Navigate Spatial Editor

Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Overview

This page walks through Spatial Editor’s user interface. Make sure you download Spatial Editor and follow the setup instructions.

Welcome window

When you first open Spatial Editor, the welcome window gives you the option to create a new project or open an existing or recent project:

New project

When you create a new Spatial Editor project, it will contain one composition named Composition 1:

The Viewport

The Viewport is centrally located to help you visualize, navigate, and preview your composition. It displays a grid with units measuring one meter x one meter.

Animated demonstration of rotating and navigating the 3D viewport with orbit controls

You can navigate your composition using three modes:

Orbit (default): Click and drag to rotate the Viewport around your selected object.

Pan: Click and drag to move left, right, up, and down the Viewport. On Mac, you can also pan the Viewport with Command+click-and-drag. On Windows, use Control+click-and-drag.

Dolly: Click and drag up or down to move back and forward. On Mac, you can also use the mouse scroll wheel, pinch the trackpad, or Option+click-and-drag in the Viewport. On Windows, use the mouse scroll wheel or Alt+click-and-drag.

Viewport showing a 3D scene with grid floor, navigation gizmo, and mode controls

Useful shortcuts for navigating the Viewport.

Located at the top of the Spatial Editor window, the Toolbar facilitates the quick import of objects and creation of new compositions. It also allows you to add new panels or 3D primitives.

Toolbar at the top of Spatial Editor with buttons for import, add primitives, and composition actions

The Composition panel

This panel is on the left side and becomes accessible when viewing a composition. It lets you search, select, and organize the nodes’ hierarchy in your composition. To hide the panel, use the View menu, the left button on the toolbar, or the shortcut Command+1 (for Mac) or Ctrl+1 (for Windows).

Composition panel on the left showing hierarchical node tree with objects and their children

The Properties panel

Situated on the right, this panel enables you to view and modify the properties of nodes selected from the Composition panel, such as translation, rotation, scale, and visibility:

Properties panel on the right displaying transform controls for position, rotation, scale, and visibility

Add Spatial SDK components to your objects using the + button next to Components. If you select a material in the Object tab, this is also where you can adjust material properties. Hide this panel using the top right button on the Toolbar or the shortcut Command+2 (for Mac) or Ctrl+2 (for Windows).

The Project Assets panel

The Project Assets panel, located at the bottom of the interface, is a powerful tool that allows you to manage and organize all the [assets] (/documentation/spatial-sdk/spatial-editor-import-manage-assets) included in your project. It provides a comprehensive view of all the assets, not just those included in the open composition.

Project Assets panel at bottom showing compositions and objects organized in folders

An asset is a piece of content that can be reused across your project. There are two main types of assets in Spatial Editor: Compositions and objects. Compositions are containers for Spatial SDK content, made up of hierarchies of objects. Objects are 3D models and all associated data that you import with them.

The Project Assets panel offers functionality to manage your assets effectively. You can right-click on an asset to access a context menu with options such as Add to composition, Update, Rename, Duplicate, and more. Additionally, you can create folders and organize your assets into them, making it easier to find and access the assets you need.

Project tab

The Project tab, located on the left-most side and labeled with the project’s name, displays your project’s complete hierarchy and an enlarged view of the Project Assets panel. Right-click on an asset to edit, rename, copy, delete, or duplicate it. You can also add new assets from this view.

Object tab

When you double-click an object in the Composition panel or the Project Assets panel, it opens in a new tab where you can edit the object. The object node hierarchy is listed in the Object panel on the top-left, and any assets referenced by the object are listed in the Project Assets panel on the bottom-left.

Did you find this page helpful?