.
The author is a native Traditional Chinese (zh-TW) speaker. If there are any inaccuracies in the English wording, feedback via Issues or Pull Requests is welcome.