1.3 The 3D Animation General Layout Workspace

The arrangement of Editors in the 3D Graphical User Interface (Figure 1.1) is the 3D Animation

Workspace comprising four different Editors. The Editors are; the 3D Viewport Editor

( explanation to follow), the Outliner Editor, the Properties Editor, and the Timeline Editor.

Each Editor Type has a Header at the top of the Editor panel.

Note: Each Editor may be changed to a different Editor Type – see Controls following.

There is also a GUI Interface Header at the very top of the Screen and an Information Header

running across the very bottom of the Screen.

The Editors will be introduced as features of the program are encountered throughout the book.

Each Editor in the GUI is a separate panel comprising a Header at the top of the panel and sub-

panels which display within the Editor. The Header and sub-panels contain buttons and sliders

which you click to activate functions or display menus for selecting functions. The buttons are

displayed as text annotation, icons and panels. Each of these, relay data to the program to

perform an action.

A detailed explanation of controls will be given in relation to the Grease Pencil, 2D Animation

Workspace. For the moment consider the 3D Workspace.

Diagrams will be provided showing the location of buttons and controls for specific actions with

instruction on how to activate functions. The Grease Pencil in the 3D Workspace is called the

Annotation Tool which is located in the 3D Viewport Editor Tool Panel.

Figure 1.2

Tool Panel

Annotation Tool Mouse over on the Icon to see

the Tool Name. Click and

hold LMB to see Options.

Tool Options

3D Viewport Editor

3