3ds Max® 2009 Bible

Chapter 7. Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Transforming objects

• Controlling transformations with the Transform Gizmos, the Transform Type-Ins, and the Transform Managers

• Working with pivot points and axis constraints

• Aligning objects with the align tools

• Using grids and snapping objects to common points

Although a transformation sounds like something that would happen during the climax of a superhero film, transformation is simply the process of "repositioning" or changing an object's position, rotation, or scale. So moving an object from here to there is a transformation. Superman would be so envious.

Max includes several tools to help in the transformation of objects, including the Transform Gizmos, the Transform Type-In dialog box, and the Transform Managers.

This chapter covers each of these tools and several others that make transformations more automatic, such as the alignment, grid, and snap features.

Translating, Rotating, and Scaling Objects

So you have an object created, and it's just sitting there—sitting and waiting. Waiting for what? Waiting to be transformed. To be moved a little to the left or rotated around to show its good side or scaled down a little smaller. These actions are called transformations because they transform the object to a different state. Transformations are different from modifications. Modifications change the object's geometry, but transformations do not affect the object's geometry at all.

The three different types ...