•

WORKING WITH FREEFORM

• Work from Coarse Clay to Fine
When creating new models from scratch, it is best to first create a rough shape using a coarse clay setting such as “Rough
Shape” or “Refine Shape.” Then, as you refine the model and want to capture finer details, use the “Change Clay Coarseness” com-
mand for more fine-grained clay settings, such as “Add Detail.”
• Let Tools Guide You while Creating 3D Curves
To trace a surface that is concave, run the tool along the outside of the model. To trace a surface that is convex, run the
tool along the inside of the model.
• Sculpt from Inside or Outside
When sculpting, you can work on the outside or inside of the model. Keep in mind that the control of the tool may differ
and that sometimes it is more effective to work from inside the model.
• Watch the Status Bar
The status bar, located under the dynabar, contains embedded help. Sometimes it will describe what a tool does or prompt you
for the next step in using a particular tool.

WORKING WITH PLANES

A red border indicates the plane is selected.
A. Touch and drag a corner of the plane to grow or shrink it.
B. Touch either one of the red axes to rotate the plane around its center point.
C. Touch the plane at the center or in any quadrant (away from an axis border) and drag
to reposition.
D. Touch a vertical border away from a corner to rotate the plane around the Y-axis.
E. Touch a horizontal border away from a corner to rotate the plane around the X-axis.

KEYBOARD HOTKEY SHORTCUTS

Keyboard Function Keyboard Function

Grab and move the model to change

“Grab” the model to move and rotate freely + which parts of the model are within the
touchable area
Translate and zoom the model without. Changing
the rotation Pop through clay
Rotate the model with haptic detents along the
major screen axes Invoke the online Help

Front view Right view Equivalent to pressing the Touch stylus

switch

Left view Top view Space bar Invoke the favorite menu

+
Right of main Top of main Save current view. Can be recalled from
view view
Saved Views menu
Left of main Bottom of Click to disconnect the selected curve
view main view from other curves
Hide side
views
Manage
saved views + Rotate the model about the screen
normal

... Adjust the resistance of the clay. A value of 1 is

hardest (like rock), a value of 0 is softest (butter)
Rotate the view around the screen
vertical

Rotate the view around the screen

Decrease or increase the size of the tool head
horizontal
PALETTES AND TOOLS
CURVES
Use to create and edit 3D curves and planes that can be used to add detail and
deform models.

A. Select M. Plane Intersection Curve

B. Draw Curve N. Extract Contour Curves
C. Fit Curve O. Surface Intersection Curve ‡
D. Project Sketch P. Copy from Edge ‡
E. Project Curve to Plane Q. Offset Curve
F. Intersect Sketches R. Smooth Curve ‡
G. Copy from Sketch S. Flatten Curve ‡
H. Copy from Reference Group T. Helix
I. Split U. Subdivide Curve Loop
J. Join V. Axis Marker
K. Extend/Retract Curve W. Create Curvature Plots ‡
L. Mirror Curves X. Hide/Show Curves

PLANES
Use to create and edit planes.
A. Create Plane C. Copy Profile
B. Edit Plane D. Hide/Show Planes

SKETCH
Use to sketch on flat 2D drawing planes.

A. Select Sketch Object M. Polygon

B. Move, Rotate, Scale N. Rectangle
C. Pencil O. Text
D. Freehand Curve P. Trim
E. Control Point Curve Q. Mirror
F. Extend/Retract Sketch Curve R. Offset
G. Line S. Rectangular Array
H. Arc T. Circular Array
I. Round Corner U. Import to Plane
J. Circle V. View Flat to Plane
K. Ellipse W. Haptic Graph Paper
L. Star X. Exit Sketch Mode

CONSTRUCT CLAY
Use to quickly and easily rough-out models.

A. Basic Shapes K. Curve Spheres to Clay

B. Wire Cut Clay * L. Layer
C. Spin Clay * M. Mirror Clay
D. Loft Clay * N. Pattern Piece
E. Sweep Clay * O. Manual Pattern Piece
F. Curve Network to Clay * P. Extrude to Plane
G. Inflate Q. Shell ‡
H. Add Clay R. Shell Cut Clay
I. Toothpaste S. Raise/Lower Clay
J. Pipe
Freeform v2022.0
‡ Indicates features in Freeform Plus only
* Indicates tools in Freeform Plus that are replaced with updated
versions on the Hybrid Tools palette. The obsolete tools may be
shown by de-selecting Hide Obsolete Construction Tools from
Tools-Options-Interface-Palettes. Copyright © 1993-2021 3D Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
HYBRID TOOLS ‡
Use to perform construction functions for any object type.
A. Extrude D. Sweep
B. Revolve E. Loft
C. Curve Network to Piece

SCULPT CLAY
Use to modify, refine, and add design details to a model.

A. Carve G. Hot Wax

B. Shave H. Smooth Area
C. Smudge I. Smooth with Curve
D. Attract J. Limit to Depth
E. Spikes K. Sharpen Clay
F. Smooth L. Flatten Clay

DETAIL CLAY
Use to modify, refine, and add design details to a model.

A. Ridge H. Emboss with Wrapped Image

B. Variable Round Edge I. Emboss Along Curve
C. Bevel Edge J. StructureFX
D. Emboss with Curve K. VolumetricFX
E. Emboss with Sketch Profile L. Height Map ‡
F. Emboss Area
G. Emboss with Image

DEFORM CLAY
Use to push and pull an area of a model.

A. Tug F. Tug with Curve

B. Tug Area G. Surface Fair
C. Shape Clay H. Lattice Deform
D. Deform I. Bend & Twist
E. Slice Deform Clay

PAINT CLAY
Use to apply paint to a model.

A. Paint C. Wrap Image

B. Project Image

SELECT/MOVE CLAY
Use to select, move, scale models or parts of models.

A. Select Clay H. Reposition Piece

B. Mask I. Reposition Origin
C. Separate J. Align Piece to an Axis
D. Split Piece K. Align Piece to an Origin
E. Pose L. Align to Path ‡
F. Select Objects with Box M. Register Pieces
G. Reposition N. Fit to Selection

.
 MESH TOOLS
Use to edit mesh objects.
A. Select Mesh Area I. Wire Cut Mesh ‡ *
B. Select Mesh with Curve Loop J. Shell Cut Mesh ‡
C. Edit and Stitch Mesh K. Engrave Text on Mesh
D. Slice Deform Mesh L. Extract Mesh Edge Curves
E. Tug with Curve M. Template Deform
F. Smooth N. Capture Scanning
G. Fill Holes in Mesh O. Artec Scanning
H. Extrude Open Boundary in Mesh

PATCHES/SOLIDS ‡
Use to create and edit surfaces and solids.

A. Create Patch M. Loft Solid *

B. Select N. Sweep Solid *
C. Create Ring Patch O. Curve Network to Solid
D. Extend Patch P. Curve Spheres to Solid
E. Trim Patch Q. Convert to Clay
F. Fillet Edge R. Edit and Stitch Solid
G. Shell Solid S. Stitch
H. Raise/Lower Solid T. Solidify
I. Mirror Patches and Solids U. Project Patch to Clay
J. Shape Patch V. Patch Display Menu
K. Wire Cut Solid * W. Reposition
L. Spin Solid *

SUBD
Use to create and edit SubD surfaces.

A. Edit SubD F. Ring SubD

B. Cube SubD G. Mirror SubD
C. Wire Cut SubD * H. Hollow SubD
D. Spin SubD * I. Texture SubD
E. Curve Network to SubD * J. Paint SubD

MOLD PREP ‡
Use to prepare model pieces for molding.

A. Set Pull Direction D. Fix Draft Selection

B. Parting Line Curve E. Split Mesh
C. Fix Draft

MOLD BLOCKS ‡
Use to create tooling for molding.

A. Shell F. Extrude Parting Surface

B. Split Joint G. Trim Parting Surface
C. Make Part H. Create Component
D. 3D To Planar Parting Surface I. Make Insert Blocks
E. Mold Insert Properties

Freeform v2022.0
‡ Indicates features in Freeform Plus only
* Indicates tools in Freeform Plus that are replaced with updated
versions on the Hybrid Tools palette. The obsolete tools may be
shown by de-selecting Hide Obsolete Construction Tools from
Tools-Options-Interface-Palettes. Copyright © 1993-2021 3D Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ANALYSIS TOOLS
Use to analyze clay.

A. Analyze Fit ‡ H. Annotated Point

B. Tolerance Map ‡ I. Show Curve Lengths
C. Analyze Intersection ‡ J. Show Curve Angles
D. Analyze Thickness ‡ K. Printability Checking
E. Dimensional Bounding Box L. Dimension Edges ‡
F. Ruler M. 2D Slicer
G. Define Cutaway View

TWEENING
Use to create in-between steps to move an object.

A. Duplicate Active Piece G. Goto Base Step

B. Create Base Step Folder H. Goto Previous Step
C. Reposition Base Step Origin I. Goto Next Step
D. Create Next Step Folder J. Goto Final Step
E. Reposition Final Step Piece
F. Generate Steps

UTILITY
Commonly used tools.

A. Fit to View I. Hide/Show Annotation Points

B. Hide/Show Clay J. Hide/Show Persistent Rulers
C. Hide/Show Meshes K. Hide/Show Inactive Clay
D. Hide/Show Planes L. Show Cutaway View
E. Hide/Show Curves M. Perspective
F. Hide/Show Patches and Solids ‡ N. Precise Movement
G. Hide/Show SubD Surfaces O. Axis Snap
H. Hide/Show Solid Pieces ‡ P. Send to KeyShot

DYNABOT ‡
Use to create and edit Dynabots.

A. Dynabar Repository C. My Dynabot #2

B. My Dynabot #1

TRAINING GUIDES
Use to view training guides in the application.

A. Getting Started
B. Helpful Links in Freeform
C. Autosurfacing Guide
D. Axis Marker and Pattern Piece
Guide
E. 3D Label and Sketch Text Guide
F. Saving View Images Guide
G. Template Deform Guide
H. Freeform UI Customization Guide