VR shortcuts and Controls

A list of Desktop shortcuts and controls is available here.

If Modeler fails to automatically switch to desktop mode on removing your headset, you can use ESC to manually switch to desktop mode. After manually switching to desktop mode, a button appears that will allow you to reenable VR mode.

VR controllers

Controls in VR depend on whether you are left or right-handed, so we avoid referring to left and right hand or labeled controls. Instead, the controller in your dominant hand is referred to as the tool hand, while the controller in your non-dominant hand is referred to as the support hand.

System specific buttons are the only controls that do not change based on handedness. For example, the Oculus button is always on the right-hand controller.

Note: Control surfaces like buttons have labels and tooltips in VR to help remind you what they do. Touch a button or joystick to see tooltips.

The diagram below shows the names we use for each control surface on the controllers.

Standard VR shortcuts

The diagram below shows the default controls when handedness is set to right-handed. The left controller shows support hand shortcuts, and the right controller shows tool hand shortcuts. When handedness is set to left-handed, controls are mirrored.

Note: The Nib is currently only used to adjust the position of the brush relative to the Tool hand.

Change to a left-handed layout

Handedness determines which hand is considered the Tool Hand and usually depends on whether you are left or right-handed. By default, the right hand is treated as the tool hand.

To change handedness:

Handedness preferences can only be modified on desktop – if you’re in VR, remove the headset to return to desktop mode.
Select File > Preferences.
In the Preferences window select Spatial from the left pane.
Toggle “Handedness” on to use a left-handed layout, or off to use a right-handed layout.
Put on the headset to re-enter VR and use the new layout.

Context independent shortcuts

Basic shortcuts do not change based on context. For example, the support hand bottom button always opens the Palette.

Action	Shortcut
Undo	SJ ←
Redo	SJ →
Show Palette	S2
Toggle Gizmo placement	S1
Move scene	Hold either grip (SG or TG) and move controller.
Scale scene	Hold both grips (SG and TG) and move controllers together or apart.
Use tool	TT
Modify the cursor position	Move the support hand nib to intersect with the cursor tip. Hold ST to move the cursor relative to the tool hand controller.

Palette controls

By default, holding the Palette open will show the Palette maximized and Actions menu minimized. It's possible to maximize both, minimize both, or switch which is maximized by using the tool hand thumbstick while the Palette is open.

Note that a maximized Palette or Actions menu will have more options available than the minimized version.

Action	Shortcut
Switch between the Palette and the Actions menu	Hold S2, use TJ ← for the Palette, or use TJ → for the Actions menu.
Minimize both Palette and Actions menu	Hold S2, then use SJ ↑
Maximize both Palette and Action menu	Hold S2, then use SJ ↓

Brush shortcuts

These shortcuts apply whenever the selected tool uses a brush. Currently this includes all tools except the Select tool.

Action	Shortcut
Adjust brush size	TJ ↑↓
Adjust brush hardness*	TJ ←→
Quicktune brush	Hold T1 and move tool hand.
Quicktune brush with vertical axis constraint	Hold T1, then pull ST and move tool hand.
Adjust Taper**	Hold T1 to enter quicktune mode. Move the SJ ←→ to adjust taper.
Quick swap tools	Use the S2 to quickly swap between complementary tools. Each tool has a different quick swap tool, refer to the relevant tool for more information.
Use the alternate tool	Hold TT to temporarily access the Smooth tool.

* Hardness is only available for some tools.

** Taper is only available for certain brushes.

Select tool shortcuts

These shortcuts are specific to the Select tool, and largely help with transforming objects and scene assembly.

In VR many Select tool actions can be performed on a single object without explicitly selecting it. For example, it's possible to grab and move a single object with just the tool hand trigger, without using the selection button. In this case, the object is still considered a selection while it is being moved, so it is possible to perform actions like you would on a selection such as duplication or scaling.

Action	Context	Shortcut
Select object	With nothing selected.	With either Free placement or Gizmo placement mode: Press T2 while hovering over object. Or, with Free placement mode: With nothing selected, use TT while hovering over object to implicitly select and move an object.
Select multiple objects	With nothing selected.	Hold T2 while moving cursor over objects.
Add object to selection	While hovering over an unselected object.	Hold ST, then press T2.
Remove object from selection	While hovering over a selected object.	Hold ST, then press T2.
Deselect all objects	With at least one object selected, and while hovering over empty space.	T2
Delete selected objects	With at least one object selected, or while moving an object.	T2
Scale selection	With at least one object selected, or while moving an object.	With Free placement mode: While moving an object or selection, use TT ↑ to increase scale, or TT ↓ to decrease scale. With Gizmo placement mode: Use the scale handle to adjust object scale. Alternatively use TT ↑ to increase scale, or TT ↓ to decrease scale.
Toggle anchor snap	With objects selected.	Use free placement mode. Use TT to move the selection. While moving the object, press T1.
Flip selected along axis	With at least one object selected, or while moving an object.	With Free placement mode: Use TT to start moving one or more objects. Hold S2. Move the support hand along the axis you wish to flip the object. Release S2. With Gizmo placement mode: Hold TT on the cone for the axis along which you want to flip the object. While holding TT, pressT1.
Duplicate selection	While moving one or more objects.	Pull the ST to duplicate the selection at the current position.
Duplicate in place	With or without a selection.	Hold ST. Move an object or selection.
Array copy	While moving one or more objects.	Pull ST to duplicate the selection at the current position. This defines the starting point of the array copy. Without releasing TT, use SJ→ to add exterior array copies Without releasing TT, use SJ← to add interior array copies. The transform of the current object relative to the duplicate is interpolated for interior copies or repeated for exterior copies. This includes scale information - while performing the array copy, use TJ ↑↓ to scale the object. Release TT to finalize the array copy.
Hide selection	With at least one object selected, or while moving an object.	Hold ST to enable visibility controls on the tool hand. With ST held, press T2.
Show all hidden objects	With no objects selected, and while hovering over empty space.	Hold ST to enable visibility controls on the tool hand. With ST held, press T2 to unhide all hidden objects.

Documentation

Substance 3D Modeler