Datasheet

Maneuvering in 3D Space 15
by the ends of the tool handles, which are boxes instead of arrows. Just as on the Move
tool, the handles scale in one direction, and the circles scale in two directions (one plane).
Clicking o the handles scales based on the work plane. Because clicking in open space
still scales the object independently, it is usually preferable to use the planar circles and
scale uniformly in two directions. Unlike the Move tool, the Scale tool has another behavior
controlled by the cyan-colored circle at its center. is circle scales the object uniformly
in all directions. e hot key for the Scale tool is R.
e Transform tool is a combination of all three of the other transform tools (Move,
Scale, and Rotate). e question you may ask is, “Why on earth would I use individual
tools when the Transform tool does it all?” e answer is that it really doesn’t do it all.
Although the tool does provide the basic function of the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools,
it lacks several key options. e move portion of the Transform tool does not have pla-
nar handles. e scale portion lacks both planar handles and the uniform scale option.
Because the tool has to act on one axis at a time, it is oen more productive to switch
tools and be able to scale or move in multiple (or all) directions at once. e Transform
tool comes in most handy when making quick adjustments to both movement and rota-
tion. Mostly, this comes down to a matter of personal preference. Try the tools and see
which ones make the most sense to you and allow you to work the most eciently. e
hot key for the Transform tool is Y.
Tools in modo are “sticky” and will remain active until the tool is dropped. A tool can
be dropped by pressing the spacebar, the Q key, or the Esc key. On subsequent presses,
the spacebar will switch modes between vertex, edge, and polygon. e Esc key will (with
additional strokes) clear out the tool pipe. I cover these functions in the next few chapters,
but because the Q key is bound only to dropping a tool, it is oen the rst choice for this
function.
Transform tools applied in vertex, edge, or polygon mode will alter the position of
geometry and cannot be reset with the exception of centering the selection by using the
Center Selected tool (under the transform tools on the le side of the screen). Objects can
be centered on any axis or combination of axes. When transforming objects in Item mode,
the changes are logged under the properties for the mesh layer. e Properties tab at the
bottom-right corner of the screen contains numeric elds for position, scale, and rotation.
Aer a change has been made, it can be adjusted or reset in the numeric elds on this tab.
Practice: Moving Objects
Open the le Transform_Practice.lxo from the included DVD. The file contains six cubes
in individual layers. When in individual layers, each object can be moved separately when
in Item mode.
1. Enter Item mode by clicking the Items button above the viewports (next to Vertices,
Edges, and Polygons).
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