Transform CV

Transform

Choose the kind of transformation you want to apply to the selected CVs and hulls:

• Move – This tool lets you move CVs relative to their curve or surface, along a given vector or reference plane, in the plane of the current view, or in the X, Y, or Z direction.

• Rotate – This tool behaves like the Transform tool of the same name, rotating CVs around the object’s rotation pivot point.

• Scale – This tool behaves like the Transform tool of the same name, scaling CVs proportionally along all 3 axes, with respect to the object’s scaling pivot point.

• Non-p scale – This tool behaves like the Transform tool of the same name, scaling CVs by different amounts along each axis, with respect to the object’s scaling pivot point.

• Pivot – This tool behaves like the Transform tool of the same name, positioning the object’s pivot points. It uses the options from Set Pivot to determine which pivot(s) to move (Rotation, Scaling, or both).

• Prop mod – This tool behaves in a way similar way to Proportional mod tool but its interface is more intuitive and easily allows experimentation with falloff values. When Transform is set to Prop mod, a Falloff window displays allowing you to set falloff values in the U and V directions.

Mode

When Transform is set to Move or Prop mod, additional Mode options are available.

• XYZ – Moves CVs along the X, Y, Z world axes. The mouse buttons operate the same as in the Transform > Move (or Transform > Modify > Proportional mod) tool.
• VIEW – (applies to Move only) Moves CVs in the plane of the current view.
  • = Unconstrained movement in the current plane defined by the direction of the view.
  • = Movement constrained to the horizontal axis of the screen.
  • = Movement constrained to the vertical axis of the screen.
• PARA – (applies to Move only) Moves CVs parallel to a vector or hull line without snapping to it.
• PROJ – (applies to Move only) Moves CVs in the direction of a hull line, a vector, or constrains the movement to a reference plane.
• SLIDE – Moves CVs along their respective hull. For Prop mod, the arrows only appear around the primary CV.
• NUV – Moves CVs along the normal, or in the U or V direction on a surface, using the left, middle and right mouse buttons respectively.
• ROT – (applies to Prop mode only) Rotates CVs relative to their proximity to a center "master" CV.
• NPSCL – (applies to Prop mode only) Non-proportionally scales CVs relative to their proximity to a center "master" CV.

After selection a Transform type, from drop-down menu choose what you want to move with the tool.
Note: These options does not appear when Transform is set to Prop mod since this tool only affects CVs.

• FACE, EDGE, CV – Lets you select and move individual faces, edges, or CVs. Hold down the Shiftkey to select more than one CV while within the tool.
• HULL – Lets you select a hull line as a way of selecting and moving all CVs on that hull line at once. You can still add other hull lines to your selection by holding down the Shift key.

Mouse Sensitivity

Controls the effect that dragging the mouse has on CV movement. The slider values range from 1 to 100 (but values larger than 100 can be typed in the number field). This number represents the ratio between the distance the cursor moves and the distance the CV moves, on the screen.

The default of 1 means that a CV moves the same distance as the mouse cursor. A value of 2 means that the CV moves half the distance of the cursor, and so on. The higher the sensitivity value, the smaller the effect that the mouse movement has on the CV.

Below the slider are four preset buttons labelled 1, 5, 10, and 50. Click one of these buttons to quickly set the sensitivity value. You can modify those preset values by using the slider after selecting them.

Step size

Select this option if you want to move the CV in increments of a given size, for example 10.0 units. Enter the step size value in the field.

When clicking and releasing the mouse in a given location, the CV jumps by the chosen step size (in linear units) in the direction of the mouse click. The step size is also applied when using the arrow keys, but not when dragging the mouse (see Mouse Sensitivity above).

Lock step size

This option only appears when Step size is checked.

When Lock step size is checked, you cannot move selected CVs by dragging the mouse. You can move them only by clicking or using the arrow keys on the keyboard.

Pick Box Size

This slider increases the size of the selection area, making CVs easier to pick. The drawing of the cursor remains unchanged.

The default size is 4, meaning a pick box that is 4 pixels wide by 4 pixels high, centered on the CV. Clicking anywhere within this box selects the CV. Pick box size can be increased up to a value of 32 pixels.

Proxy Display

Select this option to display a green proxy of the original hull after the transformation. The proxy helps you visualize how much the surface has changed during the transformation.

Use Sel Sets

Select this option if the CVs you want to translate are members of a selection set (see Selection Sets Lister).

When the Transform CV tool is selected, holding down the space bar displays an in-canvas interface under the cursor.

The transform tools are available in the horizontal ribbon, and the different modes that apply to the selected tool are displayed on the wheel. The center spot is divided into two halves: CV and Hull. The check box options appear on the sides, while the sliders and buttons are at the bottom. Roll-over an icon to see a description of what it does.

How to use the Transform CV puck interface

1. Choose the tool.

2. Press and hold down the space bar.

   The puck interface appears

3. Click on a tool (on the ribbon) to select it.

4. Click on a mode (if available on the wheel) to select it.

5. Click on the CV or Hull icon, depending on what you want to manipulate.

6. Release the space bar.

   The puck interface disappears.

7. Pick the CV(s) or hull(s) and drag. If the CVs are not visible, clicking on a curve or surface displays them.

   Note: If the CVs you want to transform are part of a selection set, turn on Use Sel Sets.

8. To adjust the pick box size, or mouse sensitivity, hold down the space bar to bring back the hotspot interface, and adjust the sliders.

How to move CVs along or parallel to an arbitrary vector, relative to their curve or surface, or in relation to a specific point.

Move CVs along, or parallel to, an arbitrary vector

1. Shift-select the Transform CV tool.

2. In the Transform CV window:

   • Choose Move from the Transform list.
   • Choose PROJ from the Mode list to snap to a vector and move along it, or choose PARA to move parallel to a vector without snapping to it.

3. Pick the CV or CVs you want to move. To select additional CVs, hold Shiftand click them.

   

4. Press a mouse button on a hull line, reference vector, or reference plane and drag to constrain the CV movement.

   

   Using PROJ mode to move a CV along a vector

Move CVs relative to their curve or surface

1. Shift-select the Transform CV tool.

2. In the Transform CV window:

   • Choose Move from the Transform list.
   • Choose NUV from the Mode list.

3. Pick the CVs you want to move. To select additional CVs, hold Shiftand click them.

   

4. Drag a mouse button to move the CVs:

   • Drag the to move along the normal.

   • Drag the to move along the U direction.

   • Drag the to move along the V direction of a surface.

     

     Moving four CVs along the surface normals.

Move CVs along their hulls

1. Shift-select the Transform CV tool.

2. In the Transform CV window:

   • Choose Move from the Transform list.
   • Choose SLIDE from the Mode list.

3. Click the CV you want to move. To select additional CVs, hold 'Shift' and click them.

   

4. Click the arrow on the hull you want to move the CVs along, then drag to move the CVs.

How to move (in space, or relative to the geometry), scale, or rotate multiple CVs at once, with the amount of transformation relative to the CVs distance from the primary CV you click.

1. Shift-select the Transform CV tool.

2. In the Transform CV window choose Prop mod from the Transform list.

3. Choose a mode from the Mode list.

   

4. Select the primary CV. All other CVs will move with respect to this CV.

   Note: If the CVs are not visible, click on the object and they will be displayed automatically.

   A green jack locator apears on the CV, and eight blue arrows appear around it.

   

5. Select the range of CVs that you want to transform, by doing one of the following:

   • Click on the blue arrows to select/deselect rows of CVs.

   • Hold down the Shiftkey, and click on a CV (or box-select) to select/deselect additional rows.

     A numeric label shows how many rows of CVs have been selected in each direction. Selecting and deselecting CVs always maintains a "rectangular" selection.

     

6. In the Falloff window, adjust the falloff values in the U and V direction. By default the sliders are synchronized. To decouple them, click the chain link icon.

   

7. Drag to transform the CVs. The mouse buttons operate in the same way as for the Move transformation.

   

   Set Transform to Pivot if you need to move the pivot before rotating or scaling CVs. The options from Transform Local Set Pivot are used to determine which pivot(s) to move (Rotation, Scaling, or both).

8. Modify the falloff values, mode, range of CVs, or even the primary CV itself. The other parameters are maintained. You can even change the Transform option and come back to Prop Mod without losing your settings.

   Note: All with all other Transform CV applications, Mouse Sensitivity and Step Size can be used with this Prop Mod tool.

Specify the selection range

You must first select the primary CV by clicking on it. The primary CV defines the point from which falloff is calculated and applied to the range of CVs. It is indicated by a green jack locator.

If only one CV is selected when the Prop Mod tool is invoked, it becomes the primary CV.

Small blue arrows appear around the primary CV, allowing you to select/deselect additional rows of CVs to define the range that will be affected by Prop Mod.

• Click an outward pointing arrow to add CVs to the range in the given direction.
• Click an inward pointing arrow to remove CVs from the range in the given direction.

If you keep the mouse button depressed, rows of CVs are continuously added/removed to/from the selection. if you click and release, rows are added/removed one at a time.

A numeric label shows how many rows of CVs have been selected for each direction.

Selecting and de-selecting CVs always maintains a “rectangular” selection.

Instead of using the blue arrows, you can also select the range of CVs by holding down the Shift key, and:

• Box selecting the entire range.
• Selecting the CVs at the extent of the range. The intermediate CVs are added to the range.
• Selecting already selected CVs to de-select them along with all CVs on the same hull lines and those further away.

Adjust the falloff values

The falloff window appears as soon as the Prop Mod tool is selected.

As with the Proportional tool, we use a range-based modification. When Falloff Type is set to UV, the falloff is calculated by counting the number of CVs from the primary CV. The greater the number of CVs between the primary CV and the boundary of the defined region, the less effect the transformation has on each CV. When Falloff Type is set to Dist, the falloff is calculated based on the distance from the primary CV.

By default the U and V falloff sliders move in sync. To decouple them, click the chain link icon on the right hand side of the window. A value of 0.0 means that all CVs move by the same amount. A value of 1.0 (default) corresponds to a linear falloff. The higher the falloff value, the less effect the movement of the primary CV has on the surrounding CVs.

Changing the falloff values automatically causes the last Prop Mod transformation to update to the new falloff values.

The slider settings are maintained between applications of the tool.

The Prop Mod arrows take priority over the number boxes.

Apply Prop Mod across multiple surfaces

Under certain conditions, it is possible to select CVs on surfaces adjacent to the surface containing the primary CV and apply the modification across several surfaces:

• The surfaces must share an edge along its full length.
• Adjacent CVs must match (within G0 continuity tolerance).

Examples

In Figure A below, you can only select CVs across adjacent surfaces in a single direction.

In Figure B, the surfaces form a rectangular grid, allowing you to expand the selection to adjacent surfaces in both directions.

Figure A: Four adjacent surfaces.

Figure B: Six adjacent surfaces forming a rectangular grid.