Curve and Surface › Edit Mode: every menu, tool, sidebar tab and context menu of this mode, on one page. Use the panels on the right to jump between the regions.

Header

Curve menu

Edit Mode - Curve Menu

The curve menu just exists for curve objects.

Transform

To Sphere

Shapes a selection of objects into the shape of a sphere. The calculation happens with the object origins.

In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.

Usage

Select the vertices, activate the tool, then drag the mouse in the 3D viewport. In the header you will read the current factor then. Which tells you how close you are towards the sphere shape.

Last Operator To Sphere

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Shear

Shear shears the selection.

In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.

The shear tool works along a imaginary 2d plane. The shear axis controls if the items are sheared along the x or the y axes of this plane. This is the plane along which the transformation happens. You can shear along the x or the y axis of this plane.

To make things even more complicated, the orientation of this imaginary plane is defined by the Axis and Axis Ortho items below.

Last Operator Shear

Offset

Adjust an offset.

Axis

Defines one axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Axis Ortho

Defines the other axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Bend

Bends the selection.

Push/Pull

It pushes or pulls the object positions relative to the center of the selection.

In Object mode this tool requires to have more than one object selected.

Last Operator Push/Pull

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Warp

Warps a mesh selection between two defined points. This also works with curves.

Last operator Warp

Min

The start point.

Max

The end point.

Randomize Transform

This tool allows randomizes the positions of the selected vertices.

Last Operator Randomize Transform

Radius

Scales the selected geometry of a curve along its normals. Transform orientation and Pivot point gets ignored.

A positive value pushes the vertices outwards. A negative value pushes the vertices inwards.

The curve needs to have geometry !

Last Operator Transform

Values

The transform values.

Axis

The transform axis.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Move Texture Space

This tool relies at the move tool. With the difference that it moves the texture space instead of the object. It has also a very special use case, and just works with a material with a Texture Coordinate / Generated node. And requires to have the shading at Material or Rendered to see a result in the viewport.

In the viewport you will see the UV cage in black color. In the header you will see the values for the current position of the UV cage.

Note that once done and applied, there is no way to reset the UV cage back to zero. When you repeat the operation, then the values will start at 0 again. Even when the UV cage is already offset.

Last Operator Move

Move

Adjust in which directions you want to transform.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Mirror Editing

Enable mirror editing.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Scale Texture Space

Scale Texture space is similar to the Move texture Space. With the only difference that it scales the UV space instead of moving it.

This tool relies at the scale tool. With the difference that it scales the texture space instead of the object. It has also a very special use case, and just works with a material with a Texture Coordinate / Generated node. And requires to have the shading at Material or Rendered to see a result in the viewport.

In the viewport you will see the UV cage in black color. In the header you will see the values for the current position of the UV cage.

Note that once done and applied, there is no way to reset the UV cage back to zero. When you repeat the operation, then the values will start at 0 again. Even when the UV cage is already offset.

Last Operator Resize

Scale

Adjust in which directions you want to transform.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Mirror Editing

Enable mirror editing.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Set Dimensions

Edit Mode Only!

Normally all scale operations in Bforartists are relative to the current selection and dimensions. And you always start with a relative value of 1.

Set dimensions allows to scale mesh selections in absolute world values. No matter how the initial values are. The new values gets set in the Last Operator.

Set dimensions is an add-on. You can turn it off in the add-ons section of the user preferences when you want.

Last Operator Set Dimensions

New Dimensions

When you activate the tool then you will see the world coordinates of the selection. Change the values to other world coordinates.

Mirror submenu

Mirror mirrors the selected geometry along the defined axis.

Interactive Mirror

Mirror by hotkeys. You activate the tool, type in x for x global for example, or x x for x local. And the selection gets mirrored

X Global, Y Global etc.

Mirrors the selection around the chosen axis.

Last Operator Mirror

The Last Operator Mirror panel gives you tools to adjust the mirror action.

Orientation

Orientation is a drop-down box . Choose the type of orientation for the mirroring action.

Constraint Axis

Constraint Axis gives you again the possibility to define the mirror axis. You can choose more than one axis here.

Snap submenu

Snap

Choose several methods to snap one element to another. The menu items should be self explaining.

Last operator Snap Selection to Cursor

Some snap operations shows a last operation panel, some not.

Operators

Duplicate

Duplicates the current selection. This can be a single control point or a whole curve.

The copy sticks to the mouse until you release it. A Right click while moving will reset the position of the duplicate. The duplicated part will be part of the same object.

When you drag the duplicate around you will see the position values in the header.

Last Operator Duplicate

Move X , Y , Z

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Toggle Cyclic

Toggle Cyclic closes or opens the curve.

Last Operator Toggle Cyclic

Direction

Direction is a drop-down box . Choose the direction in which the curve gets closed.

Decimate Curve

Decimates the currently selected geometry. It starts with a Ratio of 1. Which means no decimation. The lower the ratio the more decimation you will get.

Last Operator Decimate Curve

Ratio

Adjust the strength of decimation.

Set Spline Type

With set Spline Type you can set the type of the curve.

Poly is a straight line between the control points. Bezier has curve handlers. A nurbs curve has a control cage.

Last Operator Set Spline Type

Show / Hide

Show Hidden

Makes all curve geometry in the scene visible again.

Hide Selected

Hides the selected curve geometry.

Last Operator Hide Selected

Unselected

Hides the not selected curve geometry.

Hide Unselected

Hides the not selected curve geometry. The selected geometry stays visible.

Control points menu

Edit Mode - Control Points menu

The control points menu exists for Curve and Surface objects in edit mode.

For the surface object type there are not this much operators available.

Extrude Curve

Extrudes the selected curve point(s).

Last operator Extrude Curve and Move

Mode

A drop-down box where you can choose between different extrude modes.

Default is Translation. Most other methods has no effect.

Move X , Y , Z

The position of the extruded point(s).

Orientation

Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.

Extrude to Cursor or Add

Hotkey only tool. Extrude to the mouse position.

Last Operator Extrude to Cursor or Add

Location X Y Z

The location to extrude to.

Make Segment

Joins two curves by adding a segment between the end of the one and the beginning of the other. You can also create a closed curve that way.

Tilt

Modifies the Mean Tilt of the geometry of a curve. The curve needs to have geometry !

Activate the tool, and drag the mouse. You will see a value in the header now. The selected curve path will rotate by dragging the mouse.

The Tilt angle always starts at zero. It is relative. To modify the Mean Tilt use the edit box in the Transform panel.

Last Operator Tilt

Angle

The Tilt angle.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Clear Tilt

Sets the Mean Tilt to zero.

Recalculate Handles

Recalculates the normals of the selected curve and adjusts the handles accordingly.

Last Operator Recalc Normals

Length

Recalculates the handle length.

Hooks

Hooks is a menu with tools around the hook modifier. You could also adjust the hook modifier from the Properties editor. But the menu items are more accessible.

When there is no hook modifier at the mesh then you just see three menu items. When there is minimum one hook modifier applied, then you will see an extended menu.

Hook to New Object

Creates a new Hook Modifier for the active object and assigns it to the selected vertices. It also creates an empty at the center of those vertices, which are hooked to it.

Hook to Selected Object

Does the same as Hook to New Object, but instead of hooking the vertices to a new empty, it hooks them to the selected object (if it exists). There should be only one selected object (besides the mesh being edited).

Last Operator Hook to Selected Object

Active Bone

Hook to the object(s) of the active bone.

Make Vertex Parent

Parents another object to the selected vertice(s).

Workflow:

In Object mode select the object that you want to parent to a vertex. Shift select the parent object so that both are selected. Enter Edit mode. Then select one vertex for a single point. Then click the Make Vertex Parent button to make the relation.

Segments menu

Edit Mode - Segments Menu

The Segments menu exists for Curve and Surface object types. They are both curve types, but of different kind.

The added objects in edit mode becomes part of the current object geometry.

Subdivide

Subdivides the selected curve geometry, and adds more control points.

Last Operator Subdivide

Number of Cuts

Number of subdivision cuts.

Switch Direction

Just for Bezier Curve object type. Surface Nurbs curves doesn't have a direction. Switches the direction in which the curve is pointing.

Surface menu

Edit Mode - Surface Menu

The Surface menu just exists for Surface objects.

Greyed out menu items are not available for surface objects. They are meant for curve objects of type Bezier. Those menu items are not covered here.

Transform

To Sphere

Shapes a selection of objects into the shape of a sphere. The calculation happens with the object origins.

In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.

Usage

Select the vertices, activate the tool, then drag the mouse in the 3D viewport. In the header you will read the current factor then. Which tells you how close you are towards the sphere shape.

Last Operator To Sphere

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Shear

Shear shears the selection.

In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.

The shear tool works along a imaginary 2d plane. The shear axis controls if the items are sheared along the x or the y axes of this plane. This is the plane along which the transformation happens. You can shear along the x or the y axis of this plane.

To make things even more complicated, the orientation of this imaginary plane is defined by the Axis and Axis Ortho items below.

Last Operator Shear

Offset

Adjust an offset.

Axis

Defines one axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Axis Ortho

Defines the other axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Bend

Bends the selection.

Push/Pull

It pushes or pulls the object positions relative to the center of the selection.

In Object mode this tool requires to have more than one object selected.

Last Operator Push/Pull

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Warp

Warps a mesh selection between two defined points. This also works with curves.

Last operator Warp

Min

The start point.

Max

The end point.

Randomize Transform

This tool allows randomizes the positions of the selected vertices.

Last Operator Randomize Transform

Move Texture Space

This tool relies at the move tool. With the difference that it moves the texture space instead of the object. It has also a very special use case, and just works with a material with a Texture Coordinate / Generated node. And requires to have the shading at Material or Rendered to see a result in the viewport.

In the viewport you will see the UV cage in black color. In the header you will see the values for the current position of the UV cage.

Note that once done and applied, there is no way to reset the UV cage back to zero. When you repeat the operation, then the values will start at 0 again. Even when the UV cage is already offset.

Last Operator Move

Move

Adjust in which directions you want to transform.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Mirror Editing

Enable mirror editing.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Scale Texture Space

Scale Texture space is similar to the Move texture Space. With the only difference that it scales the UV space instead of moving it.

This tool relies at the scale tool. With the difference that it scales the texture space instead of the object. It has also a very special use case, and just works with a material with a Texture Coordinate / Generated node. And requires to have the shading at Material or Rendered to see a result in the viewport.

In the viewport you will see the UV cage in black color. In the header you will see the values for the current position of the UV cage.

Note that once done and applied, there is no way to reset the UV cage back to zero. When you repeat the operation, then the values will start at 0 again. Even when the UV cage is already offset.

Last Operator Resize

Scale

Adjust in which directions you want to transform.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Mirror Editing

Enable mirror editing.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Set Dimensions

Edit Mode Only!

Normally all scale operations in Bforartists are relative to the current selection and dimensions. And you always start with a relative value of 1.

Set dimensions allows to scale mesh selections in absolute world values. No matter how the initial values are. The new values gets set in the Last Operator.

Set dimensions is an add-on. You can turn it off in the add-ons section of the user preferences when you want.

Last Operator Set Dimensions

New Dimensions

When you activate the tool then you will see the world coordinates of the selection. Change the values to other world coordinates.

Mirror

Mirror mirrors the selected geometry along the defined axis.

Interactive Mirror

Mirror by hotkeys. You activate the tool, type in x for x global for example, or x x for x local. And the selection gets mirrored

X Global, Y Global etc.

Mirrors the selection around the chosen axis.

Last Operator Mirror

The Last Operator Mirror panel gives you tools to adjust the mirror action.

Orientation

Orientation is a drop-down box . Choose the type of orientation for the mirroring action.

Constraint Axis

Constraint Axis gives you again the possibility to define the mirror axis. You can choose more than one axis here.

Snap

Snap

Choose several methods to snap one element to another. The menu items should be self explaining.

Last operator Snap Selection to Cursor

Some snap operations shows a last operation panel, some not.

Operators

Spin

Extrude selected boundary row around the pivot point and the current view axis.

Last Operator Spin

Duplicate

Duplicates the current selection. This can be a single control point or a whole curve.

The copy sticks to the mouse until you release it. A Right click while moving will reset the position of the duplicate. The duplicated part will be part of the same object.

When you drag the duplicate around you will see the position values in the header.

Last Operator Duplicate

Move X , Y , Z

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Toggle Cyclic

Toggle Cyclic closes or opens the curve.

Last Operator Toggle Cyclic

Direction

Direction is a drop-down box. Choose the direction in which the curve gets closed.

Show / Hide

Show Hidden

Makes all curve geometry in the scene visible again.

Hide Selected

Hides the selected curve geometry.

Last Operator Hide Selected

Unselected

Hides the not selected curve geometry.

Hide Unselected

Hides the not selected curve geometry. The selected geometry stays visible.

Delete

Vertices

Dissolves the selected vertices. When removing vertices in between then the curve stays intact and connected.

Segment

Removes the segment between the selected vertices.

Tool Shelf

Tools

Tool Shelf - Curve - Edit Mode

With a curve object in edit mode you will find some tools to edit the curve geometry in the tool shelf.

Tweak, Select, Transform, 3D Cursor Measure and Annotate tools

The tweak, select, transform, 3d cursor, measure and annotate tools at the end of the list are explained in the chapter 7.1.1 Editors - 3D View - Tool Shelf - Object Mode. We won't cover this tools again here.

Curve Stroke Panel

The curve stroke panel is covered in the chapter 25.1.1 Editors - Properties Editor - Tools Tab - Edit Mode. We won't cover this tools again here.

Draw

Allows you to draw a curve into the viewport.

Tool Settings

Type

Set the draw method for the curve. Poly draws a simple polygon shape. Bezier creates a Bezier curve type with handlers.

With type Bezier you will get more options.

Method

The curve fitting method for a Bezier curve.

Tolerance

Allow deviation for a smoother but less precise line.

Detect Corners

Detect corners and use non aligned angles.

Corner Angle

Corners above this angle are considered as corners.

Depth

The method of projecting depth. Cursor or surface.

Cursor

Cursor has no further settings.

Surface

Project onto selected

Projects the strokes only onto selected objects.

Absolute Offset

Apply a fixed offset, and don't scale by the radius.

Only First

Use the start of the stroke for the depth.

Plane

The plane for the projected strokes.

Last Operator Draw Curve

Curve Pen

Extrudes start and end point of the spline to where you click with the mouse.

Tool Settings

Close Spline

Make the spline cyclic.

Extrude Handle Type

Type of the extrude handler.

Extrude Tools Group

This tools allows you to extrude out a new curve segment from the current selection

Header Values

When you move your selection then you will see some values in the header, which defines the current position of the extrude point.

Move without Widget

You don't have to use the widget to move the object. You can also click aside of it, and drag the object around. The mouse turns into a move cursor. The standard behavior then is to move in screen space. When you want to move into a specific axis, then press X or Y or Z to limit the movement to this axis.

Limit Axis

When you want to move along a specific axis, then press X or Y or Z to limit the movement to this axis. You usually start in global orientation. But you can change this in the Orientation settings.

By holding down the mouse button and pressing the X, Y or Z key twice you can toggle this to local. But also to other orientations. This depends in what orientation you start. With normal you can toggle that way between Normal and Global.

Extrude

The Extrude tool extrudes the current selection in the direction of the widget.

When you activate the tool, then you will by default see a yellow widget at the selection. Drag it to extrude the selection.

Header Value

When you extrude curve points then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current target position relative to the initial starting point(s) . This factor always starts with 0.

Tool Settings

Axis Type

You can choose between the regular axis type. That's the yellow widget with just one handler. It always points in the direction of the middled normals of the selection.

Or you can use the XYZ axis type. That's a handler with three axis. This widget can be aligned with the transform orientation methods.

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last operator Extrude Curve and Move

Mode

A drop-down box. Choose between different extrude modes.

Default is Translation. Most other methods has no effect.

Move X , Y , Z

The position of the extruded point(s).

Orientation

Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Extrude Cursor

Extrudes the control points to where you click.

Last Operator Add Vertex

Location X Y Z

The location of the new created control point(s).

Radius

Bezier curves have a radius. This is displayed by the black lines that points away from the curve. The radius tool allows you to resize this radius.

Header Value

When you resize the curve radius then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current scale factor. This factor always starts with 1.

Tool Settings

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last Operator Transform

Orientation

Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.

Tilt

With this tool you can tilt the curve. It is the mean tilt value in the Transform panel of the Sidebar.

Header Value

When you rotate the curve with the tilt tool, then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current rotation relative to the starting rotation. This value always starts with 0.

Tool Settings

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last Operator Transform

Shear

The shear tool allows you to shear the selected geometry. When you activate the tool, then a widget appears that allows you to pull in the desired direction.

Tool Settings

Orientation

Choose the orientation for the shear action.

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last Operator Shear

Axis Ortho

Defines the other axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Orientation

Choose the orientation for the shear action.

Randomize

Randomize the position of the selected polygon or control points.

Header Value

When you randomize the points, then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current randomization amount. This value always starts with 0.

Tool Settings

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last Operator Transform

Tools

Tool Shelf - Surface - Edit Mode

Tweak, Select, Transform, 3D Cursor Measure and Annotate tools

The tweak, select, transform, 3d cursor, measure and annotate tools at the end of the list are explained in the chapter 7.1.1 Editors - 3D View - Tool Shelf - Object Mode. We won't cover this tools again here.

Shear

The shear tool allows you to shear the selected geometry. When you activate the tool, then a widget appears that allows you to pull in the desired direction.

Tool Settings

Orientation

Choose the orientation for the shear action.

Drag

When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.

Last Operator Shear

Axis Ortho

Defines the other axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Context Menus

Curve context menus

Curve context menus

Call this menu with double right click in the 3D viewport. You need to be in Edit mode with a Curve or a Surface object.

With a surface object some options are greyed out.

Subdivide

Subdivides the selected curve geometry, and adds more control points.

Last Operator Subdivide

Number of Cuts

Number of subdivision cuts.

Extrude Curve

Extrudes the selected curve point(s).

Last operator Extrude Curve and Move

Mode

A drop-down box where you can choose between different extrude modes.

Default is Translation. Most other methods has no effect.

Move X , Y , Z

The position of the extruded point(s).

Orientation

Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.

Make Segment

Joins two curves by adding a segment between the end of the one and the beginning of the other. You can also create a closed curve that way.

Duplicate

Duplicates the current selection. This can be a single control point or a whole curve.

The copy sticks to the mouse until you release it. A Right click while moving will reset the position of the duplicate. The duplicated part will be part of the same object.

When you drag the duplicate around you will see the position values in the header.

Last Operator Duplicate

Move X , Y , Z

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Radius

Scales the selected geometry of a curve along its normals. Transform orientation and Pivot point gets ignored.

A positive value pushes the vertices outwards. A negative value pushes the vertices inwards.

The curve needs to have geometry !

Last Operator Transform

Values

The transform values.

Axis

The transform axis.

Orientation

Choose the orientation.

Tilt

Modifies the Mean Tilt of the geometry of a curve. The curve needs to have geometry !

Activate the tool, and drag the mouse. You will see a value in the header now. The selected curve path will rotate by dragging the mouse.

The Tilt angle always starts at zero. It is relative. To modify the Mean Tilt use the edit box in the Transform panel.

Last Operator Tilt

Angle

The Tilt angle.

Proportional editing

Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.

Mirror

Mirror mirrors the selected geometry along the defined axis.

Last Operator Mirror

The Last Operator Mirror panel gives you tools to adjust the mirror action.

Orientation

Orientation is a drop-down box choose the type of orientation for the mirroring action.

Constraint Axis

Constraint Axis gives you again the possibility to define the mirror axis. You can choose more than one axis here.

Snap

Choose several methods to snap one element to another. The menu items should be self explaining.

Last Operator Snap

Some snap operations shows a last operation panel, some not.

Set Spline Type

With set Spline Type you can set the type of the curve.

Poly is a straight line between the control points. Bezier has curve handlers. A nurbs curve has a control cage.

Last Operator Set Spline Type

Set Handle Type

Handles defines the type of handle for the knots of the curve. You have the choice between Auto, Vector, Align and Free. And the Last Operator gives you a fifth possibility to toggle between Free and Align.

Free

Set Handle type to Free.

Toggle Free/Aligned

Toggle Free/Aligned.

Last Operator Set Handle Type

Type

Type is a drop-down box where you can set the handle type. You have the choice between Auto, Vector, Align, Free. And the fifth possibility toggles between Free and Align.

Toggle Cyclic

Toggle Cyclic closes or opens the curve.

Last Operator Toggle Cyclic

Direction

Direction is a drop-down box choose the direction in which the curve gets closed.

Switch Direction

Just for Bezier Curve object type. Surface Nurbs curves doesn't have a direction. Switches the direction in which the curve is pointing.

Recalculate Handles

Recalculates the normals of the selected curve.

Last Operator Recalc Normals

Length

Recalculates the handle length too.

Set Goal Weight

Sets the curve’s Weight for the selected control point to the specified value. If more than one control point is selected this will set the Mean Weight.

Set Curve Radius

Sets the curve radius for the selected curve point to the specified value.

Split

Splits the curve at the selected control point(s). You need to select two control points to select the segment between it.

Decimate Curve

Decimates the currently selected geometry. It starts with a Ratio of 1. Which means no decimation. The lower the ratio the more decimation you will get.

Last Operator Decimate Curve

Ratio

Adjust the strength of decimation.

Show/Hide

Sub-menu with shows or hide selection, unselected or hidden operators.

Show Hidden

Makes all geometry in the scene visible again.

Hide Selected

Hides the selected geometry.

Last Operator Hide Selected

Unselected

Hides the not selected geometry.

Hide Unselected

Hides the not selected geometry. The selected geometry stays visible.