Basic Transformations

Grab/Move

Reference

Mode: Object Mode, Edit Mode, and Pose Mode
Panel: Tool Shelf ‣ Tools ‣ Transform ‣ Translate
Menu: Object type ‣ Transform ‣ Grab/Move
Hotkey: G

In Object Mode, the grab/move option lets you translate (move) objects. Translation means changing location of objects. It also lets you translate any elements that make up the object within the 3D space of the active 3D View.

Grab/Move works similarly here as it does in the Node Editor, Graph Editor, UV/Image Editor, Sequencer, etc.

Pressing G activates “Grab/Move” transformation mode. The selected object or element then moves freely according to the mouse pointer’s location and camera.

You can also move an object by clicking and holding RMB on the object to move it. To confirm the action, press LMB.

While Grab/Move is active, the amount of change in the X, Y, and Z coordinates is displayed at the bottom left corner of the 3D View editor.

../../../../../_images/editors_3dview_transform_basics_grab_display-values.png

Translation Display.

Tip

Moving an object in Object Mode changes the object’s origin. Moving the object’s vertices/edges/faces in Edit Mode does not change the object’s origin.

Rotate

Reference

Mode: Object and Edit Modes
Panel: Tool Shelf ‣ Tools ‣ Transform ‣ Rotate
Menu: Object/Mesh/Curve/Surface ‣ Transform ‣ Rotate
Hotkey: R

Rotation is also known as a spin, twist, orbit, pivot, revolve, or roll and involves changing the orientation of elements (vertices, edge, face, Object etc) around one or more axes or the Pivot Point.

The angle of rotation will be displayed in the footer of the 3D View editor.

../../../../../_images/editors_3dview_transform_basics_rotate_display-values.png

Rotation values.

Trackball Rotation

A free rotation mode. Press R, R to enable Trackball rotation.

Scale

Reference

Mode: Object and Edit Modes
Panel: Tool Shelf ‣ Tools ‣ Transform ‣ Scale
Menu: Object/Mesh/Curve/Surface ‣ Transform ‣ Scale
Hotkey: S

Scaling means changing proportions of objects. Pressing S will enter the Scale transformation mode where the selected element is scaled inward or outward according to the mouse pointer’s location. The element’s scale will increase as the mouse pointer is moved away from the Pivot Point and decrease as the pointer is moved towards it. If the mouse pointer crosses from the original side of the Pivot Point to the opposite side, the scale will continue in the negative direction and flip the element.

../../../../../_images/editors_3dview_object_transform_basics_scale_basic-usage.png

Basic scale usage. From left to right, the panels show: the original Object, a scaled down Object, a scaled up Object and a scale-flipped Object.

The amount of scaling will be displayed in the footer of the 3D View editor.

../../../../../_images/editors_3dview_transform_basics_scale_display-values.png

Scale values.

Common Options

There are multiple ways to transform an element which include:

Confirm and Cancel

LMB click to accept changes. This behavior can be changed globally by activating Release Confirms in the User Preferences, so that a single RMB drag can be used to move and confirm.

To cancel the transformation press RMB or Esc instead. This will reset the object or element to its original state.

See also

Using combination of shortcuts gives you more control over your transformation. See Transform Control.

Operator Panel

In the case of the 3D View, there is the possibility to tweak the operation once accepted, using the specific Operator panel corresponding to the tool.

Value

The amount of the transformation.

Vector, Angle

Constrain Axis

Used to constraint the transformation to one or more axes.

X, Y, Z

Orientation
Shows the Orientations of the constraint axes.
Proportional Editing, Falloff, Size
Activates/deactivates Proportional Editing and configures the type Falloff and Size of the Proportional Edit tool.
Edit Grease Pencil
ToDo.
Edit Texture Space
This checkbox lets you apply the transformation on the Texture Space, instead of the object or element itself. Only available in translation and scale.
Confirm on Release
Shows if either the operation was drag-and-release or move-and-confirm.

Workflow

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Use RMB to select the elements you want to transform.
  2. Tap G, or R, or S once to enter the transformation mode.
  3. Transform the elements by moving the mouse.
  4. LMB click to accept changes.

Texture Space

Reference

Mode: Object Mode and Edit Mode
Menu: Object ‣ Transform
Hotkey: Shift-T, Shift-Alt-T

Transforms the object Texture Space, which will become visible in the 3D View. Same as if the Edit Texture Space checkbox is enabled.

  • Move Texture Space Shift-T
  • Scale Texture Space Shift-Alt-T