Introduction to MagicaVoxel 0.99.1 (tutorial)

The Basics

So, you're new to MagicaVoxel and don't know where to start? Well that's why I made this tutorial. :) When I started MagicaVoxel I had no idea what to do, but I found my way, through watching speedbuilds, and figuring it out for myself.

MagicaVoxel is a 3D modeling program, and it's really easy to learn and use! There are however, some fairly complicated features, but I should be able to help with that.

So enough beating about the bush, let's get started!

First of all, if you haven't already, download the MagicaVoxel program at https://ephtracy.github.io/#ss-carousel_ss (note: you need WinRar for this) it's a free program, and really lightweight (it won't slow down your computer).

Now you want to create something, right? First of all though, you'll want to become familiar with the program's layout and shorcuts, don't jump straight into the deep end! So the first thing really, is to know how to place, remove, and select objects.

When you first open MagicaVoxel, you will be greeted with this image:

File:Mv wiki 1.png

When you first open MagicaVoxel, you will be greeted with this image

 

It is the default model, and you can delete with no consequences, when you open MagicaVoxel, it is always there.

To delete it, click on the button on the right which has the four corners of a small square (the select tool, very important!).

File:Mv wiki 2.png

The select button

When you choose the select tool, you are by default put into box selection. This allows you to select from different points on the model. Try it out by holding and dragging the LMB. To instantly select a certain region, switch from box mode to rect mode (beneath the selection tool). Remember that the selection will go through the entire model. So to quickly get rid of the default cube, select the entire region around it and press the delete button on your keyboard. If you have voxels selected it will delete only them. If you do not have voxels selected it deletes eveything. If that happens you can press ctrl+z to undo and ctrl+y to redo.

Once you have deleted the default cube, it's time to learn how to place your first voxels! We aren't building a massive skyscraper yet, or a big car, but we'll get there. ;)

If you look at the top right of your screen, you will see 3 numbers that by default say 40 40 40 . These are the dimensions of your scene, if you press the grid button in the lower left, an overlay will come up showing the different voxels in your scene: 

File:Mv wiki tutorial grid.png

The grid (including dimension and grid buttons outlined in red)

So now for what you've probably been wanting to do all along, actually placing an object! I'm sorry if this tutorial is a bit dry, but it's good to have everything done!

So to place a voxel in your now empty scene, press the attach button on the left side. It's above the select button, in a column with 2 other buttons, erase and paint, together they are arguably the 3 most common MagicaVoxel buttons.

When you press attach, you can now place voxels. By default you are in box attach mode, but you can change this up at the top right, above the attach, erase, and paint buttons. You can choose different modes, B for Box, V for Voxel, F for Face, etc.. You can mess about with them for a bit and figure out what they do :)

Once you have done that, you now know how to attach blocks! However this same principle applies to the erase and paint tools too!

In the next section, I will go over the paint tools, colours, saving, and loading!