The Primary Toolbar
The Primary toolbar is located at the top of the screen, below the menu options.
File Functions
creates a new scene.
opens an existing scene.
saves the scene.
Edit Functions
cuts the selected
scene component to the clipboard.
copies the
selected scene component to the clipboard.
pastes the
scene component currently in the clipboard onto the scene. If a component is active, this
new component will become a child of the selected component.
deletes the
selected scene component.
Undo/Redo Functions
undoes the
previous operation. Only modeling operations can be undone. Animation, parenting and
object naming operations cannot be undone. To undo a Boolean operation you will need to
undo twice, once for each object.
redoes the last
action undone.
Constrain Options
constrains operations
along the X axis.
constrains operations
along the Y axis.
constrains operations
along the Z axis.
Note that when using the Point and Face Selection
Tool the constraints will be based on the current Orientation Mode (see
below).
Tool and Operation Orientation Modes
enables modeling in standard 3D Canvas mode. This mode attempts to be
intuitive as to tool and operation effects orientation.
enabled modeling in screen coordinates mode. Tool and operation effects are
oriented along the path being viewed.
enabled modeling in world coordinates mode. Tool and operation effects are
oriented along the world's Z axis.
enabled modeling in object coordinates mode. Tool and operation effects are
oriented along the selected object's Z axis.
enables modeling in face coordinates mode. In object selection mode,
tool and operation effects are oriented in the same direction as the last
face clicked. In face selection mode, tool and operation effects are
oriented along the average direction of the selected faces.
Highlighting Options
enabled standard 3D Canvas selection highlighting. This is a simple box
surrounding the object.
enables operation direction highlighting. An orientation map is temporarily applied
to the object to showing the orientation that will be used for
tool/operation effects.
enabled material wrap preview highlighting. A texture is temporarily applied
using the material palette's current texture wrapping options in order to
show how a texture will be applied.
Snap To Options
enables
snap to grid.
Rendering Options
Raytrace using the POVRay raytracing engine.
This feature is only available with
3D Canvas Pro.
Clicking this button will provide more
information on where to get this free raytracing engine.
A drop down list allows the selection of the method used to render
objects.
Smooth rendered objects smoothly.
Flat
renders all objects flat (creased).
Solid Outline renders objects in a combination
of the flat (creased) and wireframe modes.
Wireframe renders objects in wireframe (lines).
Points renders objects as a cloud of points.
Cartoon renders objects in a simulated cartoon style. Options for
Cartoon Rendering are available by selecting Options from the
Tools menu and then selecting the
Miscellaneous tab. Note that not all graphics card support Cartoon
rendering. Shading is based on a single light source. The main point light
in a scene is used as the lighting direction.
makes all bones visible.
makes the
animation camera visible.
makes all
lights visible.
makes animation
paths visible for the active object.
makes the scene
axis visible and object axes visible for active objects.
Grid Options
A drop down list allows the selection of
the appearance of the 3D Canvas grid.
a
solid grid.
a backdrop plan. Use this option to replace
the grid with one or more plans of the model you are creating.
a
translucent grid.
a
wireframe grid.
a
grid made up of points only.
select a side view of your model to be used as a
backdrop plan.
select a top view of your model to be used as a
backdrop plan.
select a front view of your model to be used as a
backdrop plan.
Scene Rendering Options
causes atmosphere
(fog) to be rendered.
causes the
background image to be rendered.
causes shadows to be rendered.
Note that not all graphics card support the rendering of shadows.
Snapshot
takes a
snapshot image of your scene and saves it to a Windows bitmap file.
You will be prompted for your snapshot preferences
prior to the snapshot being taken.