The Transform Dialog Box

Interaction » Transform

You can transform selected objects in two ways. Interactively with the transform manipulator in the toolbar, or by entering the transformation values into the transform module. You can move geometry, resize it, rotate it, and redefine its pivot. When transforming multiple objects at once, the transform module always shows the transformation properties of the last selected object, and the transform manipulator is connected to the last selected object. a yellow background in the respective input field highlights transformation values that differ among the selected objects. When entering a certain value, it is applied to all selected objects. With the wheel control next to the input field, you can increase or decrease the respective values of all selected objects at once.

You can also create Transform Variants to display a single set of geometry in multiple orientations. Using a Transform Variant reduces file size, root structure, and memory usage.

The toggle button for enabling / disabling the Transform Module is on the left side of the quick access bar.

Basic (tab)

The functions in the transformation tool help with exact placement of objects within a scene. All numerical input fields have a wheel right besides. Click onto it in combination with dragging to the left or right decrements or increment the values in the respective directions.

Translation

Moves the selected objects along the coordinate system axis.

  • Coordinate System: Defines whether the translation values are presented based on world space or on object space. In world space, the translation defines the object’s global position within the world. In object space, the translation defines the object’s offset from its origin.

    Example: Translate a parent node by (0, 0, 10) (TX TY TZ) in world space. If you translate the child node by (0, 0, 5) in local space, its translation values in world space is (0, 0, 15).

  • Translate X/Y/Z: These input fields are the distance the object is moved along the respective axis.
  • Move to Camera: Translates the selected object to the position of the current active camera.
  • Move to Origin: Translates the selected object to the world coordinate system’s origin.
Rotation

Rotates the object around the rotation pivot. There are two methods of rotating objects using this tool. The first method is to manually select the rotation values and order with Rotate X/Y/Z and Rotation Order. The second method is to either pick or define an axis to rotate the object about and use the Rotate dial to rotate the object around this axis.

  • Rotate X/Y/Z: Rotates the object on the X-, Y-, or Z-axis.
  • Rotation Order: Euler rotations are not clear. The rotation order defines the order in which the rotations around all axes are realized.
  • Rotate Axis X/Y/Z: Change the position and orientation of the rotation axis the objects rotates around with numerical input.
  • Rotate: Rotates the selected object around the before specified rotation axis. This axis can be visually shown in the render window with the Show Axis check-box.
  • Pick Axis Mode: These options allow the selection of rotation axis by interactively selecting points within the render view. With two points the axis is directly defined in 3D space. With three points method a triangle in 3D is defined with the normal vector as the rotation axis.
Scaling
  • Scale (x,y,z): Scales the object on X-, Y-, or Z-axis.
  • Uniform Scaling: Connects X-, Y-, and Z-axis and keys the same value to all of them. Disable this option to scale an object in only one direction or unequally in different directions..
Rotation Pivot

The rotation pivot is the point in 3D around which an object is rotated when using the rotate tool.

  • Coordinate System: Selects the coordinate system that is used as a reference on rotations.
  • Position X/Y/Z: Moves the rotation pivot point on the X-, Y-, or Z-axis.
  • Move To Object Center: Moves the rotation pivot point to the center of the object’s bounding box.
  • Move To World Center: Moves the rotation pivot point to the center of the world’s coordination system.
  • Alignment: Selects the coordinate system that is used as a reference on rotations.
  • Orientation X/Y/Z: Rotates the rotation pivot point on the X-, Y-, or Z-axis.
  • Direction Vector X/Y/Z: Locates the second point of a vector with X-, Y-, and Z values. The first point is the pivot point of the object.
  • Pick: Pick two or three points to define an axis.
  • Axis: Choose X, Y, or Z to be the axis defined by two or three points.
Scaling Pivot

The scaling pivot is the point in 3D from which an object is scaled when using the scale tool.

  • Coordinate System: Selects the coordinate system that is used as a reference on scaling.
  • Position X/Y/Z: Translates the Scaling Pivot along the respective axis.
  • Move to Object Center: Moves the scaling pivot point to the center of the object’s bounding box.
  • Move to World Center: Moves the scaling pivot point to the center of the world coordination system.

Advanced (tab)

Bounding Box
  • Bounding Box Center: Retrieves the coordinates (X,Y,Z) of the bounding box center from the selected object.
  • Create Bounding Box Center Transform: Creates a transform node with transformation of the selected bounding box center. The generated node is at the top level of the Scenegraph.
  • Create Bounding Box Center Inverse Transform: Creates a transform node with inverse transformation of the selected bounding box center.
Shearing

Shearing deforms the object by tilting the selected bounding box plane.

  • Shear XY: Shears the object on the X- and Y-axis.
  • Shear XZ: Shears the object on the X- and Z-axis.
  • Shear YZ: Shears the object on the Y- and Z-axis.
Pivot Translations
  • Rotation Pivot Translation: Translation introduced to preserve existing rotate transformations when moving the pivot. Used to prevent an object from moving when the object's pivot point is not at the origin and the pivot is moved.
  • Scaling Pivot Translation: Translation introduced to preserve existing scale transformations when moving the pivot. Used to prevent an object from moving when the object's pivot point is not at the origin and a non-unit scale is applied to the object.
Transform: Quick Icons
  • Create a new transform variant: Creates a transform variant of the selected node.
  • Duplicate selected variants
  • Delete selected variants
  • Position rotate pivot in object center: Sets the Rotate Pivot to the center of the selected object.
  • Position scale pivot in object center: Sets the scale Pivot to the center of the selected object.
  • Move the object to camera position: Moves the selected object to the current camera position.
  • Move the object to origin: Moves the selected object to the center of the world coordination system.
  • Put object on ground: Translates the selected objects along the Z-axis in such a way as to have the bottom face of the object’s bounding box at the same level as the ground plane.

Transform Variants

Transform Variants allow you to display a single set of geometry in multiple orientations and locations within the scene. Using a Transform Variant instead of multiple duplicated geometries reduces file size, root structure, and memory usage. Transform Variants use the Basic tab values of the Transform dialog. Transform Variants work on most nodes available in the Scenegraph.

Window

Toggles Transform Variants window in the Transform Editor dialog. To always show Transform Variants window in the Transform dialog, set in Preferences > Transform > Transform Editor.

Options

Select the Options slider to display checkboxes that allow you to enable/disable any of the basic transform functions for the variant. For example, disabling the rotation in a transform variant means that the rotation is not applied to the node when the variant is activated. You can change the options for individual or all variants. When a change is made to an option, this notification icon appears on the variant affected. It is displayed even if the options are toggled off. The checkboxes are also displayed in the basic tab next to each function. Variant Options are recommended only for advanced transform variant use and are not required in most situations.

Context Menu
Right-click the node or variants for context menus.
  • Activate: Displays the selected variant by pushing the variant information to the scenegraph node.
  • Move Up: Moves the variant up in the Transform variants dialog.
  • Move Down: Moves the variant down in the Transform variants dialog.
See Scenegraph Edit Menu for the additional definitions.

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