Datasheet

CHAPTER 1 GETTING TO KNOW VIZ

4. Click the box. A graphic displays, showing the X, Y, and Z orientation of the box in relation

to the viewport. Also notice that marks like 3D corner marks appear at the corners of the box.

These are called selection brackets, and they indicate graphically the objects that are selected.

With the box selected, you can go to the Modify tab of the command panel and edit its properties,

or you can use any number of other editing tools to affect the box.

Let’s continue by looking at one of the more basic editing tools you’ll use—the Select and Move tool.

1. Click the Select and Move tool in the Main toolbar. Notice that the graphics indicating the

box selection change and new ones appear.

2. Place the cursor on the box. It changes into the Select and Move icon.

3. Click the box if it isn’t still selected. A graphic known as the Move Transform gizmo appears,

showing the X, Y, and Z orientation of the box in relation to the viewport. Selection brackets

also appear at the corners of the box.

4. Place the cursor on the blue Z axis handle of the Move Transform gizmo; the blue arrow rep-

resents the Z axis. Notice that the Z axis label highlights in yellow and the X axis label turns

back to red. When you move the cursor away from the Z axis, the X axis is highlighted again

and the Z axis returns to blue.

The yellow highlighting shows you which axis is currently active. The Y axis is the default

constraint direction. If the Constraints toolbar is still open, you’ll see that the Y axis button

is selected. As you’ve seen in this step, you can select an axis to constrain just by placing your

cursor on the axis coordinate arrow.

5. Place the cursor on the XY plane handle, the square that joins the X and Y handles of the

Move gizmo. Notice that the XY plane handle highlights in yellow. Click and drag the box

on the grid. The box now moves in the XY plane. When you click and drag the X arrow,

movement is constrained along the X axis only.

44824c01.fm Page 22 Wednesday, August 29, 2007 4:43 PM