# Selection tools ## Overview Selecting geometric elements is one of the most frequent actions when working with geometry. Before using any tool, the necessary geometry must be selected first. Using **hotkeys** significantly streamlines the selection process, making workflow more efficient. {% embed url="" %} In Edit mode, only one type of geometry - **vertices** (hotkey - **`1)`, edges** (hotkey - **`2`**)**, or faces** (hotkey - **`3`**) - can be selected at a time. After making a selection, the selection mode can be switched. For example, switching from edges to vertices will select all vertices belonging to the previously selected edges. ## Select * The **Select** tool is active by default when no other tool is selected. * Allows selecting geometry elements one at a time. * To add elements to the selection, hold **`Shift`** and click on additional elements. * To remove elements from the selection, hold **`Shift`** and click on an already selected element. * **Loop selection** allows selecting connected elements in a sequence. Hold **`Alt`** and click on a subsequent element to automatically select all following connected elements. If an element is selected with gaps, the selection pattern will be extended accordingly. ## Marquee The **Marquee Selection** tool allows selecting multiple geometric elements at once by drawing a selection box over them. {% hint style="warning" %} Marquee selection works **through the object**, meaning all geometric elements behind the front-facing ones will also be selected {% endhint %} * To **add** elements to the current selection, hold **`Shift`** while making a new selection. * To **remove** elements from the selection, hold **`Alt`** while selecting. * Pressing the **`M`** key repeatedly cycles through different selection modes, allowing for quick switching between selection methods. ## Lasso The **Lasso Selection** tool allows freeform selection of geometric elements by drawing a custom shape around them. The selection does not require closing the shape manually - simply releasing the mouse button will complete the selection automatically. {% hint style="warning" %} Lasso selection works **through the object**, meaning all geometric elements behind the front-facing ones will also be selected {% endhint %} * Hold **Shift** while selecting to **add** elements to the current selection. * Hold **Alt** while selecting to **remove** elements from the selection. * Pressing the **`L`** key repeatedly cycles through different selection modes, allowing for quick switching between selection methods. ## Paint Select The **Paint Selection** tool allows selecting multiple geometric elements by brushing over them with a cursor. * Hold **Shift** while painting to **add** elements to the selection. * Hold **Alt** while painting to **remove** elements from the selection. * Pressing the **`P`** key repeatedly cycles through different selection modes, allowing for quick switching between selection methods. ## Select All The **Select All** function allows quick selection of connected or entire geometry within an object.
* Press **Ctrl + A** to select all connected geometry related to the initially selected element. * Press **Ctrl + A** again to expand the selection to the entire object. ## Invert Selection The **Invert Selection** function allows quickly selecting all unselected elements while deselecting the currently selected ones. ## Selection jog The **Selection Jog** tool provides access to various selection methods, adapting to the type of geometric element selected before activation. It can be quickly accessed using the **`K`** hotkey.
{% embed url="" %} * **Loop Selection** – selects a continuous edge loop * **Lines by Angle** – selects connected edges based on a specified angle threshold * **Select Planar** – selects faces that are part of the same plane * **Invert Selection** – inverts the current selection, selecting unselected elements and deselecting the current ones * **Select Similar** – selects elements similar to the currently selected one based on shared properties * **Select Holes** – identifies and selects holes in the mesh * **Select Polygon** – selects polygons with a specific number of edges * **Grow / Shrink** – expands or contracts the current selection incrementally --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.vectary.com/documentation/design-process/edit-mode/selection-tools.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.