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manual/editors/3dview/introduction.rst

.. TODO/Review: {{review}} .
.. _3dview-editor:
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Introduction
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3D Cursor
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_3D-cursor.jpg
Can have multiple functions.
For example, it represents where new objects appear when they are first created,
or it can represent where the center of a rotation will be.
3D Transform Manipulator
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_3D-transform-manipulator.jpg
:width: 50px
Is a visual aid in transforming objects (grab/move, rotate and scale).
Objects can also be transformed using the keyboard shortcuts: (:kbd:`G` / :kbd:`R` / :kbd:`S`);
:kbd:`Ctrl-Spacebar` will toggle the manipulator visibility
Cube Mesh
By default, a new installation of Blender will always start with a Cube *Mesh*
sitting in the center of Global 3D space (in the picture above, it has been moved).
After a while, you will most likely want to change the "Default" settings;
this is done by :doc:`configuring Blender </preferences/index>` as you would want it
on startup and then saving it as the "Default" using :kbd:`Ctrl-U` (*Save Default Settings*).
Light (of type Lamp)
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_light-lamp.jpg
By default, a new installation of Blender will always start with a *Light*
source positioned somewhere close to the center of Global 3D space.
Camera
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_camera.jpg
:width: 50px
By default,
a new installation of Blender will always start with a *Camera*
positioned somewhere close to the center of Global 3D space and facing it.
3D Window Header
----------------
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_header.jpg
:width: 640px
3D Window Header
This is the header for the 3D window. All windows in Blender have a header,
although in some cases they may be located at bottom of the window.
Read more about :doc:`Blender headers </getting_started/basics/interface/window_system/headers>`
Window/Editor Type Selector
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_Editor-type.jpg
Allows you to change the :doc:`type of Window </editors/index>`.
This option can be found in every window header.
For example, if you want to see the *Outliner* window you would click and select it.
3D Transform manipulator options
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_3D-transform-manipulator-options.jpg
Access to the :doc:`manipulator </getting_started/basics/transformations/transform_control/manipulators>`
widget is also possible by clicking the coordinate system icon on the toolbar.
The translation/rotation/scale manipulators can be displayed by clicking each
of the three icons to the right of the coordinate system icon.
:kbd:`Shift-LMB` -clicking an icon will add/remove each manipulator's visibility.
Viewport Shading
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_header-viewport-shading.jpg
Blender renders the 3D window using `OpenGL <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenGL>`__.
You can select the type of
:ref:`Viewport shading <view_shading>`
that takes place by clicking this button and selecting from a variety of shading
styles including simple bounding boxes and complex textures.
It is recommended that you have a powerful graphics card if you are going to use the Textured style.
Layers
.. figure:: /images/Icon-library_3D-Window_header-layers.jpg
Blender :doc:`Layers </getting_started/basics/navigating/layers>`
are provided to help distribute your objects into functional groups.
For example, one layer may contain a water object and another layer
may contain trees, or one layer may contain cameras and lights.
To de-clutter the view you can turn layers on and off.