FINGER EXERCISES TO GET YOU STARTED

In this exercise, you can try out some of the (very) basic functions to become more familiar with the interface before going on to one of the many Wings 3D tutorials that are available, either here, or out there on the Web. You may already be familiar with 3D modelling applications and just need to find your way around and get up to speed with the Wings 3D interface.

We’ll assume that the Hotkeys are used wherever they are available because that’s what they are for!
At this time you should also try to become familiar with adjusting your view of the model scene using Camera Navigation, so that you can see the effects of your changes on the model. Also, switch on [View | Auto Rotate] using the U Hotkey from time to time.  Get used to the way that the camera view can be changed to look at your model from many aspects, in the same way that a sculptor of a statue would move around his work to check progress. At least in Wings 3D there’s an Undo button which is not available on a chisel!

Reminder…

• RMB anywhere in the empty Geometry window, or when nothing is selected, displays the Primitives menu.
•  To switch between selection modes:
  • Use the Hotkeys: V=vertex, E=edge, F=face or B=object (=body).
  • Or, select the appropriate icon on the Icon Bar.
• With one or more elements or whole objects selected, pressing RMB will display the appropriate operations menu depending on the context.
• To deselect everything, press the Space key.
• To return to the default view press the R Hotkey.
• Note these actions have no effect when the cursor is outside the Geometry window.
• Pay attention to the Information Line.

Start with a 3D Shape

This sequence creates a primitive 3D shape and steps through the different selection mode commands while you stretch the shape by pulling at the different types of elements.

After launching Wings 3D you will be presented with an empty workspace: the Geometry window.  If you need to clean up, then first select [File | New] from the Main menu.

With the mouse inside the empty Geometry window:

1. Deselect All – make sure that nothing is selected by pressing the Space Hotkey.
2. Bring up the Primitives menu with RMB, and choose Cube using LMB.
3. Select Edge mode – switch to Edge selection mode with E or the Edge Icon.
   1. Select any Edge with LMB – the Edge is highlighted.
   2. Bring up the Edge operations menu by RMB in the Geometry window.
   3. Choose [Edge | Move] with LMB – a submenu appears showing Axis options.
   4. Choose Free with LMB.
   5. Move your mouse in any direction, dragging the edge with it.
   6. Press LMB to stop the Move operation.
4. Select Face mode – switch to Face mode with F or Icon, the two faces adjacent to the selected edge are highlighted.
   1. Bring up the Face operations menu by RMB in the Geometry window.
   2. Choose [Face | Move] with LMB – a submenu appears showing Axis options.
   3. Choose Free with LMB.
   4. Move your mouse in any direction, dragging the faces with it.
   5. Press LMB to stop the Move operation.
5. Select Vertex mode – switch to Vertex mode with V or Icon, only the vertices of the two faces are highlighted.
   1. Deselect all Vertices by pressing Space.
   2. Select any (single) Vertex with LMB – the vertex becomes highlighted.
   3. Bring up the Vertex operations menu by RMB in the Geometry window.
   4. Choose [Vertex | Move] with LMB – a submenu appears showing Axis options.
   5. Choose Free with LMB.
   6. Move your mouse in any direction, dragging the vertex with it.
   7. Press LMB to stop the Move operation.
6. Select Object mode – switch to Object (or Body)  mode with B or Icon, the whole Object is highlighted.
   1. Bring up the Object operations menu by RMB in the Geometry window.
   2. Choose [Object | Move] with LMB – a submenu appears showing Axis options.
   3. Choose Free with LMB.
   4. Move your mouse in any direction, dragging the object with it.
   5. Press LMB to stop the Move operation.

…. Hey – whatever it looks like – it is what it is!

Save your first Wings 3D model using [File | Save] if you like.   For practice, repeat the above by starting again with a clean workspace using  [File | New].

Keep Going!!

There is nothing to stop you immediately exploring some of the more complex tools in Wings 3D. However, to gain familiarity with the basics, and to get used to the Hotkeys and layout of the menus, try a few other things along the lines of the exercise above, such as:

• Create different type of objects from the Primitives menu.
• Select and manipulate multiple elements, and switch selection modes. Note how Wings 3D maintains relationships between the selected elements as shown by the highlights.
• Explore the effects of using different axis options and note how the movements are constrained in certain directions.
• Try the Rotate and Scale commands in different selection modes, to manipulate faces, etc.
• Add several Primitive objects, and manipulate them together or individually.
  • Note: Wings 3D places new objects at the origin of the grid, overlaying whatever is there. You may need to move existing objects out of the way; first switch to Object mode and [Object | Move].
• Explore your new model with different views in Camera Mode.

Information, Information, Information …

All the time that you are creating, moving, and changing your model, the Information Line is being updated to show what mouse or key options are available, and the Status Bar is updated with data about the selected elements or actions. To repeat the advice: Keep your eye on these two important sources of information as you create and manipulate your models in Wings 3D.

Note that L, M and R on the Information Line refer to the relevant mouse buttons (i.e. NOT Hotkeys!) and that keyboard commands and Hotkeys are denoted here by having square brackets around them, e.g. [Q].
Keyboard commands are NOT case sensitive.
When modifiers such as Shift, Alt or Ctrl are required, this will be explicitly stated in the Information Line.

Contents – Tutorial Introduction