Datasheet

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CHAPTER 1 GettinG to Know 3ds Max desiGn 2010
Now, take a look at the coordinate readout. The values you see are percentages of scale. When
the Absolute/Offset Mode Transform Type-In button is in the Absolute position (up), the values
are percentages of the original size of the object. When it’s in the Offset position (down), the
values are the scale in relation to the current size, and are immediately reset to 100 percent when
you release the mouse button.
How 3ds Max Sees the Scale Transform
Look at the box’s Length, Width, and Height values in the Parameters rollout in the Command panel.
They all read 5´0.0˝ even though the box has been scaled. This is an important indicator as to how
3ds Max handles object data. For example, if you have a box that is 1 unit long on each side and then
scale it to twice its size, 3ds Max does not now see this as a box that is 2 units on each side; it sees
it as a 1-unit box with a 200 percent scale factor applied.
1. With the Absolute/Offset Mode Transform Type-In tool in the Absolute position, click
and drag the Z spinner up. Notice that the box grows in the Z-axis.
2. Right-click the Y-axis spinner. The box distorts to a 0 value in the Y-axis.
3. Click in the X value input box and enter 100↵. The box’s X value is restored to its original
size.
4. Press the Tab key to move to the Y value input box and enter 100↵.
5. Press Tab again to move to the Z input box and enter 75↵. The box is now slightly shorter
than it is wide and long.
The Select and Scale tool works in a slightly different way from the other two Transform
tools. For one thing, a zero value in the coordinate readout doesn’t return the selected object to
Figure 1.27
Using the Non-uni-
form Scale trans-
form on the box
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