The Assistant Palette displays the available selection tools. Just click on one of these icons to see the cursor switch to the corresponding tool icon.
Amapi 3D lets you access these tools extra quickly with the Loop Access principle:
On PC: Click the right mouse button.
On Mac: Press the Option key down and click the mouse button.
The cursor switches to the first selection tool. You can use that tool or repeat the operation to get the next selection tool. After the last selection tool is reached, clicking again causes the first tool to be redisplayed. This cyclical process is called “Loop Access.”
q Selecting the current object (the Wand):
The Wand is the default selection tool. When no tool is selected, the cursor is displayed as a Wand which is used to select one of the objects displayed on the screen.
Clicking on one of the object designates it as the current object. It will be displayed in cyan to differentiate it from other objects in the scene. Its center of geometry is marked with a small gray sphere.
There is always a current object in a scene. And it is on this object that the next action will be applied. Therefore, you must make always be sure that the right object is selected before using a tool.
It is possible for some tools to change current object while the tool is in use:
Mold, Move, Stretch, Turn, Proportional Scale, and Snap.
To change the current object when inside one of these tools:
Þ Press Shift+Esc. The Wand appears.
Þ Use it to click on another object which will become the current object (put the tool aside to cancel).
Þ You can use the tool on the new current object.
q Selecting a group of points or facets (the Lasso):
The Wand is the default cursor icon when no tool is selected.
You will use the Lasso selection tool to restrict the selection to a group of points or facets.
You can access this selection tool either before selecting a tool or when using a tool.
You can use both the Lasso and the Bullseye to make your selection.
Usage:
1. Use the Wand to select the object.
2. Switch to the Lasso:
There are two methods:
§ 1st method: Click on the Lasso icon in the Assistant Palette. The cursor switches to the Lasso.
§ 2nd method:
Þ On PC: Click the right mouse button.
Or
Þ On Mac: Press the Option key and simultaneously click the mouse button.
The Wand cursor switches to the Lasso.
If you do this operation again, the cursor will be transformed into the Bullseye. (See the chapter regarding this tool).
Repeat the operation again and the cursor comes back to the Lasso.
To get the Wand cursor back, put the tool aside or press “enter”.
3. Surround part of an object using the Lasso:
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Click several times to draw a closed line around the area of the object you wish to select.
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4. Validate the selection:
Press the Return key when the whole area of the object you want to select is surrounded.
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The cursor switches back to the Wand.
q Single point selection (the Bullseye):
The Wand is the default cursor icon when no tool is selected.
You will use the Bullseye selection tool to restrict the selection to a single or to selected points (or facets) that you cannot access easily using the Lasso.
You can access this selection tool either before selecting a tool or when using a tool.
You can use both the Lasso and the Bullseye to make your selection.
Usage:
1. Select the object with the Wand.
2. Select the Bullseye tool.
There are two methods:
§ 1st method: Click on its icon in the Assistant Palette.
§ 2nd method:
Þ On PC: Click the right mouse button.
Or
Þ On Mac: Press the Option key and simultaneously click the mouse button.
The Lasso cursor appears.
Þ Do this again and the cursor now switches to the Bullseye.
If you do the operation one more time, the cursor will be transformed back into the Lasso (see the chapter regarding this tool).
Repeat the operation again and the cursor comes back to the Bullseye.
To get the Wand cursor back, put the tool aside or press “Enter”.
3. Designate the points to be selected:
Click on the points you wish to select.
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