Before you continue this tutorial make sure you already familiar with Blender’s Camera Control and Blender’s Selection Command. All commands in this page can be use to manipulate the whole object while working in Object Mode and also can control even single vertex/edge/face in Edit Mode.
Keep in mind the different between Object Mode and Edit Mode.
In Object Mode : You manipulate the whole object (same way you edit your prim Second Life or Opensim). This mode is useful when you working with multiple object. It help you organise and arrange all objects together.
In Edit Mode : You manipulate the structure of the single object. You could move any vertex/face/edge to form a new shape of 3D object. You could turn a sphere into mighty dragon with your modeling skill.
This tutorial will show all basic manipulate commands which working in both Object and Edit mode.
Screenshot in this tutorial are using Blender 2.49
“G” Key – Move Tool : Right Click to select object in the 3D scene then press “G” on your keyboard to activate Move Tool.Now you can move your mouse around the scene to change location of selected object. When you have the right place to put object in then Left Click to confirm location or Right Click to cancel movement.
While you move object you can hold Ctrl Key to make object Snap to Grid.
“R” Key – Rotate Tool : Have an object selected and press “R” to start rotate object. Press Left Click to confirm rotation or Right Click to cancel.While rotate your object hold Ctrl Key to make object Snap to Grid.
“S” Key – Scale Tool : Working the same way, You select any object then press “S” to use Scale Tool.Move your mouse away from object to rise its size or move your mouse closer to center of object to scale it down. Left Click to confirm or Right Click to cancel.
Hold Ctrl Key to make object Snap to Grid while scaling.
Move/Rotate/Scale along the Axis : When you want to constarin manipulate object in one axis you just press key “X”, “Y” or “Z” after Move Rotate or Scale command. The axis’ direction will appear toward your model and constain object automatic.Example :
Press “G” follow with “X” will Move object along with X Axis.
Press “S” follow with “Z” will Scale object only in Z Axis.
Press “R” follow with “Y” will constarin rotation only Y Axis.
Move/Rotate/Scale accord object’s Orientation : You press “X”, “Y” or “Z” twice follow the Move/Rotate/Scale command to manipulate object accord its orientation.To understand this command you simply add a normal cube, then rotate it randomly. Now select the cube and Press “G” key follow with “Z” key twice. You will see the different between first and second time you press “Z” key.
Move/Rotate/Scale in 2 axis together : If you want to transform object in 2 axis together you need to press “Shift + Axis you don’t need to manipulate” after Move/Rotate/Scale command.So if you want to move in X and Y direction just press “Shift + Z”.
Example :
Press “G” follow with “Shift + X” will Move object along with Y and Z Axis.
Press “S” follow with “Shift + Z” will Scale along with X and Y Axis.
Press “R” follow with “Shift + Y”will constarin rotation along with X and Z Axis.
Move/Rotate/Scale with “Number” key : Move/Rotate/Scale command are able to combine with the Number Key to make exact transformation.You can use “-” (Minus Key) to invert transformation too.
Example :
Press “S” follow with “2″ will Scale object 200%.
Press “S” follow with “0.5″ will Scale object down 50%.
Press “G” , “X” follow with “2″ will Move object forward 2 unit along X axis.
Press “G” , “Y” follow with “-” then “2″ will Move object backward along Y axis 2 unit.
“N” Key – Transform Properties : Select mesh in the scene and press “N” key to call Transform Properties window.Use this windows to manipulate object by click small arrow to decrease or increase value of each axis. Lock Icon is use for hold value unchange when activated.
Tools inside Transform Properties :
LocX = Location in X axis
RotY = Rotation in Y axis
ScaleZ = Scale value in Z axis
DimX = Dimension in X axis
3D Manipulator Tool : This is the tool that look similar in Second Life and Opensim. You control an arm of each tool to manipulate 3D object.Make sure you have object selected then press Ctrl+Spacebar and select what manipulator you want to use. There are 3 options available: Translate, Rotate and Scale if you select Combo it will activate all 3 tools together.
You also can run the 3D Manipulator by click the Hand Icon on the menubar under 3D scene. Use the small triangle/circle/rectangular icon to activate Translate/Rotate/Scale arm. Hold Shift and click more than one icon to activate them together.
Alt + “G”, “R” or “S” – cancel Move/Rotate/Scale command : If you want to abort your last manipulate command just call it combine with “Alt” key and Left click to confirm.Alt + G : Cancel your last Move command.
Alt + R : Cancel your last Rotate command.
Alt + S : Cancel your last Scale command.
“X” Key – Delete Tool : Select any object and press “X” Key or “Delete Key” to erase object out of 3D scene.Pop up windows show up ask you to confirm, Left Click on the sign OK? Erase selected object(s) to confirm delete command.
