Draw
Modlumi models are built from edges and faces. When edges form a closed, flat loop, Modlumi fills it with a face. You can then shape faces with the shape editing tools.
Snapping and axis locks
Section titled “Snapping and axis locks”While you draw, Modlumi snaps to useful points and shows what it found: endpoints, midpoints, intersections, edges, faces, the origin and the axes. A line drawn parallel to an axis takes that axis’s color.
To keep drawing along one direction, lock it:
- Right arrow locks to the red axis.
- Left arrow locks to the green axis.
- Up arrow locks to the blue axis.
- Hold Shift to lock whatever direction or plane Modlumi is currently snapping to.
Press the same arrow again to unlock.
Type exact sizes
Section titled “Type exact sizes”After you start a shape, type a size and press Enter instead of clicking.
Numbers without a unit use the document’s unit; add mm, cm, m, in,
ft or yd to use another. For example, in a model set to meters, 2
means 2 m and 50cm means 50 cm. See Units.
Escape cancels a shape you haven’t finished.
Line (L) draws connected straight edges. Click to start, then click each next point. Type a length and press Enter to set the length of the current segment in the direction you’re pointing. Each segment is one undo step. Press Escape to stop.
Freehand
Section titled “Freehand”Freehand draws a curve that follows the pointer. Press and drag to draw, then release. Return to the starting point to close the curve. The arrow keys lock the drawing plane: Right for red, Left for green, Up for blue.
Arc (A) draws an arc from two endpoints and a bulge. Click the start
point, click the end point, then click to set how far the arc bulges. To set
the bulge exactly, type a distance such as 50cm and press Enter.
Rectangle
Section titled “Rectangle”Rectangle (R) draws a rectangle from two corners. Click the first
corner, then the opposite corner. To set the size exactly, type the width and
depth separated by a comma, such as 4m, 3m, and press Enter. You can
keep typing new sizes until you start another rectangle.
Press Ctrl (Option on macOS) to draw from the center instead of a corner.
Circle
Section titled “Circle”Circle (C) draws a circle from its center. Click the center, then click
to set the radius, or type a radius such as 50cm and press Enter.
Polygon
Section titled “Polygon”Polygon (Y) draws a regular polygon. Click the center, then click a
corner to set the radius and orientation. It starts with six sides. To change
the number of sides, type it followed by s, such as 5s, and press
Enter, or press + and −. Polygons can have 3 to 360 sides.
Type a radius such as 50cm and press Enter to set the distance from the
center to a corner exactly.
Where shapes go
Section titled “Where shapes go”Shapes are drawn on the face under the pointer. Over empty space, they’re drawn on the ground plane, or on the plane you locked with an arrow key.