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The 3D Coordinate System
Every point in 3D space is defined by three numbers: X, Y, and Z.
The Three Axes
Think of it like giving directions in a room:
| Axis | Direction | Color |
|---|---|---|
| X | Left ↔ Right | 🔴 Red |
| Y | Down ↔ Up | 🟢 Green |
| Z | Back ↔ Front | 🔵 Blue |
Tip
Remember "XYZ = RGB" - the axis colors match Red, Green, Blue!
The Origin
The origin is the center point where all axes meet: (0, 0, 0)
When you place an object at:
- (2, 0, 0) - 2 units to the right
- (0, 3, 0) - 3 units up
- (0, 0, -1) - 1 unit back
Why Y is Up
In our editor (and most 3D software), Y is the vertical axis. This is called the "Y-up" convention.
Info
Some 3D software uses "Z-up" instead. When importing models, you may need to adjust the orientation!
The ground plane is the XZ plane - it's like the floor.
Units
Our editor uses generic "units" that you can interpret as:
- Meters (for buildings)
- Centimeters (for furniture)
- Millimeters (for small objects)
For 3D printing, you'll typically export in millimeters.
Tip: Watch the Gizmo
In the bottom-right corner of the viewport, you'll see a gizmo showing your current orientation. Use it to stay oriented!
Note
Click on any axis letter in the gizmo to snap to that view - great for checking alignment!