Datasheet
14n Chapter 1: Blender Basics: Interface and Objects
The 0 key on the numeric pad switches to the active camera viewpoint. A dotted
rectangle frames the view, indicating the video-safe area, as you can see in Figure 1.8. If
the camera is on a visible layer, a solid rectangle also appears, representing the camera.
You can right-click this rectangle to select the camera, like any other object. From other
views, you can place the camera at the current view by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Numeric 0,
which will also put you automatically into camera view. You can also use Ctrl+Numeric 0
to place any object in the active camera. You can use this shortcut to switch cameras, but
you can also use it to check on the viewpoint of other objects, which can be useful for
directional objects such as spotlights.
Interacting with 3D Objects
In the header bar of the 3D view window, there is a drop-down menu for selecting the
mode. The default mode to begin with is Object mode, in which you can select and
manipulate objects and relationships between them.
You can select objects in several ways. The simplest way to select a single object is
by right-clicking it. If you hold Shift, you can add individual objects to the selection.
Selected objects are outlined in shades of orange. The last object you selected is outlined
in a lighter orange, indicating that it is active. To make one of the other selected objects
Figure 1.8
Camera view
427378c01.indd 14 3/19/11 1:45:08 PM