A game world with nothing in it would be pretty boring. Just a flat empty expanse. Today we are going to go over various ways to put objects into the game world and how to move them around.
Placement
By default you are in Place mode in the editor when you start it, but if you aren’t you can easily switch to it by selecting it from the tabs in the Modes window on the left side of the editor, it is the first tab with the cube and light bulb in it. You can also switch to this mode by pressing Shift + 1.
In the Modes window you should see various categories of things you can place in your game world including Basics like simple geometric shapes and actor representations, Lights, as well as any classes you have created (under All Classes).
Clicking and dragging one of these objects into your main view will add it to the world.
You can also just right click in the main view and choose from the various place options in the context menu.
Additionally you can use the Content Browser that is by default open at the bottom of the window to drag Static Meshes and Actors into the world.
Movement
Basic Movement
When you click on an object in the main view, if you are using the default tool (Select and Translate Objects) you will see a small white sphere appear with 3 arrows or vectors coming out from it. Clicking one of these arrows allows you to move the object along that Axis (X, Y, or Z). Pretty simple and intuitive. If for some reason you see something different, make sure you are using the correct tool by hitting the W key.
If you click the right angle line between any 2 of the arrows you can move the object along those 2 Axis at the same time. And if you click the small white sphere you can move the object along all 3 at the same time.
Rotated Movement
The Axis by default are in relation to the World. But if you have rotated your object and want to move it in a straight line in relation to it rotation, you can change the context of the movement tool by clicking the small icon at the top of the main view that looks like a globe (or a cube if you are in local object coordinate mode). There is also a handy keyboard shortcut for doing toggling back and forth, Ctrl + ` (backtick, same key as ~, right next to the number 1 on most keyboards).
Moving With Or Without the Grid
There is a grid system for helping line up objects and move them in precise increments. You can change the size of the increments that you want or turn the snapping system off entirely. The selectors for this are in the group of selectors on the top right of the main view, right next to the coordinate mode toggle selector.
Moving the Camera with the Object
Sometimes you need to move the object off screen or just a far distance that might have you move it, move the camera, then move it again. Instead you can hold down the Shift key and the camera will move along with the object as you drag the control that you want.
For lights and camera objects, you can actually lock the viewport camera on to them and use the normal view/camera controls (mouse and WASD) to position them precisely or at least in a way that makes sense visually. To do this, select the light or camera you want to control, right click on it and select “Pilot this object” although it will have the name of the object there. To stop piloting, there will be a control in the top left of the viewport that lools like an up arrow with a line under it. Simply click that to go back to the normal viewport camera.
Details Panel Movement
If you want super precise placement, you can also move objects by putting in the exact coordinate number location that you want in the objects properties in the Details window on the right side of the screen. This is in the Transform section with the appropriate Location label.
Final note, the End key will drop your object to the floor. This is super useful to avoid floating objects.
Rotation
Basic Rotation
Rotation is very similar to movement as far as controls go.
You can switch to the Rotate Object tool from the top of the main view or by pressing E. When you do, you will see 3 half circles. Each of these circles allows you to rotate the object along any 1 Axis.
And same as movement, you can switch the relationship of the rotation from rotating relative to the world to rotating relative to the selected object. Same on screen toggle and same hotkey, Ctrl + `.
Rotation Snapping and Details Panel
Similar to the grid for movement, you can have the rotation snap along various degree increments. And for super precise rotation, you can type the exact angles you want in the Details window on the right side of the screen.
I recommend starting a little throwaway project with Unreal’s Starter Content and practicing the various placement and rotation tools.
Keep getting wiser, stronger, and better.