Lets you adjust the user-defined normal of a vertex (or several selected vertices) using a manipulator. For example, you can make sharp edges appear smoother or adjust the lighting on a polygonal object by modifying the direction of the vertex normal.
Editing the vertex normal with this tool overrides the existing Maya normals for the mesh and locks the user-defined normal you set. You can unlock the user-defined normal using the Normals > Unlock Normals feature.
Editing normals with face/vertex components can cause new hard edges, any unlocked neighboring normals might move in the process. Lock any neighboring normals you want to remain unaffected prior to editing.
Related topics
Normals > Vertex Normal Edit Tool > 
Rotate Axis
Select the coordinate system to rotate on.
- Local
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Rotates the vertex normal about the object space axes.
- Global
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Rotates the vertex normal about the world space XYZ axes.