Datasheet
worKinG with objects
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27
As you see, moving an object in 3ds Max is fairly straightforward. But what if you want to
move an object a specific distance or to a known position? The following exercise demonstrates
how this is done.
1. With the box still selected and the Select and Move tool still active, click the Absolute
Mode Transform Type-In button at the bottom of the 3ds Max window, as shown in
Figure 1.23. The tool changes to show that the Offset mode is active.
When the Absolute/Offset Mode Transform Type-In button is in the Absolute mode (up), you
can enter the specific coordinates of the point where you want to move your object. When it’s in
the Offset mode (down), you can enter a relative distance from the object’s current location.
2. Click in the X input box in the coordinate readout and type 10↵. The box moves 10 inches
in the positive X direction.
3. Click and drag the Z-axis coordinate readout spinner up. The box moves vertically.
4. Click the Absolute/Offset Mode Transform Type-In button to switch to Absolute mode.
Then click in the Z-coordinate readout input box and enter 1´↵. The box moves so that its
base is exactly at 1´ for the Z-coordinate.
5. Right-click the X-coordinate readout spinner. Remember that right-clicking a spinner con-
verts the value associated with the spinner to its lowest value, which is 0´0.0˝ in this case.
Notice that the box moves to 0 for the X-coordinate.
6. Right-click the spinners for the Y- and Z-coordinates in the coordinate readout. The box
moves to the center of the screen at the origin (coordinates 0,0,0), as shown in Figure 1.24.
Figure 1.23
(top) Absolute
Mode Transform
Type-In; (bottom)
Offset mode.
Figure 1.24
Moving the box to
the origin
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