Part 1: Making a Planet

The first part of this tutorial introduces you to the Cosmo Worlds user interface. You learn how to create a simple shape, change your view of an object in the scene, and alter an object's appearance. Part 1 includes the following sections:


Opening and Saving

  1. If Cosmo Worlds is not open, open it now by double-clicking its icon:


    If you cannot find its icon, choose Find > An Icon from the toolchest menu and type cosmoworlds. Press Enter to open the application, or drag its icon to your desktop and double-click the icon.

  2. Save the file as planet.wrl: Choose File > Save As and type in planet.wrl. Now you can use Ctrl-s the next time you save the file.

Undoing Mistakes

If you make a mistake, undo it by pressing Ctrl-z or choose Edit > Undo. To redo, press Shift-Ctrl-z or choose Edit > Redo. You can undo and redo as many times as you like, up to the point where you last saved.

Creating a Sphere

If you haven't done so already, take a moment to examine the Cosmo Worlds interface. It consists of a work and view area (the black area), a menu bar, a customizable toolbar, viewer buttons along the right side of the window, viewer thumbwheels along the bottom and side of the window, and several palettes. If the palettes are not open, you can access them from the Palettes pull-down on the menu bar.

Jump to: A Quick Look at the User Interface to learn more about this topic.

For now, create a sphere.

  1. On the Create palette, click the Sphere icon:


  2. Place the mouse cursor over the work area in Cosmo Worlds main window. Drag the cursor in an outward direction and release. You have just resized and placed a sphere.

Jump to: Placing a Basic Shape for more information on this task.

Applying a Texture

  1. Make sure you are in pick mode for selecting and editing objects. The arrow icon among the viewer buttons (on the right side of the main window) should be highlighted:


    If it is not highlighted, click the arrow icon now.

  2. Select the sphere by clicking it. An Object Manipulator appears around the sphere. The manipulator indicates a selection. It is also used to resize, rotate, and move the object which it surrounds.

  3. Open the Texture Editor by clicking its button on the Looks palette:


  4. Choose a texture. When you click a texture, you see a preview of the sphere with the texture. When you find a suitable planet texture, press Apply to place the texture on your sphere.

Jump to:

Viewing the Planet

Before you continue, take a moment to examine the planet you've just made.

  1. Make sure you are in view mode. The hand icon among the viewer buttons (on the right side of the main window) should be highlighted:


    You can also temporarily switch to view mode by holding down the Alt key.

  2. Drag over the scene to rotate the camera (your view) around the planet. Drag quickly and release to make the planet spin; click to stop the spin.

Jump to: Viewing Objects and Scenes for more information on this task.

Finishing Up

OK, you're done with the first part. Save the file by clicking Ctrl-s and continue to Part 2 without exiting. If you'd like to go on to Part 2 later, then exit from the program by choosing File > Exit or use Ctrl-q. Now, on to something new.

Part 2: Creating a Rocket