UModeler X : Exploring the UI & Basic Tools

This tutorial introduces the latest UI update of UModeler X, highlighting where the modeling, rigging, and painting UI elements are located within Unity.

The video is designed to help new users clearly understand the overall structure and purpose of each UI section, making it easier for beginners to get familiar with the interface quickly.

You can adjust various options in UModeler X through the Preference window (Edit > Preferences… > UModelerX).

Check where the Preference window is located and explore the available settings.

Modeling section

The Modeling section of the Preferences window contains the following settings:

• Vertex Size: Sets the size of the vertex.
• Vertex Color: Sets the color of the vertex.
• Edge Color: Sets the color of the edge.
• Selected Color: Sets the color for selected elements.
• Highlight Color: Sets the color for highlighted elements.
• Seam Color: Sets the color for seams.
• Sharp Edge Color: Sets the color for sharp edges.
• Deform Brush Color: Sets the color of the deform brush.
• Wireframe Thick: Sets the thickness of the wireframe.
• Selected Wireframe Thick: Sets the thickness of the selected wireframe.
• Extrude Modifier Key: Sets the modifier key used during the Extrude operation.
• Selection After Connect: Automatically selects the created elements after using the Connect tool.
• Show Favorite Tools: Displays tools marked as favorites.

Modeling Mode is the basic mode for mesh editing, consisting of various tools, properties, and groups.

Elements

Elements are the basic components that can be selected or edited for modeling.

• Vertex: A corner point of a 3D object.
• Edge: A line connecting two vertices.
• Face: A surface enclosed by edges.
• Object: The entire 3D model.
• Isolation: A mode that selects a fully connected surface within an object.

Each element can be moved, rotated, and scaled in the same way that you move, rotate, and scale GameObjects in the Unity Editor.

Modeling Mode groups

Enable UModeler X Editable Mesh in the Inspector window.

Element groups

• Primitive Shapes group: A collection of tools used to create basic 3D primitive meshes.
• Drawing group: A collection of tools used to create 2D planar shapes.
• Selection group: A collection of tools related to selecting elements (Vertex, Edge, Face, Object).
• Add group: A collection of tools used to add new elements.
• Remove group: A collection of tools used to delete selected elements or merge elements using specific tools.
• Deform group: A collection of brush-based tools that deform or modify the surface of a model.
• Surface group: A collection of tools related to vertex color, material settings, and UV editing.
• Misc group: A collection of miscellaneous functional tools.

The Modifier System allows you to deform the original model in a non-destructive way.

This means you can apply various modifications while keeping the original model intact.

Interface

• Bend: The Bend Modifier is a modifier that allows you to bend objects.
• Subdivide: The Subdivide modifier is a modifier that divides the current face into quarters while simultaneously smoothing out bends.
• Shell: The Shell modifier is a modifier that can generate thickness.
• Mirror:The Mirror Modifier is a modifier that duplicates a symmetrical mesh along an axis.
• FFD: The Free Form Deformation (FFD) modifier is a modifier that uses a grid box surrounding a mesh and vertices that can be manipulated to deform the grid.
• Push: The Push modifier is a modifier used to push faces in the normal or opposite direction.
• Decimate: The Decimate Modifier is a modifier for reducing the number of polygons in a model.
• Linear Array: The Linear Array Modifier is a modifier that duplicates selected elements (Vertex, Edge, Face) and arranges them in a linear direction.
• Radial Array: The Radial Array Modifier is a modifier that arranges a model in a circular pattern around a user-defined axis.

Modifier Stack

You can apply multiple modifiers to an object to compound their effects.

You can also enable or disable specific modifiers as needed.

To rename a modifier, double-click the modifier name, rename it, then press Enter to confirm.

Painting Mode allows you to paint colors and textures directly on the model using layers and brushes.

The Painting Editor provides detailed control over Painting Mode.

You can manage layers and brushes and fine-tune color application and texture creation within this editor.

Rigging Mode is used to prepare models for animation.

In this mode, you can assign and edit weights on meshes to control how they move during animation.

• Create Root Bone Structure: Create a Root Bone and generate a parent object that wraps the original object as the Root Bone.
• Start Rigging: After completing the setup, start rigging.

A UV represents the 2D texture coordinates corresponding to a 3D object.

With the UV Editor, you can create and edit UV elements such as UV Vertices, UV Edges, and UV Faces.

This was a brief overview of the UModeler X interface. In the next tutorial, you’ll start working with UModeler X by modeling a basic bed frame.