Using the Shape Building Tools

Click to show the Shape Building Tools panel. Or select the Component Tab Button-Construction-Component.png (1131 bytes) to show all component sub-panels.

To add a shape to your scene, click on the Shape Builder's icon and drag it on to your Scene. The Shape Builder will then open so that you create your shape.

Lathe Shape Builder

The Lathe Shape Builder is used to create shapes by taking a plane and rotationally sweeping it through space. The volume swept through is the new shape. For example, a semi-circle rotated through space creates a sphere, and a rectangle rotated through space creates a cylinder.

 

Extrude Shape Builder

The Extrude Shape Builder is used to create shapes by taking a plane and sweeping it through space along a path. The volume swept through is the new shape. For example, sweeping a circle along a straight path results in a cylinder being created.

 

Text Shape Builder

The Text Shape Builder is used to create 3D Text shapes.

 
Terrain Shape Builder (Available with 3DCrafter Pro)

The Terrain Shape Builder is used to create landscapes. Terrain can be based on a picture that is used as height map, or it can be based on fractal or random calculations.

 
Surface Shape Builder (Available with 3DCrafter Pro)

The Surface Shape Builder is primarily used to create organic shapes. Shapes are built from a patchwork of deformable surfaces.

To modify a shape created with a Shape Builder, double-click on the shape within the scene.