To start Creating a Level go to the "Invent" Tab in the main menu. Simply select the template you would like to use to start creating a level.

Now you have entered the level editor. You will recognize some of the UI-elements. The left menu now has three tabs; the first contains the catalogue where all parts available to build your machine are listed.
The right button below the catalogue lets you add parts made by other users from the workshop. The other button lets you enter the part-editor where you can create your own parts.
The other tabs in the left menu let you change color (which has no effects on the physics) and material (which e.g. changes weight and bounciness) of objects.


















In addition there is now another menu on the right which lets you alter the properties and some looks of your machine. You can also find a share-button there to upload it into the workshop.
The first Tab is the most important one: It let's you choose a name and descriptions, categories to make it easier browsing the workshop, let's you take a screenshot and has a checklist you need to complete before sharing your machine.
The second tab let's you choose between some surfaces and no surface. The surfaces only have cosmetic differences.
The other tabs are just cosmetic; They let you adjust the skybox and let you add different color-filters.











There are some buttons on the bottom that are worth explaining as well:
The leftmost button lets you toggle a parts "locked"-property.
Locked (1) means that those objects are prevented from shifting or modifying.

The next button lets you toggle a parts"solving-usage"-property.
Solving-usage (2) means that people who are going to solve your level have to place those items themselves.

The third button lets you toggle a parts "frozen"-property.
Frozen (3) makes the object unable to move in any way, but it also let's you place the object anywhere, as long as it doesn't collide with non-static objects.

The next button switches to Static-Mode (4) which means that tagged objects can't move during simulation.

Entering Testmode (5) is for playtesting your machine yourself and see if it is solveable when placing the parts in play-mode.

Signaling(6) will be explained in other guides.

Removing items can also be done by pressing [del] on your keyboard, Undo and Redo can be triggered by [ctrl]+z / [ctrl]+y

After dropping an item in the level, you can easily adjust it's position size and rotation. Just click on it and use the corresponding UI-Element.

To move or rotate an item on the z-axis, you have to change into 3D-mode this is done by the switch in the top middle of the UI.











The part-editor let's you create your own parts and share them through the steam workshop.
To open it simply click the "+"-button inside the level-editor.
Not a lot has changed when you get into that editor. You are now always in 3D-mode and the catalogue has different objects for you to choose from. The right menu let's you add your part permanently to your catalogue or upload it to the workshop.
If you choose to not put it into your catalogue the game will let you place your creation into the level.

I'm going to show you in this tutorial how to build your first little machine. This will give you an idea on how to use the editor and will help you to create more complex ones.

The level's goal is going to be about a basketball that needs to be put in a specific area. Start by choosing any template you like.
Now go to the catalogue and click on the last category, select the Spacey goal and place it anywhere in your level. This determines where the basketball will have to go.
Most of our more complex parts have already predefined behaviour, so you don't need to play around with chips to create your own win-condition.
Now go ahead and place a basketball in the level where you would like it.

Now we need to build a bridge to help the basketball get to the goal.
Click on the plus on the catalogue to build a new part. Select the board and place it int the middle of the part editor. Change it's status to static and leave the part editor. Place the board under the basketball.
You don't need to go into the part editor to get a second board. Simply press [ctrl]+c to copy objects after selecting them and [ctrl]+v to paste them into the level.
Place as many boards as you need to complete the bridge. You can rotate them as you like to make it easier for the ball to hit the goal.
Now we need something to get the ball rolling. Select the battery-powered fan and place it behind the ball. You may need to rotate it. Look at the fan from the top and select it. That makes it easy to rotate in the right direction.
Now press play and see if the level finishes. Adjust parts until it does. Then change the fan's status to solving-usage-mode (puzzle-piece). And try your level by entering test-mode.
Now I'm going to give the boards a little support structure, to make the level look more realistic. Select a board and click on the little wrench icon to enter that parts editor.

Go to all parts and select the middle-sized wooden beam. It has the perfect size. Place it anywhere. Click on any of the middle snapping points and drag it to the bottom-middle snapping point of the board. Turn the beam by 90°. Place a second beam under the first one and exit the editor again.
This should give you a good introduction about the basics of the editor. Try to experiment a little with other parts.
If you are interested you can check out my advanced guide or the guides explaining our parts in detail.