Selection to Object copies the selected triangles of a mesh, or the selected points of a point cloud, into a new object of the same type. Use it to split one part off a scan, for example to repair, measure or export that part on its own, while the full model stays in the scene.
Copy the selection into a new object
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In the Scene Tree, select one mesh or one point cloud.
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Select the triangles or points you need, for example with Select Primitives or Select Region.
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Click Select › Selection to Object.
The result:
- A new object named after the original with Partial added (for example, fandisk Partial) appears next to the original in the Scene Tree and becomes the selected object.
- The new object keeps the position of the original, so it appears exactly where the selection was.
- The original is not changed: it is only unselected and hidden. Turn its visibility back on in the Scene Tree when you need it.
The button is unavailable when more than one object is selected or the object has no selection; its tooltip then says Mesh should have selected triangles. or Point cloud should have selected points. The same command is on the Points tab and in Mesh Edit › Clone (drop-down item Clone Selection). Undo (Ctrl+Z, or Cmd+Z on macOS) removes the new object and shows the original again.
When to use it
- Split off a part of a scan. Select one figurine, tooth or bracket and make it a separate object; then save it with Export.
- Work on a region without touching the rest. Repair or smooth the copy while the full model stays as it was.
- Keep the part and the rest as two objects. The original keeps its selection. Select the original in the Scene Tree, click Inverse Selection and run Selection to Object again: a second Partial object holds the rest.
To split a mesh into all its disconnected parts at once, use To Components instead: it does not need a selection.
