SceneForge Basics --> Stage Mode

Modified on Fri, May 10 at 3:58 PM

Stage Mode

Judah Mantell

Last Update 2 years ago

The stage mode is where you will be editing all aspects of your scene. This includes the visuals, object placement, lights, cameras, and VFX. You can watch the companion video below.

Stage Mode UI Overview

The Stage mode is made up of four main sections.

(Left) Editor Toolbar	This allows you to use different tools, and open/close windows.
(Right) The Properties/Hierarchy Panel	This includes info about the selected object and a list of all objects in the scene.
(Bottom) The Timeline Panel	This panel persists in both Stage and Shoot mode and is used for sequencing animations of objects in the scene.
(Center) The 3D View	This is the view of your scene in 3D space.

Navigating the 3D View

As mentioned, in the center of the UI is a large 3D window into your scene. To navigate around it, hold the right mouse button and move your mouse around to 'look'.

To move through 3D space use the W, A, S, D keys while holding down the right mouse button. This allows you to "fly" through the scene.

You can also use the middle mouse button to "pan" the camera up, down, left, and right.

If an object is selected, press F to focus the editor camera on the object.

Manipulating 3D Objects

To select an object, simply click on it.

After selection, movement handles/gizmos will appear at the object's center. You can click and drag them to move, rotate, and resize (scale) the object.

Selecting an object makes its properties panel visible on the right. You can use that to change different properties of the object.

Transform Controls

You can switch between the transform mode by clicking on the little floating buttons in the top right.

When in movement mode, to move in all directions on the X and Z axis, click and drag the flat plane in the center of the movement gizmo. Objects move and scale in units of Meters.

Using the Global/Local toggle, you can change the direction that the movement gizmo is facing: Along the world's axis, or the object's local axis.

To snap to a set grid (see below), hold CTRL while dragging one of the axis.

You can also hold shift to select multiple objects at once and control them.

Use Ctrl/Cmd + Z/Y to undo and redo object transformations (movement, rotation, scale).

And, use Ctrl/Cmd + D to duplicate the selected object.

The Left Toolbar

This menu has a bunch of options that can be used to control your scene, add objects, and change the look of your scene.

Many of these options are described in their own section.

Floor Plan Mode	This button opens up the floor plan editor.
Create Button	This button opens up a popup menu allowing you to spawn objects into your scene.

Import Button	This opens a similar popup menu allowing you to choose what type of content to import. See the Importing Content Page for more info.
Object Library	This opens/toggles a floating resizable/moveable window that allows you to bring objects into your scene.

Visuals Menu	This opens up the visuals menu in a floating window like above. More info is on the Scene Visuals Page.
Grid Options	This opens up a little popup allowing you to configure the grid snapping.
Ruler Tool	This opens up a little popup allowing you to use the ruler/measurement tool.To use it, select the unit of measure, and draw a line in your scene. It will display the distance between the drawn points.You can also clear the line with the eraser button.

Viewfinder Window	This opens/toggles a floating window displaying the currently active camera's view.
Editor Effects	This opens a little menu allowing you to toggle effects shown in Stage Mode to increase performance.It does not affect scene cameras or Shoot Mode.
Undo/Redo	These buttons undo and redo object transformations (Move/Scale/Rotate)

Object Properties

The properties panel is where info will be displayed about the selected object.

Depending on the type of object that is selected, the info displayed here will vary. All objects will have the transform info at the top (position, rotation, and scale values).

At the top is a field for changing the display name of the object, and a lock to prevent selecting the object in the scene view.

Below are transform values, and beneath that are all options specific to the type of object selected.

Hierarchy Panel

The hierarchy panel is very simply a list of all the objects that have been added to the scene. You can click one of these buttons to auto-select the object in the scene.