Tools vs Tool Modes

This tutorial explains a simple but important Foxel concept:

The selected tool and the selected tool mode both affect the result.

Choosing a tool is only part of the interaction. The selected mode also changes how that tool is applied.

Why This Matters

A common beginner assumption is that once a tool is selected, the behavior is fully defined.

In Foxel, that is not the full picture.

The active tool defines the type of action. The active mode defines how that action is performed.

This means the same tool can behave differently depending on the current mode.

A Tool Is Not The Whole Interaction

The active tool tells Foxel what kind of action you want to perform.

For example, a voxel tool may be used to draw, erase, paint, assign materials, or select voxel data.

But the tool alone does not always describe the full behavior.

The mode changes how the action is applied to the scene.

The Mode Also Matters

The selected tool mode controls the shape or method of the interaction.

This means the same tool can produce different results depending on the current mode.

A tool can feel inconsistent until you realize that the mode is part of the behavior.

For example, a tool may work on a single point in one mode, but on a box, rectangle, brush stroke, or larger area in another mode.

How To Think About It

Do not only ask:

• Which tool am I using?

Also ask:

• Which mode is active right now?

A useful way to remember it is:

tool + mode = interaction

The tool defines the action.

The mode defines how that action is applied.

When Something Feels Unexpected

If a tool does not behave the way you expected, check both parts of the setup:

• Is the correct tool active?
• Is the correct mode active?

This is especially useful when switching between different voxel editing workflows, because the mode can change the way the tool responds to your input.

What To Remember

• The active tool matters.
• The active mode also matters.
• The tool defines the action.
• The mode defines how the action is applied.
• The same tool can behave differently in different modes.
• If something feels unexpected, check the mode too.