Camera controls using buttons and mouse input
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Standard perspectives
There are seven standard perspectives available to choose from: One in every direction along each cardinal axis, as well as an isometric view.
To switch between the standard perspectives:
- Click
and choose one of the listed perspectives. These are also available through the context menu of the
viewcube.
- Cycle through the perspectives by pressing the Space key.
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To adjust the perspective view with the mouse
The mouse provides some more freeform ways to change the view:
- Click and hold the right mouse button and move the mouse in any direction to rotate, or orbit, the view about the center of the display.
Tip: Use the O key to constrain the orbit mode: When
constrained, any left-right rotation happens about a vertical axis on the platform bottom, and this axis is then only allowed to tilt straight towards or away from the camera. When unconstrained, or
free, any left-right rotation happens around a vertical axis that is parallel to your display.

Free orbit (left) and constrained orbit (right)
- To rotate the camera view clockwise or anti-clockwise when orbiting freely is enabled, right-click close to the edge of the display and move the mouse. This method is not available when orbiting is constrained.
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To center the view on a location
When rotating, or orbiting, the camera, it does so around a point within the display space. The point is visualized with a green dot that appears whenever the camera is rotated or the pivot point is relocated.
- Click
, then click a point on the part.
- Right-click any point on a part surface and choose
Center View Here from the context menu to make this point the center of camera rotation.
You can also relocate the pivot to a new place on the surface of a mesh, or in empty space
without centering the view on it: Use
Shift+Middle-click at the desired point in the display.
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To adjust the perspective with the viewcube
The viewcube has click-sensitive areas along its
faces,
edges, and
corners. Clicking these turns the cube, and the view, directly towards the front, towards the camera.
You can also
right-click the viewcube to choose from the
standard perspectives in the viewcube's context menu.
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To adjust the perspective with the perspective indicator
An indicator in the bottom left of the display visualizes the current perspective with a representation of the build platform coordinates.

Three different perspectives and the perspective indicator in the matching orientation.
The colored planes in the indicator are interactive: Use them to change the perspectives:
- Click on the blue plane to switch between the views along the Z-axis (top and bottom)
- Click on the red plane to switch between views along the X-axis (left and right)
- Click on the green plane to switch between views along the Y-axis (front and back)
- Click on an X, Y, or Z axis label to align that axis straight out from the display.
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To switch between perspective indicator and the viewcube
From the main menu, switch
between
Viewcube and
Planes.
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To pan the platform about the display
- Hold the
middle mouse button and move your mouse around the display.
- Alternatively, or if your mouse doesn't have a middle mouse button, you can hold the
Ctrl key and hold the
right mouse button.
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To zoom
To zoom into or away from a part:
- Use the
scroll wheel on your mouse to roll in and out of the viewing screen.
- Hold
Shift and the
right mouse button and move the mouse forward to zoom in, back to zoom out.
- Press
Q to zoom in or
A to zoom out.
- Click
and choose one of the following zoom options:
-
Zoom to Parts
The view centers and zooms in on all available parts.
-
Zoom to Selected Parts
The view centers and zooms in on all selected parts.
-
Zoom to Platform
The view centers and zooms in on the whole platform.
-
Zoom to All
The view centers and zooms in on all parts and the whole platform.
-
Zoom to Selected Area
After clicking this option, specify the view area for the view by holding the left mouse button and dragging a selection rectangle.
While in this area selection mode, you cannot select parts. To leave this mode mode, press F3 or click
Select in the toolbar.

A selection rectangle

Netfabb zooms into the area
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