Transforming objects with the 3D dragger

The Edit Subdivision tool, Reshape tool, and Selection tool provide access to a 3D dragger that allows you to perform a variety of free-form modeling operations on certain 3D objects, including subdivisions, 3D polygons, NURBS curves, and NURBS surfaces. The 3D dragger's operation and behavior remain consistent for most tools and object types, but with the Selection tool, the 3D dragger is used to move or reposition most selected objects, rather than to manipulate vertices and reshape objects.

When a tool that uses the 3D dragger is selected, the following additional submodes are available for Transform mode, or for any of the primary move modes available for reshaping a NURBS surface.

Mode

Description

Translate and Rotate

Translate and Rotate mode

Activates the Translate and Rotate 3D dragger with linear, planar, and rotational handles to reshape the object by moving vertices or subdivision cage mesh entities, or to move an object according to the controls; see Translating and rotating objects with the 3D dragger

Scale

Scale mode

(not available for the Selection tool)

Activates the Scale 3D dragger with linear and planar handles that reshape a section of the object by scaling vertices or subdivision cage mesh entities; see Scaling objects with the 3D dragger

Re-position

Re-position mode

Repositions the 3D dragger without affecting the selected object; see Repositioning the 3D dragger.

Because free-form movements are performed relative to the 3D dragger's center, some operations can only be completed if the 3D dragger is repositioned away from a selected entity.

Align to Object

Keeps the 3D dragger aligned to the object being manipulated

Align to Working Plane

Align to Working Plane mode

Keeps the 3D dragger aligned to the working plane; see Concept: Working planes

The 3D dragger's linear, rotational, and planar controls

Modeling subdivision objects

Reshaping 3D polygons

Reshaping NURBS curves

Reshaping NURBS surfaces

Reshaping objects

 

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