# Quick Start

This part of the guide will get you started with Curvy, you can learn in more detail in the tutorials.
You can watch a demo of this tutorial by running "QuickStart - Demo.bat" in your Curvy directory.

## Views and Panels

When you start Curvy the application window will appear like the image to the right. The interface consists of 3 areas:

1) Views | These show your 3D models from different angles.
2) Panels | Tools, controls, and object properties are found here.
3) Menus | Commands and options are split into categories.

This guide will refer to views and panels by name. The name of each view appears in orange in the top left. Panel names are at the top of each panel. Around the edges of each view there are view controls. Don't worry about these for the time being.
As you use Curvy you will notice the mouse cursor changes shape. Move the cursor over a view and you will see a tool cursor ( this means the tool is ready for use ), move the cursor over a panel or view control and it will change into a plain arrow.

## The Tools Panel

Find the Tools Panel at the top of all the panels. Tools are the main way to interact with the 3D models you create in Curvy. Clicking on a tool button will choose that tool. Most of the tool buttons have a little tab in the lower right, this means there are more tools available under that button. Press and hold the left mouse button (LMB) on one of these tabbed buttons to see all the available tools. Drag with the LMB to the tool you want and let go.
Usually the tool you choose will become outlined in red, and the tool cursor will change into your selected tool. However, some tools need an object to be selected before they can be used. If you do not have an object selected the tool will appear with a little red symbol (see image to right) and the tool defaults to the Select Tool until you have chosen an object.

## Draw your First Object

To draw your first object in Curvy you will need the Create Lathe Tool Select this tool by clicking on it's button in the Tools Panel. Your mouse cursor should now appear like this when you move it over a view. ( To make the screenshots easier to understand I am going to hide the panels by pressing TAB and hide the view controls with F11. I don't recommend doing this yourself yet! )
In the Left View (which is the view in the bottom right of the screen) draw a single continuous line with the Create Lathe Tool by dragging the LMB. You will see the line being drawn in purple. The line is drawn top to bottom in the same shape as you can see in this screenshot. |
When you release the LMB Curvy will create a new Lathe Object. The new object is now visible in all four views. Notice how the object looks round in the top view. The line you drew has turned orange. This is the colour to show a selected object. Now you have a selected object more tools become available to you.
Notice that your tool has changed automatically into the Add Curve Tool. This tool lets you continue drawing your model. Draw the second stroke as it is in the screenshot. Once again draw a continuous line by dragging the LMB. |
The curve you drew is used to remake the Lathe Object, now using both curves. |
Now draw one last curve. This time in the Front View, again follow the shape of the screenshot image. |
This Lathe Object, now has three curves. The blue line you can see is the center line of the object. |
Now tap the 'M' key on the keyboard to make the object symmetrical. Once you get used to Curvy Lathe's you will be able to make all sorts of shapes in moments. |

## Select your Object

Deselect your object by clicking with the right mouse button (RMB) in an empty part of a view - or by pressing SPACE. Right mouse button is a quick shortcut to choosing the Select Tool from the Tools Panel. The curves disappear when the object is not selected.
Now, hold down the RMB in a view and drag it over and off your obejct. Notice how all the curves appear in light blue, and when you move over a curve it turns orange.
If you let go of the RMB while an object is orange that object will be selected.
With an object selected, using the RMB to select will pick an individual curve out of that object to edit.

## View your First Object

This section explains how to change the views using the Pan, Orbit and Zoom tools. These tools are found on the far right of the Tools Panel. The image shows what this looks like when you hold down the LMB on the tool button to choose a view tool.
The easiest way to learn these tools is to use them! Pick a view tool and drag on one of the views.
NB: If you Orbit in any view other than Perspective the view will snap back to facing in it's original direction. This is to make sure the Front View always faces the front of your model, the Left View always faces the left and so on.
Each view has three buttons in the lower left corner. Recenter - One LMB click centers the view on the selected object if one is available, or the centre of the scene if nothing is selected. Orbit - Dragging with the LMB orbits the view. Zoom - Drag with the LMB to zoom.
If you have a three button mouse you can access all the view controls very quickly. Pan - Drag with MMB Orbit - Drag with MMB while holding down the Ctrl key Zoom - Roll the middle mouse button (if it is a mouse wheel) |

## Paint on your Object

First make sure your object is selected. If you can't see the object's curves in orange, use the RMB and drag over the object to select it. Now select the Paint Brush Tool (highlighted in red in the image of the tools panel). You can paint by dragging with the LMB over your model in the 3D view.
You can choose different colours and change the paint brush size/opacity and shape using the tools in the Colour Panel and the Paint Brush Panel. |

## Paint the Curvy Map

You can choose different map types to paint on in the Object Properties Panel. We are going to set your object up ready for painting on its Curvy Map. Click on the little grey square next to the text "Curvy Map" and the paint brush icon will move onto the square as in the above image. This means any painting you do will happen on the Curvy Map. Also the top view will change into a view of the image you are about to paint on. You can paint on this 2D map instead of onto the 3D model.
Increase the resolution of your model by right clicking on resolution slider and entering 10000 into the box that pops up.
Now choose white as your paint colour and draw on your model. You should notice some slight bumps appearing. Drag the Curvy Displacement slider to the right to increase the effect your Curvy map has on the model. This is the slider directly beneath the text "Curvy Map".
Choose black as your paint colour to paint grooves and holes into the model.
Hold down SHIFT while painting as a shortcut to the Smooth Brush Tool.

## Save your Model

Save your model at any time by using the menu "File:Save..." and entering a name. All the maps you painted on will be saved out with the ".cvy" file as separate BMP files. |