Using the Shape Building Tools

Click to show the Shape Building Tools panel. Or select the Component Tab Button-Construction-Component.png (1131 bytes) to show all component sub-panels.

To add a shape to your scene, click on the Shape Builder's icon and drag it on to your Scene. The Shape Builder will then open so that you create your shape.

The Lathe Tool

The Lathe Tool is used to create shapes by taking a plane and rotationally sweeping it through space. The volume swept through is the new shape. For example, a semi-circle rotated through space creates a sphere, and a rectangle rotated through space creates a cylinder.

 

The Extrude Tool

The Extrude Tool is used to create shapes by taking a plane and sweeping it through space along a path. The volume swept through is the new shape. For example, sweeping a circle along a straight path results in a cylinder being created.

 

The Text Tool

The Text Tool is used to create 3D Text shapes.

 
The Terrain Tool (Available with 3D Canvas Pro)

The Terrain Tool is used to create landscapes. Terrain can be based on a picture that is used as height map, or it can be based on fractal or random calculations.

To modify a shape created with a Shape Builder, double-click on the shape within the scene.