Camera Controls

Master navigation in the 3D viewport. Learn mouse controls, keyboard shortcuts, view options, and camera presets for optimal 3D visualization.

Mouse Controls

Orbit Camera

Rotate the camera around the scene center to view objects from different angles.

How to Use

  • Left Click + Drag - Orbit around scene center
  • Horizontal Drag - Rotate around Y axis (left/right)
  • Vertical Drag - Rotate around X axis (up/down)
  • Diagonal Drag - Combined rotation

Tip: The camera orbits around the scene center point. If you want to orbit around a specific object, first frame that object using the "Frame All" command.

Pan Camera

Move the camera horizontally and vertically without changing the viewing angle.

How to Use

  • Middle Click + Drag - Pan camera in view plane
  • Horizontal Drag - Move camera left/right
  • Vertical Drag - Move camera up/down
  • Shift + Left Click + Drag - Alternative pan method

Note: Panning moves the camera parallel to the current view plane, maintaining the same viewing angle while changing the center point.

Zoom Camera

Zoom in and out to get closer or farther from the scene.

How to Use

  • Scroll Wheel - Zoom in/out from mouse position
  • Scroll Up - Zoom in (closer to scene)
  • Scroll Down - Zoom out (farther from scene)
  • Ctrl + Scroll - Faster zoom (if available)

Zoom Behavior

  • Mouse Position - Zooms toward/from cursor location
  • Smooth Animation - Gradual zoom transitions
  • Zoom Limits - Prevents extreme close/far views
  • Zoom Speed - Adjustable in settings

Keyboard Shortcuts

Camera Reset

Quickly reset the camera to default positions and orientations.

Reset Commands

  • R Key - Reset camera to default position
  • Home Key - Alternative reset command
  • Toolbar Button - Reset camera button
  • Context Menu - Right-click viewport option

Note: Camera reset returns to the default isometric view with the camera positioned to show the entire scene from a good viewing angle.

Frame Commands

Automatically position the camera to show specific objects or the entire scene.

Frame Options

  • F Key - Frame all objects in scene
  • Shift + F - Frame selected objects only
  • Double-Click Object - Frame specific object
  • Toolbar Button - Frame all button

Frame Behavior

  • Optimal Distance - Calculates best viewing distance
  • Centered View - Centers objects in viewport
  • Smooth Animation - Animated camera movement
  • Margin Space - Adds padding around objects

View Toggle

Switch between different view modes and projection types.

View Shortcuts

  • P Key - Toggle perspective/orthographic projection
  • W Key - Toggle wireframe mode
  • B Key - Toggle bounding box display
  • N Key - Toggle face normals display

Projection Types

  • Perspective - Realistic depth perception
  • Orthographic - Parallel projection (no perspective)
  • Wireframe - Show mesh edges only
  • Solid - Show filled surfaces

View Options

Wireframe Mode

Display only the edges and vertices of 3D objects for technical analysis and debugging.

Wireframe Features

  • Edge Display - Show all mesh edges
  • Vertex Display - Show mesh vertices
  • Performance - Faster rendering for complex models
  • Analysis - Better for geometry inspection

Use Cases

  • Geometry Analysis - Check mesh structure
  • Performance - Faster navigation in complex scenes
  • Debugging - Identify mesh issues
  • Technical Drawing - Engineering-style views

Face Normals Display

Show face normal vectors to understand surface orientation and identify potential issues.

Normal Features

  • Normal Vectors - Show face direction arrows
  • Color Coding - Different colors for normal directions
  • Length Indication - Arrow length shows normal strength
  • Face Centers - Normals drawn from face centers

Diagnostic Uses

  • Orientation Check - Verify face directions
  • Manifold Detection - Find non-manifold edges
  • Normal Issues - Identify flipped faces
  • Surface Analysis - Understand geometry structure

Bounding Box Display

Show bounding boxes around objects to understand their spatial extent and alignment.

Bounding Box Features

  • Object Extents - Show minimum/maximum bounds
  • Alignment Guides - Visual alignment assistance
  • Size Reference - Understand object dimensions
  • Selection Aid - Easier object selection

Practical Uses

  • Alignment - Align objects precisely
  • Spacing - Check object distances
  • Layout - Plan object arrangements
  • Printing - Check print bed fit

Camera Presets

Standard Views

Quick access to standard engineering views for consistent visualization.

Orthographic Views

  • Front View - View from positive Y direction
  • Back View - View from negative Y direction
  • Top View - View from positive Z direction
  • Bottom View - View from negative Z direction
  • Left View - View from negative X direction
  • Right View - View from positive X direction

Isometric Views

  • Isometric - Standard 3D view (45° angles)
  • Dimetric - Alternative 3D projection
  • Trimetric - Three different angles
  • Custom - User-defined view angles

Custom Camera Positions

Save and recall custom camera positions for specific viewing needs.

Custom Position Features

  • Save Position - Store current camera state
  • Recall Position - Restore saved camera view
  • Named Positions - Give custom views names
  • Position Library - Multiple saved positions

Use Cases

  • Detail Views - Save close-up positions
  • Assembly Views - Different assembly angles
  • Presentation Views - Best viewing angles
  • Workflow Views - Common working positions

Viewport Layout

Configure multiple viewports for simultaneous viewing from different angles.

Layout Options

  • Single View - One main viewport
  • Two Views - Side-by-side viewports
  • Four Views - Quad viewport layout
  • Custom Layout - User-defined arrangements

Multi-View Benefits

  • Simultaneous Views - See multiple angles at once
  • Workflow Efficiency - Faster modeling and review
  • Precision - Better spatial understanding
  • Comparison - Compare different views easily

Camera Control Best Practices

Navigation Tips

  • • Use orbit for general exploration
  • • Use pan for fine positioning
  • • Use zoom for detail work
  • • Combine controls for precise views

View Mode Tips

  • • Use wireframe for complex geometry
  • • Use normals for debugging
  • • Use bounding boxes for alignment
  • • Switch projections as needed

Shortcut Tips

  • • Learn keyboard shortcuts for speed
  • • Use frame commands frequently
  • • Reset camera when lost
  • • Save custom views for workflows

Performance Tips

  • • Use wireframe for large scenes
  • • Disable unnecessary displays
  • • Use appropriate zoom levels
  • • Frame objects before detailed work

What's Next?

Now that you can navigate effectively, learn how to create and work with JSCAD code: