How to Navigate in 3D in BricsCAD
Quick answer: As you navigate a 3D model, the model itself never actually moves, only your current view of it changes. That view is described by read-only Camera and Target coordinates in the Properties panel, and its most important editable setting for navigation is Perspective.
The Model Stays Fixed, Your View Moves
The model’s location in space stays constant throughout. What changes as you orbit, pan, or zoom is your viewpoint, not the geometry itself.
Camera and Target Coordinates
With nothing selected, the Properties panel shows your current view’s properties, including:
- Camera (X, Y, Z): your location as you view the model, think of it as where a camera lens would sit.
- Target (X, Y, Z): where that camera lens is pointed.
Both update automatically as you navigate and are read-only, you can’t type new values into them directly.
Perspective Mode
The most important editable view property for navigation. On, the view displays in visual perspective mode; off, it displays in parallel perspective mode.
Control it either by selecting the View > Perspective property in the Properties panel, or by right-clicking the LookFrom control and choosing View > Perspective from its context menu.
Mouse and Keyboard Navigation
Hold Shift and the middle mouse button while moving the mouse to orbit the model, the cursor changes to an orbit icon to confirm you’re in orbit mode. Most other 2D navigation habits carry over too: roll the mouse wheel to zoom, double-click it for Zoom Extents, or press it to pan.
In perspective mode, you can zoom all the way in and walk around inside the model. In isometric mode, you can only zoom in very close, you can’t actually go inside. The full set of mouse and keyboard shortcuts is covered on its own dedicated page.
The LookFrom Control
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 3D model actually move when I navigate around it? No, its location in space stays fixed. Only your view, described by the Camera and Target coordinates, changes.
Can I type exact Camera or Target coordinates into the Properties panel? No, both are read-only, they update automatically as you navigate rather than accepting direct input.
What’s the difference between Perspective on and off? On shows the visual perspective mode; off shows the parallel perspective mode.
Can I navigate inside a 3D model, or only around the outside? Only in perspective mode. In isometric mode, you can zoom in very close but can’t actually move inside it.