Edit Planel Mode command

Use this command to select Plane Mode, indicated by the cursor resembling an oblique sheet of paper with a cross in the middle. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the cursor is displayed. Click again on this command, or on the Normal Mode command, to return to Normal Mode.

In Plane Mode the keyboard can be used to move any selection parallel to a face that has previously been picked. Amongst other things, face-parallel vertex movement is useful for changing the shape of a face without warping it or changing its orientation. Also, planar movement of edges is a useful way of lengthening faces.

To pick the face defining the plane of movement you must already be in Plane Mode. Double-click on the required face with the left mouse button. The face immediately turns pink, and remains pink while other faces (or vertices and edges) are yellow-selected using single clicks. To define another face as the plane of movement just double-click it. To deselect a pink face, double-click on the background or exit the mode. Note that a temporary face can be created, if needed, purely to define a plane of movement.

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To move a vertex, having defined the plane of movement, just select it in the normal manner and move it with the arrow keys, or the plus and minus keys. Instead of moving parallel to the XYZ axes, the vertex will now move parallel to the picked plane. If the vertex lies within the plane it will stay within the plane, and the face will remain unwarped. However, other non-triangular faces containing the vertex are likely to be warped in the process. Any vertex or group of vertices can be moved parallel to the defined plane, not just vertices lying within the defined plane. In fact, any selection can be moved parallel to the plane, including the entire object, and all the normal symmetry operations can be applied at the same time.

After using Plane Mode it is advisable to select the entire object and check for warped faces with the Is Face Flat command. You can then eliminate warped faces with the Unwarp command.