Marking Menus

You can quickly access many of your most commonly used tools with marking menus.

Marking menus are used throughout the Maya interface. When you right-click an object, a marking menu appears that lets you select a selection mode and other actions that are in context to the type of object. Some marking menus appear when you hold a key and press a mouse button.

Marking menus are very fast for experienced users because once you get used to showing them and the positions of their items, you can select the items using very quick gestures with the mouse or tablet pen, sometimes so fast the entire menu won’t even display.

To select an item from a marking menu

1. Do one of the following:
   • Right-click anywhere in your scene when an object is selected, and release the mouse button.

     The marking menu remains on the screen, letting you move your cursor over the item you want to select.

   • Right-click anywhere in your scene when an object is selected and continue holding your mouse button and drag in the direction of the item you want to select. It doesn't matter how far you drag or if you hit the item exactly. This allows you to make the drag very quickly. Dragging over an item with a submenu attached shows the submenu.

Note: You can assign marking menus to hotkeys. Hold the key and press the mouse button to show the marking menu.

Polygon / NURBS marking menus

Right-clicking a polygon or NURBS object in the scene brings up a marking menu of many commonly used commands.

Menu Item	Effect
Components	The upper radial section of each object type displays options to change the current component selection mode for that object. Note: Objects remain selected even when switching between various object and component modes.
Shape node	Allows you to display the appropriate object's shape node without changing the current selection.
Select	Selects the current object.
Select All	Selects all objects in the scene.
Deselect All	Clears the current selection.
Select Hierarchy	Selects the current object and anything under it in the DAG.
Invert Selection	Selects anything currently unselected in the DAG and vice versa.
Select Similar	When in component mode, Select Similar selects polygonal components (vertices, edges, and faces) of a similar type to the current selection. When in object mode, this option selects other objects of the same node type in the scene.
Make Live	Turns the current object into a Live surface that other objects will then automatically snap to.
DG Traversal	Allows you to navigate up and down the DG into the current object's History (upstream) and Future (downstream) without having to open the Node Editor.
Inputs	Allows you to select and edit any / all input (upstream) connections to the current object's shape node.
Outputs	Allows you to select and edit any / all output (downstream) connections to the current object's shape node.
Paint	Provides quick access to multiple paint modes, including: Paint Select, 3D Paint, Sculpt Geometry, and Vertex Color painting (not available for NURBS curves).
Metadata	Allows you to visualize and modify metadata associated with the current object.
Actions	Provides quick access to Templating, (controlling the object's selectability), Unparenting (down to the root level), and Bounding Box display actions.
UV Sets	Provides quick access to options related to an object's (possibly) multiple UV sets (polygons only).
Color Sets	Provides quick access to options related to an object's (possibly) multiple color sets (polygons only).
Scene Assembly	Provides quick access to various options related to Scene Assembly for creating large complex scenes.
Material Attributes	Opens the current object's shader node in the Attribute Editor.
Assign New Material	Opens the Assign New Material window.
Assign Favorite Material	Allows you to assign commonly used shaders based on your Favorite list in the Hypershade. to the current object.
Assign Existing Material	Allows you to assign the current object any shader that already exists in the scene.
Remove Material Override	Removes any material overrides created on a render layer, reverting back to the master layer's material shader.

Convert Selection marking menus

Ctrl + right-clicking an object provides a menu of selection conversion commands that mirror those found in the Select > Convert Selection menu. The available options differ depending on the current object type. See Change one type of selection to another.

Create Polygon marking menus

Shift + right-clicking an empty spot in the scene provides a menu of polygon primitives and creation tools.

Polygon Tools marking menus

Shift + right-clicking a polygon object brings up a marking menu of many commonly used polygon tools.

Menu Item	Effect
Target Weld Tool	Activates the Target Weld Tool, which allows you to merge vertices or edges interactively.
Sculpt Tool	Activates the Sculpt Tool, which moves vertices in a direction determined by the average of all normals within the boundary of the tool cursor.
Multi-Cut	Activates the Multi-Cut Tool, which allows you to divide edges and faces by inserting new vertices / edges.
Insert Edge Loop	Activates the Insert Edge Loop, which allows you to create new edge loop perpendicular to the existing edges.
Append to Polygon Tool	Activates the Append to Polygon Tool, which allows you to add polygons to an existing mesh.
Soften/Harden Edge	Manipulates vertex normals to make all edges appear soft or hard.
Extrude	Extrudes the selected components.
Offset Edge Loop Tool	Activates the Offset Edge Loop Tool, which allows you to insert new edge loops on either side of selected edges.
Smooth	Smooths the current mesh by adding new polygons.
Subdiv Proxy	Smooths the current mesh by adding polygons and placing it inside the original, non smoothed mesh, which becomes the proxy.
Crease Tool	Activates the Crease Tool, which allows you to create transitions between hard and soft edges.
Project Curve on mesh	Creates a new curve that is the projection of a selected curve on the selected mesh surface.
Split mesh with projected curve	Splits or splits and detaches edges on a polygon surface using a projection from the selected curve.
Mirror	Provides the options found in the Mesh > Mirror menu, to mirror the selected mesh across an axis.
Mapping	Provides options to apply a default UV map to the selected faces.
Triangulate Faces	Converts the selected faces to triangles to ensure proper rendering.
Quadrangulate Faces	Converts the selected faces to quads to ensure proper rendering.
Separate	Separates the selected polygon into the individual polygon shells (if any exist) that make it up.
Combine	Combines the selected polygon shells into a single object.
Booleans	Provides the options found in the Mesh > Booleans menu, to model based on the intersection points of two meshes.
Reduce	Retopologizes the selected object in an attempt to reduce the overall number of polygons.
Cleanup	Opens the Cleanup Options , which allow you to remove unwanted geometry or tesselate faces that may be valid in Maya but not elsewhere.
Connect Tool	Activates the Connect Tool allowing you to connect components by inserting edges between them.
Quad Draw Tool	Activates the Quad Draw Tool, which allows you to draw new polygons by placing dots in the scene.
Polygon Display	Allows you to toggle various display settings based on the component type currently selected.

NURBS curves marking menus

Shift + right-clicking a NURBS curve brings up a marking menu of many commonly used NURBS commands.

Menu Item	Effect
Add Points Tool	Activates the Add Points Tool, which allows you to extend certain types of curves (such as CV, EP, and Pencil)q.
Open / Close Curves	Separates or connects the first and last points of the selected curves.
Reverse Curve	Reverses the curve direction by renumbering the points.
Convert NURBS to Bezier	Converts the selected NURBS curve to a Bezier curve. See Bezier curves.
Bezier Curve Tool	Activates the Bezier Curve Tool, allowing you to modify or extend the selected Bezier curve.

Transform marking menus

Ctrl + Shift + right-clicking your scene when different transformation tools are active, or holding the shortcut key for that tool and left-clicking the scene, opens a marking menu full of various settings related to that particular transformation tool.

Common Transform marking menus

The following marking menus are common to the Select Tool, Move Tool, Rotate Tool, and Scale Tool.

Menu Item	Effect
Selection Constraints	Lets you select components based on a specific type of constraint (i.e. edge loops only or border edges only).
Transform Constraints	Lets you select a transform constraint.
Preserve UVs	Maya automatically transforms UVs in the UV space relative to the transformations taking place in the scene view (not available for Select Tool).
Preserve Children	Maintains the position of child objects when you move a parent object (not available for Select Tool).
Tweak Mode	Turns Tweak Mode on and off (not available for Select Tool).

Symmetry

Menu Item	Effect
Symmetry	Turns Object symmetry on.
Topology q/ World / Object	Sets the symmetry space.
X Axis / Y Axis / Z Axis	Lets you choose whether to reflect your selection along the X-axis, Y-axis or Z-axis.

Select

Menu Item	Effect
Marquee	Turns Marquee select on and off.
Preselection Highlight	Turns Preselection Highlight on and off.
Highlight Nearest Component	When enabled and Maya is in component mode, automatically highlights the component (according to the active component selection setting) closest to the mouse cursor for selection.
Highlight Backfaces	When enabled, backfacing components are highlighted for preselection and are selectable. When this option is disabled, backfacing components are still selectable, but they are not highlighted for preselection.
Asset Centric	Turns Asset Centric selection on and off.
Soft Select	Opens the Soft Select marking menu.
Camera Based Selection	Turns on Camera Based Selection.
Clear Selection	Deselects all selected components.

Soft Select

Menu Item	Effect
Soft Select	Turns Soft Selection on and off.
Object / Global / Surface / Volume	Sets the Falloff Mode for Soft Selection.
Color Feedback	Turns color feedback for Soft Selection on and off.

Select Tool marking menus

The following marking menus give you access to options associated with the Select Tool. You can also access these marking menus by holding Q + clicking in your scene.

Menu Item	Effect
Paint Select	Changes the selection mode to Paint Select.
Lasso	Changes the selection mode to Lasso Select.

Move Tool marking menus

Holding W + clicking in your scene opens a marking menu of options associated with the Move Tool. Most of the options can also be found in the Move Tool Settings.

Menu Item	Effect
Axis / World / Object / Component	Sets the Move Axis (coordinate system) for the Move Tool.
Keep Spacing	Maintains relative spacing when snap settings are on.
Update Triad	Determines whether the manipulator is updated during manipulation or when the mouse button is released, when moving components along their normals.
Move Options	Opens the Tool Settings.

Axis

Menu Item	Effect
Live Object Axis / Normal / Parent / Along Rotation Axis	Sets the Axis Orientation for the Move Tool.
Custom	Sets the Axis Orientation to a Custom axis orientation based on a specified point, edge, or face.

Snap

Menu Item	Effect
Discrete Move	Lets you move components by specified increments. You can modify the increments in the Tool Settings editor.
Face Center / Vertex	Lets you move and snap to a live polygon’s components. Both can be turned on simultaneously.
Relative Mode	Lets you move components relative to their initial orientation or scale.

Rotate Tool marking menus

Holding E + clicking in your scene opens a marking menu of options associated with the Rotate Tool. Most of the options can also be found in the Rotate Tool Settings.

Menu Item	Effect
Object / World /Component /Gimbal / Custom	Sets the Axis Orientation for the Rotate Tool.
Custom	Sets the Axis Orientation to a Custom axis orientation based on a specified point, edge, or face.
Rotate Object Center	Lets you rotate object components around the object’s pivot point.
Free Rotate	When on, dragging the area inside the rotation manipulators (the center) rotates the object or component. When off, you can only rotate the object or component by dragging the rotation manipulators.
Relative	Lets you rotate or scale components relative to their initial orientation or scale.
Rotate Options	Opens the Tool Settings.

Scale Tool marking menus

Holding R + clicking in your scene opens a marking menu of options associated with the Scale Tool. Most of the options can also be found in the Scale Tool Settings.

Menu Item	Effect
Axis / World /Object /Component	Sets the Axis Orientation for the Scale Tool.
Snap Scale	Lets you scale components by specified increments. You can modify the increments in the Tool Settings editor.
Relative	Lets you rotate or scale components relative to their initial orientation or scale.
Scale Object Center	Lets you scale object components around the object’s pivot point.
Prevent Negative Scale	Stops all single axis scaling operations on components at 0.
Scale Tool Settings	Opens the Tool Settings.

Axis

Menu Item	Effect
Live Object Axis / Normal / Parent / Along Rotation Axis	Sets the Axis Orientation for the Scale Tool.
Custom	Sets the Axis Orientation to a Custom axis orientation based on a specified point, edge, or face.

Component Marking Menus

Shift + right-clicking your scene when in component selection mode opens a marking menu specific to the type of component (vertices, edges, or faces) currently being selected.

Common Component marking menus

The following marking menus are common to the Vertex, Edge, and Face component modes.

Menu Item	Effect
Merge	Provides options for merging multiple selections of the same component into one.
Paint Select	Activates Paint Selection mode for the current component type.
Multi Cut	Activates the Multi-Cut Tool, which allows you to divide edges and faces by inserting new vertices / edges.
Delete	Deletes the selected component (vertices and edges only).
Normals	Presents a number of options to modify the selected components normals (vertices and faces only).
Extrude	Extrudes the selected components.
Crease Tool	Activates the Crease Tool, which allows you to create transitions between hard and soft edges (vertices and edges only).
Connect Components	Connects the selected vertices, edges, or faces (in the form of their border edges) to the last selected vertex or edge.
Detach Components	Separates components into multiple overlapping components.
Transform Component	Activates a Manipulator Tool based on the last selected component.
Connect Tool	Activates the Connect Tool allowing you to connect components by inserting edges between them.
Polygon Display	Allows you to toggle various display settings based on the component type currently selected.

Vertex marking menus

Shift + right-clicking the scene in Vertex component mode opens a marking menu of vertex tools and options.

Menu Item	Effect
Average Vertices	Averages the distance between the selected vertices.
Chamfer Vertex	Chamfers the selected vertices.
Apply Color	Assigns color data to the selected vertices.

Edge marking menus

Shift + right-clicking the scene in Edge component mode opens a marking menu of edge tools and options.

Menu Item	Effect
Flip/Spin Edge	Flips or spins edges to opposite corners of a face.
Bevel Edge	Expands the selected edge into a new face based on the current Bevel Options.
Soften/Harden Edge	Manipulates vertex normals to make connected edges appear soft or hard.
Offset Edge Loop Tool	Activates the Offset Edge Loop Tool, which allows you to insert new edge loops on either side of selected edges.
Insert Edge Loop	Activates the Insert Edge Loop, which allows you to create new edge loop perpendicular to the existing edges.
Slide Edge Tool	Lets you reposition a selection of edges or entire edge loops on a polygon mesh.
Edit Edge Flow	Adjusts the position of the selected edges to fit the curvature of the surrounding mesh.
Add Divisions To Edge	Allows you to split an edge using multiple vertices.
Bridge	Creates faces connecting the selected border edges.
Fill Hole	Automatically creates a three or more sided face to fill an open area bordered by the selected edge.

Face marking menus

Shift + right-clicking the scene in Face component mode opens a marking menu of face tools and options.

Menu Item	Effect
Poke Face	Creates a vertex at the center of the selected face(s) and adds vertices to properly triangulate them.
Bevel Face	Expands the selected face's edges into a new faces based on the current Bevel Options.
Wedge Face	Extrudes an arc out of the selected face until it is within a certain Arc angle of the selected edge.
Smooth Faces	Adds new polygons to smooth out vertices and edges bordering the selected faces.
Assign Invisible Faces	Removes all shading from the selected faces (but does not remove the face itself).
Add Divisions To Faces	Subdivides selected faces into additional faces.
Triangulate Faces	Converts the selected faces to triangles to ensure proper rendering.
Quadrangulate Faces	Converts the selected faces to quads to ensure proper rendering.
Reduce Faces	Retopologizes the selected faces in an attempt to reduce the overall number of polygons.
Bridge Faces	Creates faces connected the selected faces' opposite border edges.
Extract Faces	Disconnects the selected faces from the mesh.
Duplicate Face	Creates a copy of the selected faces.
Target Weld	Activates the Target Weld Tool, which allows you to merge vertices or edges interactively.
Mapping	Provides options to apply a default UV map to the selected faces.

Hypershade Marking Menus

For a list of marking menus found in the Hypershade Window, see Hypershade Marking Menus

Node Editor Marking Menus

For a list of marking menus found in the Node Editor Window, see Node Editor Marking Menus

UV Editor Marking Menus

For a list of marking menus found in the UV Editor Window, see Node Editor Marking Menus

Related topics

• Select actions from the hotbox
• Create or edit a marking menu
• Assign a marking menu to a hotkey
• Add a marking menu to the hotbox
• Marking Menu Editor