Managing the Compass

You can use and manage the compass when modifying a surface.

This kind of selection enables a filter mode to select only specified elements. It is available through the Tools Palette that appears when creating or modifying a surface for instance.

Before you begin: Create a 3D shape containing a subdivision surface.

  1. To display the toolbar below, click Compass Definition .



    The following icons let you:


    • modify the origin and orientation of the compass, as well as exit the compass definition and return to the previous function
    • reset the compass orientation to the model axis
    • switch the main plane between one of the three compass axes

    The compass is defined depending on the selected element(s): generally the compass plane (x and y axis) is computed using the mean plane computation of the Selecting Elements.

  2. Successively, select three vertices to define the:


    • compass origin

    • Z axis

    • X and Y axes (drag the arc of circle to move the compass)

Tip: The compass is locked by a single click on a vertex and is not modified when you add elements to the selection (the origin is not modified, but its orientation is). To free its position, click Reset Compass .