Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Border, Circle, and Lasso Selection
Pressing the B key once initiates the Border selection state, where you can drag your mouse to select whatever
falls within the rectangular area you define. Holding down the Alt key while doing this will deselect whatever
falls within that area. Pressing the B key twice will enable the Circle selection state, where you can drag your
mouse to select all that falls within a circular area following the mouse. Likewise, holding down the Alt key
while doing this will deselect the elements.
Holding down the Ctrl key while dragging the left mouse button introduces the Lasso selection state, which
enables you to define the area to be selected by moving your mouse around the area directly. This is a very fast
selection method.
Edit Mode Selection
Numerous little-known selection methods are available for meshes in Edit mode. The first option you have is
whether to select by vertex, edge, or face by using the viewport header buttons shown in
Figure 1-30
(both de-
fault and alternate icon sets). Vertex, Edge, and Face selection modes correspond with the buttons from left to
right (the rightmost button occludes hidden geometry). You can choose more than one mode simultaneously by
holding down the Shift key when you click these buttons. You can also switch between these three modes with
Ctrl+Tab in Edit mode.
Figure 1-30
Buttons for choosing the selection mode
Selecting Edges, Loops, and Rings
Many selection options are available independently of the specific selection mode you are in. Selection options
that deal specifically with edges can be found by pressing Ctrl+E in Edit mode. The Region To Loop selection
option in that menu enables you to choose the edge outline (strictly speaking,
loop
here is a misnomer) of any
selected region of faces, as shown in
Figure 1-31
(this image is repeated for visual clarity in the color insert of
this topic). The reverse, selecting a region of faces based on a selected closed edge border around the region, is
possible with the Loop To Region menu entry.
Other very useful selection options include loop and ring selection using Alt+RMB and Ctrl+Alt+RMB. By
holding down the Alt key and right-clicking a single edge in Edit mode, you can select the entire edge loop that
the edge belongs to. By using Ctrl+Alt+RMB, you select the perpendicular ring of faces that includes the edge
you clicked on, as shown in
Figure 1-32
.
In Edge selection mode, the behavior is similar, except that the edge ring selected with Ctrl+Alt+RMB does
not include faces, as shown in
Figure 1-33
.
