9.10 LCC Model Editor Tools
Reference for the Model Editor: selectors, selection modes, cropping, separate and clone, transforms, measurement, and color grading. For viewpoints, annotations, reports, and publishing, see 9.9 LCC Scene Editor Tools.
What the Model Editor Does
The Model Editor is the low-level editing tool for a 3DGS model. It handles selection, cropping, separate, clone, transforms, measurement, and color grading. Use it to clean a model: remove floating artifacts, isolate a room, trim ceiling or floor noise, or lift one region out to work on it alone. Scene-construction tasks such as viewpoints, annotations, and publishing live in the Scene Editor on 9.9 Scene Editor Tools.
Open the Model Editor by clicking Model Edit inside the Scene Editor, or open a model file directly. Changes sync back to the Scene Editor automatically, with no manual export and reimport. The editor has an Edit mode for changes and a View mode for inspection.
Cropping does not change the original data. A crop removes the selected content from the working model, and you save the result as a new model to keep the original intact. Use File then Save As before a major cropping pass so you always have a clean copy to return to.
Interface
| Area | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Menu Bar | File (Open, Import, Export, Save, Save As, Exit) and Edit (Undo, Redo, Delete, and the selection-modifier actions). |
| Left Toolbar | Transform tools (Move, Rotate, Scale), the selectors, Measure, and Color Grading. |
| Asset List and Properties | Models, selections, and measurements in the project, with the editable parameters of the selected item. |
Selectors
Selectors define which part of the model a crop or edit targets. Four selector types cover different shapes and precision needs. A conservative first pass followed by a refined second pass beats trying for precision on the first selection.
| Selector | How it works |
|---|---|
| Sphere Select | Attaches a sphere at the cursor and selects content within its radius. Left-click to select, or hold and drag for a continuous brush. Hold Ctrl and scroll to adjust the radius (default 1.00). Best for local selections and fine-tuning after a broad pass. |
| Box Selection | The only true 3D selection method. Click to set the first base corner, click the opposite corner, then click to set the height. Move, rotate, stretch, or reset the box, then confirm. Best for cleaning floor or ceiling artifacts, isolating a room, and predictable boundary control. |
| Rectangle Selector | Drag a box on screen; the system projects it from the camera into the model like a flashlight beam, selecting everything the beam touches. Also supports click-start then click-end. Best for a quick rough first pass and edge cleanup from a wide view. |
| Mixed Lasso Selector | Draw a polygon on screen to projection-select. Click to set vertices and double-click or click the start to close, or hold and drag to trace a freehand lasso. Right-click undoes the last point. Best for precise, irregular areas. |
Depth control for the 2D selectors. Rectangle and Mixed Lasso project from the camera, so they need a depth limit to control how far the selection penetrates. Default depth is 50 m. Adjust with Ctrl and scroll, the panel slider, or a typed value. Click Global to remove the limit and select all depths. Box Selection does not need this, since it already encloses a 3D region.
After drawing a selection, press Enter to confirm it and add it to the Asset List.
Large models: Global and Local display
When a model exceeds what the hardware can load at full quality, the editor offers two display modes. The switch button appears centered at the top of the viewport once you start selecting.
| Mode | Use |
|---|---|
| Global mode (lower quality) | Lowers render quality to show the whole model. Use for locating a region, cross-region editing, and global preview. |
| Local mode (high quality) | Shows a high-quality model in blocks. Use for fine editing and detail adjustment. |
The editor remembers the last mode used. Switching modes with unsaved edits prompts you to save, discard, or cancel.
Selection Modes
The modes combine selections from any of the selectors.
| Mode | Behavior | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Single select | Each selection replaces the last. | Default |
| Add to selection | Adds the new selection to the current one. | Shift |
| Subtract from selection | Removes the new area from the current selection. | Ctrl |
| Invert selection | Selects the unselected and deselects the selected. | Ctrl + I |
View locks during selection. The camera locks automatically while a selector is active. To move without leaving selection mode, hold Alt and left-drag to rotate, right-drag to pan, or scroll to zoom. Press Esc to cancel the current selection. While adding, holding Ctrl switches to subtract.
Editing Operations
With a selection confirmed, these operations act on it. Entry is the Edit menu or the quick action bar.
| Operation | What it does |
|---|---|
| Crop | Press Delete or Backspace to crop the current selection. Cropping does not change the original data; save the result as a new model to keep the original. |
| Separate | Split the selected region out as its own asset, to edit, color grade, or transform it independently. |
| Clone | Duplicate a region, for example to compare two color-grading treatments side by side. |
| Move, Rotate, Scale | Transform a selected model or region along or around the X, Y, and Z axes. The gizmo appears at the object center; drag a handle to operate. |
Plan the crop range before pressing Delete. Combine selectors for a complex selection, then check the final range so you do not remove content you meant to keep. A crop is followed by Save As to a new model, which protects the original.
Measurement
The Model Editor measures coordinate, distance, and area, the same way as the Scene Editor: click Measure, choose a type, and click points on the model. Distance and area calculate in real time, and snapping aids help land points on edges and along axes.
Not survey-grade. These are approximate reference values. For certified dimensions, process the same raw data through LixelStudio to a point cloud and measure from that output. Full measurement detail, including export and units, is on 9.9 Scene Editor Tools.
Color Grading
Color Grading refines the look of a model. Adjust Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Temperature, Tint, and related controls, with real-time preview and a reset to default. Open it from the left toolbar, or from the Menu Bar under Edit. Color grading changes the appearance, not the geometry or data quality.
Grading carries to the published model. Color grading saves with the project and syncs to the published Web Viewer, so a graded look reaches the client without re-export. Resetting the sliders returns the original appearance.
For a high-value model, use Clone or Separate to keep two treatments: one neutral for technical or insurance reference, one warmer for marketing and presentation. It avoids re-grading every time the audience changes, and a side-by-side clone makes the difference easy to judge.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Enter | Confirm the current selection |
| Delete / Backspace | Crop the current selection |
| Shift (hold) | Add to selection |
| Ctrl (hold) | Subtract from selection |
| Ctrl + I | Invert selection (inside vs outside) |
| Ctrl + scroll | Sphere radius, or 2D selector depth |
| Esc | Cancel the current selection, or exit crop mode |
| Alt (hold) | Temporary view unlock while selecting |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z | Redo |
For viewpoints, annotations, reports, and publishing, see 9.9 LCC Scene Editor Tools. For processing errors and recovery, see 10.4 Error Messages.
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