---
title: "Soft Selection"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/TOOLROTATE-MDATA_SOFTSELECTION.html"
section_path: "Tools Menu > Rotate > Soft Selection"
element_id: "TOOLROTATE"
group_id: "MDATA_SOFTSELECTION"
description: "The soft selection works for polygonal objects as well as splines. However, the preview mentioned below only works for polygonal objects."
---

## Soft Selection

![Image: 2026-1_soft_selection_01_.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2026-1_soft_selection_01_.png)\
Point selected with soft selection on a polygonal object and a spline are moved upwards.

The soft selection works for polygonal objects as well as splines. However, the preview mentioned below only works for polygonal objects.

### Enable

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_ENABLE`

This setting activates the function.

### Surface

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_SURFACE`

![Image: 2026-1_soft_selection_03_.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2026-1_soft_selection_03_.png)\
**Surface** deactivated on the left, activated on the right.

If you have activated this option, the entire 3D space of the area defined under **Radius** is not affected, but only a surface-oriented area, which makes it much easier to edit filigree object areas.

### Rubber

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_RUBBER`

The soft selected elements will behave more like rubber when moved, scaled or rotated if this option is enabled. Rubber mode tends to work best with low Strength values.

### Restrict

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_RESTRICT`

This setting turns off the soft selection (when activated). The selection will then only affect the selected elements.

### Preview

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_PREVIEW`

The soft selection is displayed with an orange preview, which makes it much easier to select correctly. The **Strength** parameter is symbolized by the saturation of the orange color. This preview can be switched on and off here.

### Falloff

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_FALLOFF`

This is used to define a falloff function that works up to the defined radius depending on the positions defined under **Mode**.

![Image: 2026-1_soft_selection_02_.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2026-1_soft_selection_02_.png)\
The Falloff functions Linear, Dome, Bell, Circle, Needle, Vertex Map (here with Box Field) and Spline (spline preset "Triangle").

Vertex Map

If you have created a [Vertex Map](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/TVERTEXMAP.html.md), you can also define the acceptance via this (it is then advisable to select all components). If there are several Vertex Maps, the corresponding Vertex Map tag must be selected.

Please note that fields can be used in Vertex Maps that greatly extend the functionality.

Spline

If you define **Spline** here, you can define any falloff curve with the function graph (for details, see [Function Graphs](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5822.html.md)).

### Mode

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_MODE`

![Image: 003477.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/003477.jpg)\
In clockwise direction starting from top left: the selected surfaces, Group mode, All mode, Center mode.

The Mode defines where the radius starts. Choose from the following:

Group

The radius starts from the center of each selected element group.

Center

The radius starts from the common center of all selections.

All

The radius starts from the edges of the selection.

### Radius

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_RADIUS` · Range: [0..+∞m]

Use this setting to define the soft selection’s radius.

### Strength

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_STRENGTH` · Range: [0..100%]

Use this setting to define the influence of a given tool on the soft selection. This strength is visually represented by the saturation of the orange-colored selection preview.

### Width

Parameter ID: `MDATA_SOFT_WIDTH` · Range: [0..100%]

Use this setting to define how hard or soft the effect of a soft selection should abate within a given radius.