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Orbit, pan, zoom.

Three mouse buttons, three jobs. Plus one key that gets you home. Get these into your fingers before anything else — you'll use them every five seconds while painting.

// What it does

Standard 3D viewport controls. Layerpaint uses Three.js OrbitControls under the hood, with a few extra modifier keys so even a one-button trackpad works.

Press R at any time to reset the camera to its default view.

// When to use it
  • Every five seconds while painting.
  • Especially when checking that paint coverage is right on the back side of a model.
// How to use it
  1. Orbit: middle-drag — or Alt+left-drag — or hold Space+left-drag.
  2. Pan: right-drag, or use arrow keys / WASD. Hold Shift with arrows for big steps.
  3. Zoom: scroll wheel.
  4. Reset view: press R.
// Tips
  • Painting when you meant to orbit? Hold Space mid-stroke to suspend painting and orbit without releasing the mouse. Release Space and the stroke continues.
  • Trackpad with no middle button? Use Alt+left-drag or Space+left-drag for orbit.
  • Lost the model? Press R. Layerpaint always re-fits the model to the current view.
// Related tutorials
// 03

Light / dark + brightness

Once the camera's sorted, fix the lighting.

 // 24

Orient model

If you keep tilting the camera to see the top, just rotate the model.

Try orbit, pan, zoom on the demo robot.

Open the painter and have a play.

Open the painter →