The polygon editor’s Move Tool Group consists of the Move Element Tool, the Move Normal Tool, and the Slide Element tool (edge mode only). Design 3D controls the movement of elements (polygons, edges, vertices) using different ‘constraint’ modes. These are active grids, guides, geometry ‘normals’ and sliding. The listing below shows how the 3 tools in the Move Tool Group operate relative to these constraints in order to precisely manipulate geometry.
Movement for any element (polygon, edge, vertex) is;
1. Free form, parallel to the active grid (default behavior)
2. Along a standard axis;
3. Perpendicular to the active grid;
4. Along a custom guide/axis;
5. Geometric ‘normal’ relative;
6. Slide (edge mode only)
1. Free form, parallel to the active grid (default behavior)
2. Along a standard axis;
3. Perpendicular to the active grid;
4. Along a custom guide/axis;
5. Geometric ‘normal’ relative;
6. Slide (edge mode only)
Tools are organized into tool groups. Each tool within the tool group can have its own key, but can be cycled to via a ‘tool group’ key. By default, the M key cycles the tool group, but also activates the current tool within the group when another tool is currently active. This includes Slide, even though its direct key is Shift+S.
Move Element
Tool
Move Normal
Tool
Slide Element
Tool
Move Element Tool
1. Free Form, Parallel to Active Grid
By default, moving selected elements will always take place relative (parallel) to the active grid. Put another way, free form movement will always move elements parallel to the active grid. If the elements are 10 meters above the active grid, free form movement will maintain that 10 meter distance but otherwise movement is unconstrained.
Holding the shift key after selected elements are moved will cause movement to be constrained to 45° angles (based on the active grid).
Moving a vertex without any constraint modifier results in movement parallel to the active grid, but not away from the grid in a perpendicular direction.
Shift constrains movement to every 45° angles, relative to the active grid.
2. Along a standard axis
It’s also possible to move selected elements along a standard axis, independent of the active grid. To move along the:
X axis, hold Shift+X
|
Y axis, hold Shift+C
|
Z axis, hold Shift+Z
|
Y axis, hold Shift+C
|
Z axis, hold Shift+Z
Note that when guide activators are held, a guide appears both at the center of the grid, and also in icon form in the world trident.
Shift + C moves the elements along the Y axis even though the active grid is set to X.
Shift + Z moves the elements along the Z axis even though the active grid is set to X.
3. Perpendicular to Grid
To move elements perpendicular to the active grid, tap or hold in unison the Command + Shift keys. The Command key equivalent on the PC is the Control key.
Once the perpendicular to grid constraint is on, switching to another active grid will maintain this guide constraint but applied to the new grid. For instance, if the X grid is active, and the perpendicular to grid guide is active, switching to the Y grid will result in a guide that is now perpendicular to the Y grid which allows for items to be moved along the Y axis.
Shift + Command (Control on PC) moves the elements perpendicular to the active Y grid.
Shift + Command (Control on PC) moves the elements perpendicular to the active Z grid.
4. Along Custom Guide/Axis
Using the Guide tool, a custom axis can be defined based on geometry. Selected elements are then moved along the direction of that guide. Guides can be saved and adjusted numerically in the Project Window. To enable or disable a custom guide, press the Semi-colon key.
Semicolon key activates and deactivates a custom guide. It can be set via the Guide tool
Move Normal Tool
5. Along Selection Normal
In some cases the desired movement direction is along an element’s ‘normal’. A surface normal is direction perpendicular (90°) to a surface.
Polygons, edges, and points each have normals. In fact bezier surfaces also have normals which can be generated for any point on its mathematically defined contour.
To move an element along its normal, select the Move Normal Tool. Or hold the Command(Ctrl) key while the Move Element Tool is active. This temporarily toggles to the ‘Move Normal’ tool.
NOTE: The Command key equivalent on the PC is the Control key.
Polygons moved along their individual normal directions with the Move Normal tool.
Edges moved along their individual normal directions with the Move Normal tool.
Vertices moved along their individual normal directions with the Move Normal tool.
Slide Element Tool
6. Slide (Edge Mode only)
Slide is a highly useful move operation which allows for the shifting of an edge or edges along an existing set of connecting edges.
The Slide function can be invoked by selecting the tool from the Move Tools group. Or it can be invoked by holding Shift+S.
Original selected edge loop (top). Move the mouse left to right to slide. (bottom)
Original selected edge loop (top). Move the mouse left to right to slide. (bottom)
