Properties pane¶
The Properties pane sits at the bottom of the right column. Where the Channel Box gives you the fast-edit numeric surface, the Properties pane is the full property editor: every field on the selected placement, grouped by category, with rich editors per type.
Sections¶
The pane groups properties into collapsible sections. The exact sections depend on the placement kind, but the common ones are:
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Identity | id, name, kind, tags |
| Transform | translate, rotate, scale, pivot (also editable in Channel Box) |
| Geometry | kind-specific: vertices for curves, mesh_dist + UV layout for Mesh3D, image_path for Image |
| Material | albedo color, texture maps, roughness, metalness, IBL contribution |
| Mask | render_mask, locked, visibility |
| Animation | per-channel keyability, expressions, driver bindings |
| Code Link | paired Python handler file, scaffold status |
| Notes | free-form text; rendered into the bundle's manifest.json |
Click any section header to expand or collapse. State persists between selections so you keep "Material" open while clicking through placements.
Field editors¶
The Properties pane uses richer editors than the Channel Box:
| Type | Editor |
|---|---|
| Color | Color picker (HSV / RGB / OKLCH) with eyedropper |
| Path | File chooser button + drop target |
| Enum | Dropdown |
| Bool | Toggle |
| Float / Int | Slider + numeric field |
| Vector2 / Vector3 / Vector4 | Field per component |
| Texture | Thumbnail + path + reimport button |
| Expression | Multi-line formula editor |
Multi-select editing¶
When multiple placements are selected, fields shared across them show as editable. Fields that differ between selected placements show a "mixed" placeholder; setting a value applies it to all.
Locked properties¶
Lock icons next to each field freeze the value. A locked field ignores tool drags, signals, and animation keys. Useful for "the reference image is at exactly these coordinates, do not let me bump it": exactly the workflow used in chapter 3 of the Blue Morpho tutorial.
Search¶
A search field at the top of the pane filters visible properties by name. Helpful when looking for a field you remember by name but not by section ("uv_offset", "stroke_cap", etc.).
Compared to the Channel Box¶
- Use the Channel Box for fast numeric tweaks and keyframing on transform-like properties.
- Use the Properties pane for everything else: colors, paths, enums, expressions, code-link wiring, notes.
Both edit the same underlying placement, so changes in either pane update the other immediately.