Make Level Design Easier in Unity
There are a few tricks to utilize while designing a level to make it a bit quicker. I will get right into it and let you know what I have discovered thus far while beginning my own level design project in Unity. This is a 3D project with 3D assets. Check it out!
Ctrl + Drag is a very useful way to snap objects into place. While holding Ctrl you click on the object and drag. So simply put you hold Ctrl down, and select an object that needs to be moved, rotated, or scaled using the Unity tools. On top of that, there is Vertex control by holding the V Key you can hover around an object to get to the exact vertex quickly. You can change the vertex as needed like scale and rotate.
- Ctrl + Drag will snap objects in .25 increments
- Ctrl + Rotate tool will let you drag/rotate an object in 15-degree increments
- Ctrl + Scale tool + Drag will scale an object by 1 unit increments
- Ctrl + Rect Tool + Drag will scale this as well
- Select a tool, hold V, and hover over an object to select a vertex corner, click and drag to another object's vertex
- The other thing you can do is duplicate. Ctrl D on one or multiple selected objects will cause duplication. If you need to select multiple objects but they aren’t near each other then hold Ctrl and select each individual object to highlight multiples. Hold shift to select the object in a list most of the time from the hierarchy or projects folder.
- You can also use multiple objects together to create one new prefab. IE creates another unique pattern of floor, wall, or whatever this way without ever having to make it from scratch. So create a prefab folder for these new prefabs you make from multiple objects. With this method, you can create permanent new objects with no need to rebuild.
- Replace With Prefab Tool — You can download and use this tool from Filebase. When downloaded it will be in Tools. Select Replace With Prefab tool, select the prefabs in the scene you intend to replace then input the new intended prefab in the tool. Extremely convenient.
There is also a Unity Shortcuts Manager you should refer to. This will give you info on how to configure shortcuts which may end up making things even more efficient for you. After learning this it's time for me to build a sci-fi room!!!
Shortcuts
Ctrl + drag move tool
Snaps the object in .25 unit increments.
Ctrl + drag rotation tool
Snaps the rotation in 15-degree increments.
Ctrl + drag scale tool
Snaps the scaling in 1 unit increments.
