---
title: "Use 3D viewer tools"
url: "https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/use-3d-viewer-tools"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-07-12T23:12:40.270Z"
---

# Use 3D viewer tools

Access seven display tools from the viewer toolbar to control how your 3D model appears in the canvas.

## Open the viewing tools

Open a space and click the **3D Canvas** tab. If no model is loaded yet, you'll need to upload one first. See [Upload a 3D model file to a space](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/upload-a-3d-model-file-to-a-space).

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/a355f421-c8e8-472d-819c-b3a18dc10c5e)

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## Open the viewing tools

In the left toolbar, click the **Show Viewing Tools** icon (toolbox icon, fourth from top). A dark fly out panel expands to the right with seven tools.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/3b49c7f3-6aec-4263-bcae-dc66aa69949f)

A dark fly out panel expands to the right with seven tools.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/365581e8-b350-4aef-ba9f-4b4067ccfd4b)

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## Available tools

Click any tool to activate it. Click it again to toggle it off. Multiple tools can be active at the same time.

-   **Fit to Screen**: resets the view so the entire model fits in the canvas.
-   **Show Exploding Assemblies**: spreads assembly components apart so you can see individual parts.
-   **Show Transparent Parts**: makes model geometry semi-transparent for internal visibility.
-   **Hide BRep Edges**: removes edge lines from the model surface for a cleaner visual.
-   **Recolor Model**: applies a unified color to the model.
-   **Plane Cut**: slices the model with a cutting plane to reveal its interior.
-   **Capture Screen Area**: draw a selection rectangle to capture a snapshot of that area.

All tool states are visible to other collaborators in the space in real time.

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## Tips and edge cases

-   **Show Exploding Assemblies** only has a visible effect on multi-part assembly files. If nothing happens, the file may be a single-part model.
-   **Plane Cut** interacts with the **Plane Caps** setting in Space Settings. 

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/bd8c2da8-a37a-4553-b6a4-abfe69e6c3fc)

Enable Plane Caps for a clean filled cut surface rather than a hollow opening. See [Space settings overview](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/space-settings-overview).

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/f1944677-c38b-44e1-9f40-f4950812b577)

-   If the model looks washed out, check whether **Recolor Model** or **Show Transparent Parts** is active and toggle them off.

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## Related articles

-   [Work with the 3D Canvas](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/work-with-the-3d-canvas)
-   [Space settings overview](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/space-settings-overview)
-   [Change camera type](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/change-camera-type-perspective-vs-orthographic)
-   [Take measurements and change precision](https://help.cadchat.com/en/article/take-measurements-and-change-precision)