2016
Chapter 1: Learning the Maya Interface
26
FIGURE 1-36
Universal Manipulator tool
Understanding Manipulators
Each of the transform manipulators has color-coded components that will let you constrain a transform to a
single axis—red is for the X-axis, green is for the Y-axis, and blue is for the Z-axis, as shown in Figure 1-37.
The selected manipulator axis will turn yellow and dragging will transform the object along the selected axis.
FIGURE 1-37
Transform Manipulators
There are many other manipulators besides the transform manipulators. For example, when a spot light object is
selected, you can enable a manipulator that lets you alter its light properties such as its falloff cone, direction
and intensity by dragging in the view. Object manipulators are made active by clicking on the Show
Manipulator button in the Toolbox.
Beneath the Show Manipulator Tool button in the Toolbox is another button that holds the last tool that was
used. Remember that any menu item or button that includes the word Tool in its name will remain active until
another tool is selected and will appear at the bottom of the Toolbox.
Note
The last slot in the Toolbox is reserved for tools selected from the
menus. The Toolbox tools will not occupy this slot.