Menu Cells

ScaleX/Y/Z

An object is scaled from its own centre (local). For curves and points, scaling is applied from the global centre (origin). For example, a cube created at a length of 5 and scaled with a factor of 2 has a length of 10. A negative scaling yields an inverted object.

Scaling an Object

2. Select one of the Scaling modes (see Scaling Modes).

3. Choose a way to change the scaling values for the object as described in Changing Values.

Scaling Points

2. Activate the tagged point mode by selecting the TAG manipulation mode (see the Manipulation Modes section).

3. Tag the points you want to scale (press the t Supra key or refer to the Tag commands).

4. Choose the entire ScaleXYZ command or one of its axis cells (ScaleX, ScaleY, or ScaleZ).

5. Choose a way to change the scaling values for the points as described in Changing Values.

Note:

Note that transformations on points are additive only; clicking Set in the Scaling dialogue box has the same effect as Add.

Changing Values

Using the Mouse

• Choose one of the three individual axis cells (ScaleX, ScaleY, or ScaleZ) for a scale to affect only that axis. This configures the mouse buttons so that when you drag the object or points, the:
  • Left mouse button applies a small increment on that axis.

  • Middle mouse button applies a medium increment.

  • Right mouse button applies a large increment.

• Click at the right edge (light grey area) of the Scale menu cells to activate the transformation for all three axes. This configures the mouse so that when you drag the object or points, the:
  • Left mouse button controls scaling in x.

  • Middle mouse button controls scaling in y.

  • Right mouse button controls scaling in z.

Using the Keyboard

• Choose one of the three axis menu cells and directly change the numbers in the text boxes in the menu cell. Doing this has the same effect as when you click Set in the Scaling dialogue box (described next).

• Click in the triangular tab in the upper-left corner of one of the axis menu cells to display the Scaling dialogue box in which you can set transformations numerically.

• Add increases or decreases the scaling by the value in the X, Y, Z text boxes. For example, if the default for X is 1, you change the value to 2 and click Add, 2 is added to the value of 1 so that the result is 3.

• Set sets the scaling to the value you specify in the X, Y, Z text boxes.

Math Operations

If you have the Multi menu cell selected, the math operation is added to each object's current values, which has the same effect as when you click Add in the Scaling dialogue box. For example, if two objects are selected (one with a scaling value of 45, the other with 90), the number in the Scale text box is displayed with a "d" at the beginning to show that the values for the two objects are different. If you add +45 to the end of the menu cell's value, the first model changes to 90 and the second to 135. This is different than if you specify 90 in the Scaling text box, which would make both objects have a scale of 90 units.

Note:

If you delete the number currently displayed and replace it with another, all objects are set to that value.

Scaling Modes

XYZ

The mouse movements are configured so that the left mouse button scales along the x-axis, the middle mouse button scales along the y-axis, and the right mouse button scales along the z-axis.

UNI

The left mouse button scales slowly, the middle mouse button scales at a moderate speed, and the right mouse button scales quickly.

VOL

The left mouse button scales along the x-axis, the middle mouse button scales along the y-axis, and the right mouse button scales along the z-axis.