The Transform tab allows you to easily and accurately position, size and rotate objects in your model. Click on the Transform tab to bring it to the forefront.
· "Move relative to:" Don't forget to use these radio buttons to specify what your object will move in relation to.
· You can specify the range allowed for any move, rotate, or scale operation. Enter the values in the fields at the right to restrict the range of each operation (move, rotate, scale).
· Constraints can be set in WORLD coordinates only. Once constraints have been specified, objects can be moved, scaled, or rotated in any coordinate system, but only within the world space specified by those constraints.
· The Transform tab also allows you to lock objects in place so they can't be accidentally moved, rotated, or scaled. This feature locks the position, rotation, or scale of the object ONLY; you can still change the object in other ways, such as reshaping, converting it to other object types, applying textures, etc.
When the Move button is selected, the X, Y, and Z coordinates for the selected object appear in the appropriate fields. You can change the position of the object on any or all axes. You can also specify the relative coordinates to which the move applies in the Move relative to field.
You can move the selected object relative to the World (the World grid's 0,0,0 coordinates), the Object, or the active Grid (which may or may not be the World grid). The object's coordinates change to 0,0,0 if you select Object, and as soon as the object moves, its coordinates immediately revert back to 0,0,0. To lock the object into position, check the Lock position settings checkbox.
When the Rotate button is selected, you can rotate the selected object on any axis. Enter the number of degrees in the appropriate fields. You can rotate the object around the center of the World (World grid), the Object's origin point, or the active Grid.
If you select Object, the object's coordinates change to 0,0,0. Then, as soon as the object rotates, the coordinates revert back to 0,0,0 immediately.
If you're rotating an object over time, it is important that each rotation be in increments of LESS than 180 degrees. If you rotate more than this amount, Strata 3D will rotate the object using the shortest path, and the object may not rotate in the direction you intended.
When you select the Scale button, you can scale the selected object on any axis. You can also choose to scale the object by Percentage or by Size in the "Scale by" field.
Place a check in the Lock scale settings checkbox if you want to prevent changing the scale of the object.
To scale the object proportionally, click the Lock icon. When the Lock icon is in its "locked" position and you enter a value in one field, the other fields update to maintain the object's proportions.
Each time you click the Lock icon, it toggles between its locked and unlocked status.