Tips

I want to go over some tips on how to setup keys and mouse assignment, which will benefit workflow.

1. I have TWEAK assigned to the MMB (middle mouse button). As you have seen I do a lot of tweaking, I use the manipulators on occasion, but rarely rely on it as a main-stay tool. It is more freeform for me this way, since it is a feature I use and rely on quite a bit for modeling. So I want to have fast access to it so I can form shape quicker.

2. I like to have one side of the instance mirror set to smooth shading mode, so I can view shape the model unobstructed by the wires, but I need to see the wires to view and work with the edges, so I have of course the active mesh displayed with smooth wireframe mode.

3. I select loops and rings a lot so I like to have fast access to the function, so I assigned SELECT RING to RMB(right mouse button) and SELECT LOOP to SHIFT+RMB. I select an edge and then RMB to SELECT RING or SHIFT+RMB to SELECT LOOP.

4. Now the reason I mapped the SHIFT+RMB to SELECT LOOP is because of what you see here. I select a set of edges by selecting and holding the SHIFT key for multiple edges, by still holding down on the shift key and then RMB I can select a PARTIAL LOOP, if I let go of the SHIFT key after making my multiple edge selections I can RMB to select a PARTIAL RING.

5. I have 1 set to Vertex Mode, 2 to Edge Mode, 3 to Faces and 4 to Object. I convert to vertices selection set to ALT+1, ALT+2 for convert to edges and ALT+3 to convert to faces.

6. Connect is keyed to X and Split tool is set to ALT+X. I assigned variant tools like the Split tool to ALT because I don't use it as much as the Connect tool, but they fundamentally do the same thing, which is why I have then used the same key, X in this example.

Now, these specific things might not appeal to all users. The idea I am hoping to get across, is that the tools and function you use and rely on the most should be simple, nature and quick for you to get to, so they should have high priority on were they should be and how they are executed.

I have all of the tools and function I use often all located and assigned close to my left hand, with as little combo keys as possible, you know CTRL, ALT and SHIFT, so it doesn't feel cumbersome to me using just one hand. I have my right hand dedicated to working with the mouse.

Each of us work differently, but I think we all benefit from tools that are just simple to get to and execute and with Silo we have a robust customization to allow making improvements that cab boost our modeling performance.