---
title: "Work with basic objects"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Evoke15/10327286/Work%20with%20basic%20objects"
format: markdown
---
To enable tracking of your props, you create basic objects in Evoke.

> ✅ **Tip**   
> ✅ It is easiest to use the Vicon Nova kit to mount active markers on a variety of props and use them within Evoke.

You manage objects in the **Tracking** pane, which lists all objects tracked by Evoke. You can visually distinguish basic objects from Smart Objects by their icons.

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 Basic object

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 Smart Object

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 Composite Smart Object

Basic objects have a fixed pattern, so if a marker is moved you must re-create the object.

Note that you can import VSK files for basic rigid objects.

See also the Vicon video:

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>  [ Evoke 1.2 - Basic Objects](https://youtu.be/ENT5df3Yh8E)

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## Create basic objects

To represent your props, you create basic objects in Evoke.


**To create a basic object:**


1. Place the prop with active markers attached in the volume, making sure that the markers are turned on.
  :check_mark:** Tip**: If you don't see anything in the 3D Scene, in the **View Filters**, ensure **Unlabeled Markers** is selected.
2. In Evoke, select at least four (five or more is recommended) unlabeled reconstructions.  
The orientation of the object depends on the order in which you select the reconstructions. The first is the root, the second is the axis it will point along, and the third is the Up vector for the object. If necessary, you can change this later (see [Change a basic object's origin](#ChangeBasicObjOrigin)).
3. In the **Tracking** pane, click the **Create** button for a Basic Object.
  A new basic object is created with labeled markers and sticks.
  In the **Tracking** pane, a new basic object (default name: Basic Object #) is displayed.
  :check_mark:** Tip**: If your new object has a warning symbol (yellow triangle) next to it, to view information about the issue, hover the mouse pointer over the symbol. For more information, see [Understand object evaluation](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke15/pages/10326597).
4. To rename the basic object, in the tree at the top of the Tracking pane, either:
  - Double-click the basic object to edit the name; or
  - Right-click it and then select **Rename**; or
  - Select the basic object and press F2; or
  - Select the basic object and in the **Properties** pane below, click the **Name** field.
5. Enter a unique new name for the basic object.

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## Add a mesh to a basic object

Adding a mesh to basic objects enables you to better visualize them in the Workspace to check that they are correctly aligned and that they give the user experience that you want.

1. In the **Tracking** pane, select the basic object to which you want to add a mesh.
2. In the **Properties** pane, from the **Mesh** list, select the required mesh.   
The mesh is an FBX file with the mesh skinned to a Root bone. You can use the installed meshes, or your own FBX files, saved to *C:\Users\Public\Documents\Vicon\PropMeshes*.
  Your mesh is displayed in the 3D workspace.

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## Change a basic object's origin

The object manipulator enables you to specify a basic object's origin (ie, the center of the physical object in relation to the marker pattern that is tracked by Evoke).

- To activate the object manipulator:
  - Press the space bar or click the **Pause** button at the bottom right of the **Workspace** to pause Evoke.
  - Select the basic object.
  - In the **3D Scene** view, click the object manipulator button.
- In the Workspace either:
  - Drag the manipulator to move or rotate the object to the required location; or
  - Enter values in the **Translation** and/or **Rotation** fields;  
  
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When you resume streaming, the object's orientation is updated.

> ✅ **Tip**   
> ✅ To scale the Manipulator, on the numeric keypad, press + (scale up) or - (scale down).

Note that the manipulator operates in local or global space (corresponding to the object coordinate system or the world coordinate system respectively). To switch between the two, click the icon to the left of the **Object Manipulator** text.

In the 3D Scene view, you can align a selected object's axes to the global axes, a selected marker, or to the center of multiple selected markers. To do this, select the relevant object(s) or marker(s), activate the Object Manipulator > Macro (inline-media-image)

 and then click **Alignment Tool** at the bottom. For more information, see [Understand the alignment tool](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke15/pages/10322279).


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## Add or remove markers – basic objects

Evoke enables you to add markers to a basic object or remove markers from a basic object. This is particularly useful, if, for example, a marker fails or falls off the object.

If a marker is removed from a basic object, you can manually select and remove the marker from the reconstruction. Similarly, if a marker is added, you can assign it a label and make it part of an existing reconstruction.


**To remove a marker from a basic object:**


1. In the **Tracking** panel, ensure that the required basic object (which must have more than four markers) is selected, and in the **3D Scene**, select the labeled marker that you want to remove.
2. On the **Setup** tab, in the **Modify Object** line, click **Remove Marker**.
  The marker becomes unlabeled and is removed from the object.


**To add an unlabeled marker to a basic object:**


1. In the **3D Scene**, select the required unlabeled marker.
2. At the top of the **Tracking** panel, CTRL+click to select the required basic object.
3. On the **Setup** tab, in the **Modify Object** line, click **Add Marker**.  
The unlabeled marker is now labeled and added to the selected object.


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## Export a basic object as a VSK

To export a basic object as a Vicon Skeleton (VSK) file:

1. On the **Tracking** pane, right-click on the basic object and then select **Export**.
2. In the **Export** dialog box, browse to or enter the location for the object.
3. Save the VSK.

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 Create a custom calibration object

You can use a Vicon Active Wand to set up your volume coordinate system quickly and easily (see [Set the volume origin](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke15/pages/10326147/Calibrate+cameras#SetOrigin)). However, using a larger calibration object (for example, markers embedded in the volume floor and wall) can improve calibration stability and consistency over time.

For information on how to do this, see [Scale calibration and set a fixed origin](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Evoke14/pages/10158114).