The canvas

The canvas provides a visual representation of the model we have at hand. It contains three main components, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Let's break down the components:

1. Coordinate System: This shows the orientation of the model in relation to the default coordinate system in terms of the x, y, and z axes. They are interactive and can be used to position the viewing angle of the model. By clicking on the various axes, you can arrive at that viewing orientation.
2. The part's current status: This shows the current status of the part at work. This is updated with every construction command that's used to build the model.
3. Additional Viewing commands: These contain alternative views of the model, such as the wireframe view and section view. It also provides shortcuts that we can use to modify the scene and the appearance of the model.

When controlling the model in the canvas, using a mouse with a scroll wheel is recommended due to the functionalities the scroll wheel has. Here are two ways the scroll helps model control:

• When the cursor is within the canvas, rolling the scroll wheel will allow us to zoom in and out of the cursor's location.
• When the cursor is within the canvas, pressing on the scroll wheel and moving the mouse will rotate the model in a certain direction. For example, if we move the mouse to the right, the model will pivot to the right. 

Now that we have covered the canvas, let's talk about the Task Pane.