Datasheet

WORKING WITH OBJECTS

Rotating and Scaling Objects

Besides the Move tool, the transform tools also include the Rotate and Scale tools. Try the following

set of exercises to see how these tools work.

1. With the box selected, click the Select and Rotate tool in the Main toolbar. A graphic known

as the Rotate Transform gizmo, a kind of virtual trackball, displays, showing rings for rota-

tion about the X, Y, and Z axes.

2. Place the cursor on the red ring that circumscribes the X axis. Notice that the ring is high-

lighted in yellow. Click and drag the X axis ring up. The box rotates about the X axis. A tan-

gent indicator arrow will appear, indicating the direction of rotation, and a transparent red

slice along with a text tooltip will appear, displaying the amount of rotation.

Make sure the Absolute/Offset Mode Transform Type-In button is in the Absolute mode

and look at the coordinate readout. Notice that the X value is not zero, because you rotated

it in step 2. It now shows a number of degrees.

3. Right-click the X spinner in the coordinate readout to set the X value rotation back to zero.

Notice that the box snaps back to its original orientation.

The Select and Rotate tool’s methods are the same as those for the Select and Move tool. You can

rotate an object graphically by clicking and dragging the object, or, with an object selected, you can enter

Accessing the Transform Type-In Dialog Boxes

If you are used to earlier versions of VIZ, you can still use the floating Transform Type-In dialog boxes

that appear when you right-click the Select and Move, Rotate, and Scale tools.

Using the Transforms from the Quad Menu

You can also activate the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools by right-clicking on an object and selecting

Move, Rotate, or Scale from the transform section of the quad menu that appears. You can access the

Transform Type-In dialog boxes by clicking the icon to the right of the transforms listed.

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