Doc:Tutorials/Animation/BSoD/Character Animation/Transforms

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[edit] Transforms

There are three primary ways in which you can manipulate objects and vertices in Blender:

1. Move
2. Rotate
3. Scale

Collectively, these actions are known as transforms. You have to make a selection before you do a transform. A transform can be done:

• in Object Mode on one or more objects
• in Edit Mode on one or more vertices

Since doing transforms is so common, there are several different ways to do them:

1. hotkeys
2. Transform Widget
3. mouse gestures

Feel free to choose your favorite way, each is described below. Personally I tend to use a combination: hotkeys most of the time, and use the grab mouse gesture for moving single vertices around.

Here's some information you need before getting into these examples:

• Each Object has three axes (X, Y, and Z). These are called the local axes.
• The whole 3D scene as a separate set of three axes (X, Y, and Z). These are called the global axes.
• You cannot scale or rotate a single vertex. A vertex is a one-dimensional point, so it can't get any bigger or smaller, and it has no orientation so it can't be rotated.

[edit] Transforms using HotKeys

The workflow for hotkey transforms is straightforward:

1. Select items to transform

Typically, these transforms are done very quickly - to move something, you'd use  RMB -G- LMB in rapid succession, taking less than a second to complete.

[edit] Grab

[edit] Basic Grab

G

• Select one or more objects OR one or more vertices.
• G to enter Grab Mode
• Move the mouse
•  LMB to confirm the move,  RMB or ESC to cancel

[edit] Constrained Grab

• Select one or more objects OR one or more vertices.
• G to enter Grab Mode
• Press one of the following to move the selection along that axis: X, Y, or Z.
•  LMB to confirm the move,  RMB or ESC to cancel

[edit] Rotate

• In Object Mode, select the cube  RMB
• R to enter Rotate Mode
• Move the mouse
•  LMB to confirm the rotation,  RMB or ESC to cancel

[edit] Scale

• In Object Mode, select the cube  RMB
• S to enter Scale Mode
• Move the mouse
•  LMB to confirm the scaling,  RMB or ESC to cancel

Here's how to constrain a grab:

• Select the cube with  RMB
• Enter Grab Mode with G.
• While still in Grab Mode, press one of the following: X, Y, Z.

Notice that the directions you can move or rotate depend on what view you are in. This is described more fully below.

[edit] Transforms using the Widget

[edit] Transforms using Mouse Gestures

[edit] OLD VERSION is below

[edit] Transforming Objects

Now let's transform the cube. "Transform" is used here in the geometrical sense: to move, scale, or rotate the object.

[edit] Grab

[edit] Grab using Hotkeys

• Select the cube mesh with  RMB .
• Press G to enter Grab Mode. The pink outline will turn white, indicating you are in a transform mode.
• Move the mouse around to move the mesh.
•  LMB to confirm the move,  RMB or ESC to cancel the move.

See Manual/Grab for more detailed information, including constrained and precise grabs.

[edit] Grab with the Transform Widget

If you'd prefer, you can use the Transform Widget to Grab.

• Make sure the Widget is in Grab Mode by clicking the red triangle in the buttons directly below the 3D Window, or by
• Select the cube mesh with  RMB .
• Hover the mouse over one of the colored arrows in the Transform Widget and click  LMB .
• Move the mouse.
  • The cube only moves along a single axis. That axis is determined by which arrow you clicked on.
  • You can see a dark gray circle/arrow where the object was before the move, and a light gray circle/arrow showing where the object is during the move.
• As always,  LMB to confirm,  RMB or ESC to cancel.
• If you want to move the cube along more than one axis, click on the central white circle of the Transform Widget instead of an arrow.

[edit] Scale

[edit] Scale using Hotkeys

• Select the cube mesh with  RMB .
• Press S to enter Scale Mode. The pink outline will turn white, indicating you are in a transform mode.
• Move the mouse around to scale the mesh.
  • Note: The closer your mouse cursor is to the center of the object, the more of an effect your mouse movements will have. To fine-tune, make sure your mouse is far away from the cube center.
•  LMB to confirm the move,  RMB or ESC to cancel the move.

See Manual/Scale for more detailed information, including constrained and precise scaling.

[edit] Scale with the Transform Widget

If you'd prefer, you can use the Transform Widget to Scale.

• Make sure the Widget is in Scale Mode by clicking the blue square in the buttons directly below the 3D Window, or with the hotkey Ctrl Alt S.
• Select the cube mesh with  RMB .
• Hover the mouse over one of the colored boxes on the Transform Widget and click  LMB .
• Move the mouse.
  • The cube only is scaled along a single axis. That axis is determined by which arrow you clicked on.
  • You can see a dark gray circle/box where the object was before the move, and a light gray circle/box showing where the object is during the move.
• As always,  LMB to confirm,  RMB or ESC to cancel.
• If you want to scale the cube along all axes, click on the central white circle of the Transform Widget instead of a colored box.