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title: "The 3D Viewport"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/ANIMA/124618161/The%203D%20Viewport"
format: markdown
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This page provides information about the 3D Viewport in Anima.


## **3D Viewport **

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The **3D viewport **in Anima** **shows a real-time preview of the results of your animation project. It also enables you to draw walkways, create areas, place escalators and stairs, move actors, assign motion clips, adjust poses, and much much more. In short, the 3D viewport allows you to perform all the editing tasks necessary to quickly create impressive animations. The layout of the viewport will change depending on whether you’re in **[Edit mode](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ANIMA/pages/953942080/Understanding+the+UI#Edit-Mode)** for importing and editing characters and motion clips for the project.


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| ![anima6_tools_move.jpg](media://5104799b-95a0-4f31-9251-8de6284d6541) | **Select and transform tool across surfaces **– Use this tool to select objects and actors from the viewport. Move and transform them along surfaces. Select objects such as paths, stairs, escalators, and areas, modify their geometry, and reposition them in the scene. You can also define offsets for each individual actor and move them between different animation areas. |
| ![anima6_tools_move_transform.jpg](media://13e7a38c-9be5-4bf6-8b36-efdb305259b5) | **Select and transform tool** **across 3D space** – Allows moving the scene content freely in any direction to make minor adjustments or to avoid projecting it to the surface of the geometry. |

7. **4D Path Tool** - Creates a walkway that can be used only for 4D actors.
8. **Vertical Toolbar**

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| ![Path Tools.png](media://2e18c9ab-5b0a-4ca1-a317-fb4e54d359e1) | **Path tool options:** Create a walkway that can only be used by rigged actors powered by neural-network animations.<br>- **Normal Path tool (rigged)**
- **Hybrid Path tool (rigged)**
- **AI Pathfinding**<br>*For more information, see the **[Path Tool options](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CA/pages/edit-v2/946339864)** page. * |
| ![Waypoint.png](media://f70cddda-4360-4ba8-9d24-af1bad6e6c7f) | **Waypoint tool **- Introduced in Anima 7. Uses the same surface-extraction logic (orientation/connectivity) to map out specific pedestrian navigation points and paths. |
| ![Avoid_Area.png](media://ba09f8cc-deeb-45f8-91f4-16aa7806daed) | **Avoid area tool **–** **Use this tool to define obstacle areas that the actors must avoid. Right-click on the tool to choose a circular, rectangular or an hexagonal area. |
| ![anima6_tools_Area.jpg](media://21c9a3e8-d0a4-4499-850c-637d13c0b194) | **Area Tool **–** **Creates Area objects that provide a simple way to place groups of static actors. Right-click on the tool to choose a circular, rectangular or an hexagonal area. |
| ![anima6_tools_TrafficLight.jpg](media://4af9bdf4-e614-43b6-a3ee-e2dd9d55ab83) | **Traffic light tool **– Creates a special area that lets you stop and/or start the actors. Right-click on the tool to choose a circular, rectangular or an hexagonal area. |
| ![Table_tool.png](media://5149bd0e-d917-470e-b156-c6eecf01b647) | **Table tool **–** **Creates seated people individually or in groups. |
| ![anima6_tools_Escalator.jpg](media://1d29c379-eb13-405c-98b6-4b9d9109f50a) | **Escalator tool **–** **Lets you create fully animated escalators and moving walkways. |



## **3D Viewport in Edit Mode**

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## **The 2D Transform Gizmo**

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## **The 3D Transform Gizmo**

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## **Display Preferences (Graphics Settings)**

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