# Improve canvas mouse navigation (adopting CG/VFX industry standards) **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** canvas, ui-ux\ **Created:** [August 7, 2023, 7:06am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623 "2023-08-07T07:06:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/neigh/32/5917_2.png) [@Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Neigh)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:06am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/1 "2023-08-07T07:06:59Z")
### Use case or problem Mouse based navigation is hugely important in the CG/VFX industry. When put into practice, it is very intuitive and reliable. Currently Mouse navigation in Obsidian’s Canvas is limited and a bit clumsy. Perhaps we could stand on the shoulders of giants and implement a better solution. ### Proposed solution Allow for navigation to be controlled via modifiers, as is the proven standard in CG/VFX apps. For example, Define a modifier for Zoom. Now holding that modifier while moving the mouse will result in a smooth in/out zoom behaviour. Same goes for Pan - when the defined modifier is held, moving the mouse will pan the canvas around. **In Blender these modifiers default to the following:** Pan = Shift + Middle Mouse Button Zoom = Command + Middle Mouse Button **In Cinema 4D** Pan = Option + Middle Mouse Button Zoom = Option + Right Mouse button **In Nuke** Pan = Option + Left Mouse Zoom = Option + Middle Mouse button If you want to get a sense for how this feels, download [PureRef](https://www.pureref.com), drag in some images and use the following default shortcuts Pan = Option + Left Mouse Button Z = Z + Left Mouse Button Once learned, this method of navigation proves to be very snappy and dependable. One can zip around the canvas with confidence and grace. Please do consider this, as it makes for a hugely improved user experience. ### Current workaround (optional) N/A ---
**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/2 "2023-08-07T15:06:51Z")
Have you tried holding space? ![Obsidian_zicTYtF6Cm](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/d/9/d94b1cc88cbf6c927bb8ec1370fcbe1e30278e34.png) ---
**Author:** ![Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/neigh/32/5917_2.png) [@Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Neigh)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/3 "2023-08-07T22:49:05Z")
Space works for pan, but what about zoom? The only way to zoom is to use the scroll wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/neigh/32/5917_2.png) [@Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Neigh)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/4 "2023-08-07T22:50:47Z")
To clarify- this proposed navigation method does not use scrolling at all. Rather it uses the movement of the mouse itself to change zoom levels ---
**Author:** ![WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/whitenoise/32/11_2.png) [@WhiteNoise](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/WhiteNoise)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/5 "2023-08-07T23:02:33Z")
Okay, open a fr specifically for that. ---
**Author:** ![Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/neigh/32/5917_2.png) [@Neigh](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Neigh)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/7 "2023-08-08T00:17:40Z")
New feature request here: > [@Enable Scrollwheel-less zooming in Canvas and Graph View](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/enable-scrollwheel-less-zooming-in-canvas-and-graph-view/64662): > > Use case or problem Mouse navigation in Canvas and Graph View could be improved. Zooming the canvas without the scroll wheel is an ergonomic enhancement (as proven by apps in the CG/VFX industry, which are very mouse heavy). Proposed solution Allow Space + Right Click to adjust Zoom Just as Space + Left Click currently pans the canvas. Further, allowing these modifiers to be configurable would be a nice addition. (with apologies, I thought this was originally posted in the Feature Requests subform, but somehow goofed) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/bec35fbd23ab28909bb6bfe62cb32eb82dd34019.png) [@system](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/improve-canvas-mouse-navigation-adopting-cg-vfx-industry-standards/64623/8 "2023-08-15T00:18:40Z")
Closed on August 15, 2023, 12:18am UTC This topic was automatically closed 7 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.