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Scene view

The main window where you build and arrange your 3D scene.
Read time 4 minutesLast updated 2 days ago
The Scene view is the main area where you build, arrange, and preview your 3D project. It’s where you can interact and manipulate objects in your scene, and view how your final application might look.

GameObjects in a new scene

When you create a new draft in Unity Lite, your scene starts with a few essential objects already in place:

Camera

Use the camera to capture and display the scene from a specific viewpoint. You can view the camera’s angle and framing in the Camera Preview panel. You can't delete the camera, as it’s required for your application to work.

Camera settings

Select the camera in the Scene view or Hierarchy panel to adjust its properties in the Inspector panel:

Property

Description

Hide SkyboxHide or show the skybox. This might be a background image or the surrounding environment.
Projection
Select the projection type:
  • Perspective: Objects appear smaller when further away.
  • Isometric: Objects stay the same size, regardless of distance.
Field of ViewAdjust the camera's view angle. This setting is available only when Projection is Perspective.
SizeAdjust the size of the camera view. This setting is available only when Projection is Isometric.
Render DistanceSet the render distance of the camera.

Plane

A flat surface at the bottom of your scene, which acts as the ground.

Directional light

Lights up the whole scene, like sunlight or moonlight. You can change the light’s color and intensity in the Inspector panel. To open the Inspector panel, select the light object in the Scene view or Hierarchy panel. Current limitation: Only one light type is currently supported (directional light). More light sources will be added in the future.

Animation Director

Use the Animation Director to animate multiple GameObjects from the hierarchy in a shared timeline. For more information, refer to Animation Director.

UI Canvas

The base area for placing user interface elements (like buttons and text). For more information, refer to UI Creator.

Navigate the scene

Use the following controls for a quicker way you move around your scene and edit objects:

Camera movement

Use the following hotkeys to control the camera and move around your scene:

Actions

Hotkeys

Rotate cameraHold right-click and move your mouse.
ZoomUse the scroll wheel on your mouse.
PanHold the scroll wheel and drag.
Move
Press the following keys to move the camera in the following directions:
  • W key: Forward
  • A key: Left
  • S key: Backward
  • D key: Right
  • Q key: Up
  • E key: Down
Increase camera movement speed (x2)Shift key + any camera movement.

Tool bar

Use the following hotkeys to quickly switch between different modes.

Action

Hotkeys

Switch gizmo to Free Move1 on top of the keyboard.
Switch gizmo to Move gizmo2 on top of the keyboard.
Switch gizmo to Rotate gizmo3 on top of the keyboard.
Switch gizmo to Scale gizmo4 on top of the keyboard.

Object selection

Use the following hotkeys to select, copy, and paste objects in your scene:

Action

Hotkeys

Select objectsLeft-click to select. To select multiple objects, hold left-click and drag your mouse across the objects.
Focus on selected object in sceneF key
Copy selected objectCmd + C (macOS) or Ctrl + C (Windows).
Cut selected objectCmd + X (macOS) or Ctrl + X (Windows).

Toolbar for selected assets

When you select an object in the Scene view, a toolbar appears. This toolbar gives you quicker access to essential tools that allow you to edit that asset:

Property

Description

Free transformSwitch to a mode where you can move the object on all axes at once.
MoveMove the selected object around in the scene on the x, y, or z-axis.
RotateRotate the selected object to change its orientation.
ScaleMake the object larger or smaller.
Toggle handle positionSwitch between moving the object from its center or from its pivot point (the spot it rotates around).
Toggle handle rotation
Switch between global (world) and local (object-based) rotation controls. When you select you get the following options:
  • Global: Rotates the object along the scene’s axes.
  • Local: Rotates the object based on its own orientation.
DuplicateCreate a copy of the selected object.
DeleteRemove the selected object from your scene.

Scene view buttons

The following buttons are at the top of the Scene view:

Button

Description

Report BugSelect this button if you encounter an issue. Unity Lite submits the bug details to the Unity Lite team, which they can use to improve the tool.
Submit FeedbackAfter you spend some time with the tool, use this button to share your thoughts and suggestions.
PlayPress Play to run your scene. Press Stop to return to editing mode.
Bug notification
A bug icon that notifies you of any issues in your scene. For more information, refer to Bug notification details.

Bug notification details

When you select the bug icon, a panel appears with more information about the warnings or errors in your scene. There are two types of notifications:

Yellow notifications (Warnings)

Yellow notifications are warnings about issues in your project that might cause problems, but won’t stop your scene from running. For example, there might be a warning if a reference is missing in a Logic component. You can still play your scene with warnings, but it’s a good idea to fix them for best results.

Red notifications (Errors)

Red notifications are critical errors that you must fix before you can play your scene. For example, a logic error in a script will trigger a red error notification. If there's a red notification, you need to resolve the issue before you can run your application. Select Show on a notification to bring you to where you can fix the error.