Modeler

Use the VoxEdit Modeler to create simple assets, or models, in The Sandbox. These can be combined to make compound and animated assets using the Animator.

Creating Simple Assets (Models)

Voxels are the atoms that make up the world in The Sandbox. Use the Modeler to build simple, static 3D assets. Upload to use them in Game Maker.

Simple assets made in the Modeler are built in the X, Y, and Z axes. They may have a "blocky" appearance.

You can also rig simple assets together in the Animator to make compound or animated assets.

The Modeler combines tools that are like brush shapes with modes to paint, add, remove, and select voxels. Use the default palette or custom colours. Controls make it easy to visualize your project, create patterns, refine your design, and optimize your workflow.

About

What Can I Make?

What Can I Make?

The Modeler can be used to:

• Make a simple asset

• Edit one model at a time from a compound or animated asset in the Animator (integrated)

Simple Assets

Simple assets are made in the Modeler. They have no animations, but logic can bring them to life.

Pickable objects

Interactive Props

Collectable objects

Furniture & Scenery

Decorative & Fine Art

Simple Buildings

How Do I Use My Creation?

How Do I Use My Creation?

Once your model is ready, you can upload it to your Workspace, add details to describe it, set rarity, and give it attributes to define how it will be uniquely useful in The Sandbox Game. Then it's ready to test in Game Maker!

Learn more about Rarity & Attributes.

Getting Started

Open the Modeler

Open the Modeler

In VoxEdit's Home screen, select the Modeler in the left menu. Then:

Create a new asset

Open a previous asset file

Import .VOX (file format)

Open a recent file (click on a thumbnail)

Modeler Window Tips

Modeler Window

Tool Tips

↙️ Hover your mouse over anything in VoxEdit for tool tips at the bottom left.

Performance Data

↘️ See performance data at the bottom right (moved from the Viewport).

Dropdown Menu

⬆️ See Controls & Shortcuts for Dropdown Menu details.

WORKFLOW TIP Save Selected Voxels in the Edit menu is a fast workflow option to Break Down Objects.

Viewport: Your Project Space

Viewport

The Viewport is the central area of the screen where you can view and work on your project.

See Viewport Controls to learn how to:

• Take a screenshot

• Position your project

• Adjust camera sensitivity

• Change lighting and background colour

The front of an asset is indicated by a white arrow on the floor in the Viewport (oriented to the positive Z axis). Note the colour coded axes on the Gizmo.

Viewport

Customize the Viewport layout into one, two, or four sections and select views. Learn more: Viewport Controls

---

Panels

Learn how the Modeler's panels work below. See Panels & Custom Layouts to personalise VoxEdit.

Menubar

About

The Menubar helps you save, translate, and visualize your project.

Default

Controls

Controls

Save

CTRL+S

Commit to changes. ℹ️ Use File -> Save As to save another version of your project.

Volume Resolution

Increase

Double the size of your asset. ℹ️ The amount of detail will not increase.

Volume Resolution

Decrease

Halve the size of your asset. ⚠️ This reduces the level of detail. Undo to restore your design if needed.

Rotate

Turn the entire Block 90 degrees around the X, Y, or Z axis.

Flip

Flip the entire Block 180 degrees.

Mirror

Toggle on and off a line of symmetry on the X, Y, or Z axis for mirrored editing.

Trim Volume

Shrink the bounding box to the smallest collision boundary for the voxels.

Volume Dimensions

Set the number of voxels in X, Y, and Z dimensions by typing a value or clicking elsewhere.

Voxel Edges

Reveal a grid guide showing the edges of all voxels in the model, for precision work such as creating a pattern and measurement.

Quad Edges

Outline quad divisions of voxels in the model.

Nice Edges

Outline all 90 degree edges of voxels in the model.

Hide Edges

Show a clear view of the Block without a grid guide, which is how it will appear in The Sandbox.

Focus

F

Focus the camera to the default start position.

SCALE New projects in the Modeler begin with a volume of 32x32x32 voxels (equal to the size of a block). Modify these dimensions to create your asset in the correct scale. Learn more: Asset Scale

LIMIT The maximum size for a model's bounding box is 256x256x256 voxels.

Toolbar

About

The Toolbar allows you to choose how to paint on your block, with different shapes and depths.

The Modeler combines modes with tools to add, erase, paint, and select voxels. Learn more: Use Modes & Tools Together

Resized

Controls

Controls

Modes

Select

Select voxels to cut, copy, move, or save as a new model.

Erase

Remove voxels within the model's volume.

Create

Add voxels within the model's volume.

Paint

Paint voxels with the selected colour swatch, found in the Palette.

Tools

Pencil

Click or drag to affect single voxels (free editing).

Line

Click and drag to affect a straight line of voxels.

Rectangle

Click and drag to affect voxels in a rectangle from the screen's perspective.

Circle

Click and drag to affect voxels in an ellipse from the screen's perspective.

Sphere

Click and drag to affect voxels in a sphere shape.

Box

Click and drag to affect voxels within a box shape.

Face

Click to affect voxels on a contiguous face (not including voxels touching only on their corners).

Bucket

Click to affect all voxels of the same colour that touch.

Picker

Select a colour on the surface of your project (updates the Materials and Palette panels).

Misc

Picker

Select the surface colour of a model (updates Materials and Palette panels).

Pivot

Set the model's origin point. This determines how it is positioned and rotated in Game Maker and the VoxEdit Animator. Learn more: Set the Pivot Point

Volume Resizer

Expand or reduce the volume (editing space) of a model in any direction.

Frame

Select a rectangular area of a model for image, NFT, and video display. Learn more: Create Frame Assets

Palette

About

The Palette holds colours for your project in up to 255 swatches, or locations. This data is stored in small .PNG files. Palettes are easy to customise.

A white square highlights the selected swatch. Resized

Recommended uses for the default palette

Controls

Controls

Select a Swatch

Left click on a swatch

Change Swatch Size

Toggle between small, medium, and large

Save, Load, or New Palette

Open the menu

VoxEdit applies colour based on data in a swatch location.

If you used a swatch to paint a block, any changes to that swatch's colour will apply to the block:

• Changing a swatch's colour in the Materials panel

• Loading a palette with a different color in the same swatch location

Create a new colour with the Materials panel or customise the Palette using existing colours.

Swatch Position & Blending

2024 Palette Updates

Cut, Copy & Paste

Select or right click to cut, copy & paste swatch colours into other swatch locations.

Move (Drag & Drop)

Click and hold, drag, and drop to another location

Blend

Space colours apart as desired, select and drag from one colour to the other, right click, select Blend in the menu.

Materials

About

The Materials panel is used to change the colour of the swatch that is selected in the Palette.

A white rectangle highlights the selected swatch colour Default

Controls

Changing a swatch's colour will change the colour on your creation anywhere it has been used.

Manual Colour Change

Slide ↕️ Hue

Drag ↕️ Tint ↔️ Saturation

Toggle button Emissive Colour ℹ️ This icon appears in the preview box and on the colour swatch if emissive is applied.

Emissive colours have a soft glow, but don't affect nearby assets in a game (builders use Light).

Emissive colours are often used for lighted buttons on panels, fire, and other luminous details.

Colour Match

• Set Colour (code): Type RGB, HSB, or HEX codes and press ENTER.

• Colour Sample (screen): Click and hold, hover over a color, and release.

Colours may differ slightly between VoxEdit, the Marketplace, Game Maker, and the Game Client.

Layers

About

The Layers panel is used to manage layers in your model, which flatten when you upload it as an asset.

Building separate layers that you can hide and reveal can be useful for designing clothing, applying damage or wear, separating component parts, etc.

Default

Controls

Controls

New Layer

Clone Layer

Edit Name

Merge Layers (select layers first)

Delete Layer

Toggle Layer Visibility