While modelling, there are a number of quick way to select vertices, edges or faces. This is a short tutorial which covers some of the most practical methods.

1) Edge selection

Instead of selecting each individual edge, it's much quicker to select an edge loop (edges which form a closed ring). Press tab to enter edit mode, and choose edge select (see arrow, or the 2 key).

Simply hold alt and select anywhere on the edge loop.

1.1) Multiple edge selection

If needed, it's possible to select multiple edge loops. Select the first with alt + left clickplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigClick

Depending on the device, clicking refers to the user action for selecting an element. For devices with a mouse, this means pointing to the element followed by pressing the left mouse button. On devices with touch displays, this refers to tapping or tapping and holding (iOS: long touch)..

Hold alt + shift and left clickplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigClick

Depending on the device, clicking refers to the user action for selecting an element. For devices with a mouse, this means pointing to the element followed by pressing the left mouse button. On devices with touch displays, this refers to tapping or tapping and holding (iOS: long touch). on the second loop. This can be repeated as often as needed.

2) Parallel Edge Selection.

In this case, we want to select the vertical edges. Hold alt and left clickplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigClick

Depending on the device, clicking refers to the user action for selecting an element. For devices with a mouse, this means pointing to the element followed by pressing the left mouse button. On devices with touch displays, this refers to tapping or tapping and holding (iOS: long touch). one edge. We can see it selects the whole edge.

To select all edges that are parallel to the first, hold alt + ctrl and left clickplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigClick

Depending on the device, clicking refers to the user action for selecting an element. For devices with a mouse, this means pointing to the element followed by pressing the left mouse button. On devices with touch displays, this refers to tapping or tapping and holding (iOS: long touch). the edge. Here we can see all the parallel edges are selected, up to the edge loop in the middle.

Similar to the first step, we can make group selections here as well. To select the parallel edges on the bottom half, hold alt + ctrl + shift and left clickplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigClick

Depending on the device, clicking refers to the user action for selecting an element. For devices with a mouse, this means pointing to the element followed by pressing the left mouse button. On devices with touch displays, this refers to tapping or tapping and holding (iOS: long touch). an edge.

**3) X-Ray Selection

There may be cases where none of the above work, and it's simpler to drag a box selection. This can be done in x-ray mode, which allows us to select through the object. Turn on X-ray in the top right coner (see arrow), or use shift + X.

Switching to isometric view makes things easier (see arrow), and ensures the selection is correct on both sides. Drag a box selection over the required edges, or in this case, vertices.

In this case half the geometry has been selected though it's difficult to see from the isometric view.

Moving the camera shows up half the geometry has been selected, as intended.