# Controls & Shortcuts ## Customise VoxEdit You can set a colour theme, modify shortcuts, and completely customise your panel layout. ### Panels Show, hide, snap, collapse, and expand panels to create the perfect layout for your workspace. {% content-ref url="panels-and-custom-layouts" %} [panels-and-custom-layouts](https://docs.sandbox.game/en/creator/voxedit/docs/panels-and-custom-layouts) {% endcontent-ref %} #### Learn About Panel Functions


Block Panels	#panels
Modeler Panels
Animator Panels

### Preferences Select a colour theme and set custom shortcuts in **Preferences**, accessed from the **File** menu. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Theme Selection" %} ### Theme Select a theme to customize the base colour of your VoxEdit window.

{% hint style="info" %} The new P3 Display theme represents a larger spectrum of colours than the current industry standard. The colour profile was developed by Apple Inc. for wide-gamut displays. {% endhint %} ### Highlight Colours Select a highlight colour to customize selected buttons, panels, and more.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Custom Shortcuts" %} ### Shortcuts The **Shortcuts** menu offers a list of customizable shortcuts that are shared by more than one module, used only in the **Modeler**, or used only in the **Animator**. For a function (left), see the shortcut (center) and the uses (right):

To customise a shortcut, click on the shortcut to see options. Choose one or a combination.

The option you select may flash if there is a conflict with another shortcut. Set a different shortcut or change the shortcut for the other function where it is currently used. {% hint style="warning" %} Don't forget to save your custom control settings! {% endhint %} ####

Reset Next to the uses, click on the reset arrow to restore the default shortcut for that function.

{% hint style="info" %} You can reset all custom controls in the main window with an option above the tabs. {% endhint %} {% endtab %} {% tab title="Quick Shortcuts Guide (SHIFT + H)" %} ### Quick Shortcuts Guide Press **SHIFT**** + ****H** to see frequently used controls. Controls customised in **Preferences** update here.

{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Viewport Controls The Viewport is your workspace, which includes tools to help you orient and visualize your project. ### ![](https://331512196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F83PS3g9zpWmq73xzlwFn%2Fuploads%2FDt4N4rcGfH9t53uHVvWK%2FVE%202025.1%20Viewport%20general%20-%20camera.png?alt=media\&token=a0cc0bc7-fe85-480d-bbc7-4d3db3492953) Screenshot Click to create a .PNG image of the current view of your project with a transparent background that autosaves to a screenshots folder. ### Orientation & Visualization {% hint style="success" %} Press the **F** key to focus your camera back to the center. {% endhint %} {% tabs %} {% tab title="Mouse" %} ### :mouse\_three\_button:Mouse

Controls	Keys/Mouse
Pan	Hold + Move ↕️ ↔️
Rotate	Hold + Move ↕️ ↔️
Zoom in/out	scroll wheel --- OR --- `CTRL` + Hold + Move ↕️ ↔️

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Gizmo" %} ###

Gizmo The **Gizmo** is a cube in the bottom right of the **Viewport** to help orient and visualize your project. The cube can be manipulated directly, and it adjusts as mouse controls change the view in the Viewport. #### **Modes**


	Free View (Default)	A movable view. Click and drag to move your project in the Viewport. Change view with Hover & Select tips below.
OR(Block editor)	Side View	A stationary view. Hover your mouse to select a different side or vertex to view from. ℹ️ The Block editor shows the selected side in a tiled view to preview how a block will appear when placed side by side.

Free View (Default)

A movable view. Click and drag to move your project in the Viewport. Change view with Hover & Select tips below.

(Block editor)

Side View

A stationary view. Hover your mouse to select a different side or vertex to view from.

ℹ️ The Block editor shows the selected side in a tiled view to preview how a block will appear when placed side by side.

#### **Hover & Select**


	Select Side (white highlight)	Hover the mouse over a side, then click to select it. This changes to stationary Side View.
	Select Vertex (white highlight)	Hover the mouse over a vertex, then click to select it. This changes to a movable Free View with the vertex at the center.
	Select Edge (no highlight)	Hover the mouse over an edge, then click to select it. This changes to a movable Free View with the edge at the center.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="View Buttons" %} ### View Buttons Some Viewport buttons vary by module, and include options to orient, measure, and visualize your project: #### **Block** Toggle on and off guides to help orient and measure your project.


/ Perspective / Orthographic
View Axes

#### **Modeler** The Viewport can be split. You can select a side to view with a dropdown menu per section.


Single Viewport	VE 2025.1 Viewport button single.png
Dual Viewport Show/Hide Depth Cues	VE 2025.1 Viewport button dual.png
Quad Viewport Show/Hide Depth Cues	VE 2025.1 Viewport button quad.png


View Floor
View Axes
View Walls


View Selection Through Voxels
High Render Quality
View Selected Layer Only (Solo)

#### **Animator** Toggle on and off guides to help orient and measure your project.


/ Perspective / Orthographic
View Axes
View Floor

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Background" %} ### ![](https://331512196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F83PS3g9zpWmq73xzlwFn%2Fuploads%2FYchoUx9OYcLa9zzL3u3I%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=9c5b48b2-6cbb-4d59-b612-e1097a3efbda)Background Colour Toggle between options to visualize your asset against common environmental colours. Note that screenshots do not use this background (they have a transparent background). You can now customise your viewport colours to any colour you wish using the colour wheel. \ It'll adjust the colour on of the axis, menu, grid lines and even voxel edges.

Or you can use any of the preset colour options we have available:


Black	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background black.png
Light Gray	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background light gray.png
Teal Gradient	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background teal.png
Morning Gradient	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background morning.png
Sunset Gradient	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background sunset.png
Midnight Gradient	VE 2025.1 Viewport general - background midnight.png

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Light" %} ### ![](https://331512196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F83PS3g9zpWmq73xzlwFn%2Fuploads%2FPbLe9wGAYuNTdWY42JQb%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=2499935d-ca7e-4661-bad9-e3bd94a46faa)Light Two light sources have three controls each:


On/Off Create up to four basic light combinations		Click a light source's toggle button.
Azimuth Position light around the entity		Drag the circle or enter a value in the box.
Altitude Position light vertically		Drag the circle or enter a value in the box.

#### On/Off Enhance screenshots or colour application and texturing.

Lights On	Effect	Note
0	Even lighting	Harder to see voxel details, but truer colour for painting texture
1	Strong shadows	More dramatic screenshots
2	Soft shadows	Clearer colour in screenshots

{% hint style="info" %} Each light creates a shadow on the opposite side of the entity. {% endhint %} #### Azimuth

Angle	Light Position
0 degrees	In front of the entity
90 degrees	Entity's left side
180 degrees	Behind the entity
-90 degrees	Entity's right side

#### Altitude

Angle	Light Position
90 degrees	Top of the entity
0 degrees	Middle of the entity
-90 degrees	Bottom of the entity

{% hint style="success" %} **TIP** Create even shadowing by setting both lights at opposite angles from each other and not perfectly aligned to a 45 or 90 degree value so there is variation in brightness from one voxel to another. {% endhint %} {% endtab %} {% tab title="Camera" %} ![](https://331512196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F83PS3g9zpWmq73xzlwFn%2Fuploads%2FGHnCAjB0dp7MA1VQKauM%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=f8c22104-607a-4653-b6fa-96963d61d7a1)Camera Camera settings can be adjusted to suit your preferences and project needs.


Sensitivity	Set how quickly the camera moves in response to your mouse movements.
FOV (Field of View)	The area the camera sees measured in degrees.
Near Far	Occludes voxels at set distances to help visualize your project.
Scale	Switch between preset Near and Far values that work well with small or large scale entities.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Font and Icon" %} Asjusted size options for text and icons.

{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Dropdown Menu ![](https://331512196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F83PS3g9zpWmq73xzlwFn%2Fuploads%2Fhr3XohcaXI7fUrELSmHd%2FVE%202025.1%20Menu%20bar%20home%20button.png?alt=media\&token=60caaa1f-74f8-47ed-87a1-976751589f3a) Return to the Home screen with the Home button at the top left. {% tabs %} {% tab title="File" %} ### File


#preferences	Customise VoxEdit's colours and controls.
Open Asset Folder	Open the folder containing the asset.
Save	Commit changes to your project.
Save As	Save another version of your project.
Upload to Workspace	Upload your creation to your Workspace on The Sandbox website to: test quality use in Experiences prepare to list on the Marketplace
Reset to Default	Restore every setting.

*** #### Modeler & Animator **Export**


Export	Create and save a file for your project in OBJ, DAE, GLTF, GLB and VOX formats.

*** #### Animator


Sync from External Editor	Sync to MagicaVoxel Sync from MagicVoxel

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Edit" %} ### Edit


Undo `Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo up to 10 steps backward.
Redo `Ctrl` + `Y`	Redo up to 10 steps forward.

*** #### Modeler


Cut `Ctrl` + `X`	Remove selected voxels or models from your project and store them in your clipboard.
Copy `Ctrl` + `C`	Copy selected voxels or models from your project and store them in your clipboard.
Paste `Ctrl` + `V`	Paste voxels or models from your clipboard to your project.
Invert Selection	When voxels or models in your project are selected, this deselects them and selects whatever was not selected.
Save Selected Voxels	When voxels are selected, this opens the file menu to save them as a .VXM file. ℹ️ This is very useful when breaking down an asset into movable parts when building a rig.

{% endtab %} {% tab title="View" %} ### View This menu allows you to show or hide panels, which vary per module:


block	Menubar (Block controls) Block Sides Materials Panel Palette Toolbar (paint mode only)
modeler	Menubar (Modeler controls) Materials Panel Layers Panel Palette Toolbar (all modes)
animator	Menubar (Animator controls) Skeleton Panel Library Panel Inspector Panel Timeline Animations List Inverse Kinematics Panel (advanced option hidden by defaut)

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Help" %} ### Help


Shortcut Guide	Opens a list of frequently used shortcuts, which can be customised via #preferences.
Creators Portal	Opens this VoxEdit documentation in your default browser.
Tutorials	Opens VoxEdit tutorials on YouTube.
Feedback	Redirects you to a form to submit feedback or technical issues to our team.

{% endtab %} {% endtabs %}