Sculpting >
Select and move items

An item is activated for modification whenever the cursor is positioned over it in the 3D View. That is, when you stroke a sculpt tool across the model, Mudbox automatically selects and modifies the affected vertices.

For some features and operations, you must explicitly select items on the model. To do this, you use tools on the Select/Move Tools tray.

The selection tools let you select faces and entire models so you can:

- Translate, rotate, or scale objects (models) in the 3D View.
- Specify an axis of symmetry for the Mirror and Set Topological Axis symmetry features.
- Hide faces or entire models in the 3D View to improve interactive performance when working on complex models.
- Export a selected model to a separate file.

Select/Move Tools tray

The following tools appear on the Select/Move Tools tray:

TipQuickly select items in Mudbox trays using the number keys on your keyboard. Pressing keys 1 through 9 selects the corresponding tool position in the active tool tray. Middle-drag your frequently used tools to the first nine positions on a tray.

Tool name | Icon | Purpose
--- | --- | ---
Faces |  | Selects individual faces as you stroke over the model. Edit the Size property to increase or decrease the area of selection for the stroke. Clicking off the model cancels the current selection.
Objects |  | Selects the object as you stroke over the model. Edit the Size property to increase or decrease the area of selection on the stroke. Clicking off the model in the cancels the selection.
Translate |  | Lets you move items by dragging the transform manipulator. Drag any arrow that appears at the center of the object to move along that axis. Drag the center handle to move freely across the 3D View.
Rotate |  | Lets you rotate items by dragging the rotate manipulator. Drag the circular rings on the manipulator that appears at the center of the object to rotate about the different axes.
Scale |  | Lets you scale items proportionally or non-proportionally by dragging the scale manipulator. Drag any manipulator box that appears at the center of the object to scale non-proportionally along that axis. Drag the center manipulator box to scale uniformly in all directions.

Select faces

1. In the tool trays area, click the Select/Move Tools tab.
2. In the Select/Move Tools tray, click the Faces selection tool.
3. In the 3D View, drag on the faces you want to select.
4. To deselect faces, click an empty area.

NoteTo select a face without exiting the current sculpting tool, press V while sculpting the selection, then release the V key when you are finished. This behavior works with all tool number hotkeys (1, 2, 3, and so on).

Select all faces on the current subdivision level

1. In the 3D View, position the cursor over the model at the subdivision level you want to select (use Page Up or Page Down to display the subdivision level you want), then press Shift + A.

Select objects

1. In the tool trays area, click the Select/Move Tools tab.
2. In the Select/Move Tools tray, click the Objects selection tool.
3. In the 3D View, click the object you want to select.

Deselect faces or objects

1. In the 3D View, click an empty area.

Create and select a selection set

You can create sets of selected components for your model so you can quickly select the items together later.

For example, you can create a selection set for faces in a particular region of a model so you can freeze and unfreeze them repeatedly as you work. A selection set lets you define this region as a custom selection.

In addition, if you’ve combined a number of polygon meshes into one model prior to importing to Mudbox, it can be difficult to select the various components. Creating a selection set lets you easily select those regions on the combined model in Mudbox.

NoteIn Autodesk Maya, selection sets are called Quick Select sets and can be exported with an .fbx or .obj file. Autodesk 3ds Max refers to these as selection sets. To preserve Quick Select sets when exporting a model from Maya, select File > Export Selection. Set the File Type to OBJexport and turn on the File Type Specific Options for Groups, then click Export Selection. Mudbox does not export selection sets when exporting using FBX. For more information on importing a model from Maya, see Import a model from Maya.

In Mudbox, selection sets appear in the Object List and are saved with the model as part of the .mud file.

1. In the 3D View, use the Objects or Faces selection tools to select components on the model you want contained in the selection set.
2. From the main menu, select Create > Selection Set.
3. Type a name for the selection set in the window that appears, then click OK.

   The selection set appears in the list of items within the Object List.

4. To select a selection set, click its name within the Object List.

Related topics

Selection Set properties