Translating 3D Objects

In Foxel, translating 3D objects allows you to move them within the 3D space. You can achieve this through three methods: by changing the position values in the Inspector, using a dialog box, or employing the Move Tool. Each method provides a different approach to reposition your objects, giving you flexibility in your design process.

Translating via Inspector

You can adjust the translate values of an object directly in the Inspector. The translate properties are defined in local space, meaning they are relative to the object's parent in the hierarchy. When multiple objects are selected and the translate values are modified in the Inspector, all selected objects will be updated simultaneously, ensuring uniformity in their placement.

Translating via Dialog Box

To translate objects using the dialog box, follow these steps:

1. Select the object(s) you wish to move.
2. Navigate to Object > Transform > Translate.
3. Enter the desired offset values in the Translate Dialog Box and click OK to apply the changes.

🔺 Figure 1: Translate Dialog Box

Translate Dialog Options

In the dialog box, you will find several options to customize your translation:

• Offset: Enter the desired offset values (X, Y, Z) to move your object(s) from their current position.
• Space: Choose the transformation space for the translation. You can select either:
  • Local: Moves the object(s) based on their local axes.
  • World: Moves the object(s) based on the global axes.
• Translate as Group: If this option is checked, all selected objects will move together from the selection center, automatically using world space for the translation. If unchecked, each object will move independently based on the selected pivot.

Translating with the Move Tool

The Move Tool provides an interactive way to reposition objects in your scene. To use the Move Tool, follow these steps:

1. Activate the Move Tool.
2. Select the object(s) you wish to move. This can be done directly using the Move Tool.
3. Use the gizmo handles to move the object(s) along the selected axis or drag the center handle to move the object(s) freely in all directions.

Important Note

The Move Tool can also be used to move selected voxels from a voxel grid. If voxels are selected, they will be moved instead of the object itself. Therefore, make sure to deselect voxels if you want to move the object instead. For more information, see Translating Voxel Grids.

Snapping Object Positions

While moving objects with the Move Tool, you can snap the position to certain points in the scene. To snap object positions:

1. Hold down Shift while using the gizmo to enable snapping. This will highlight the snap points.
2. Drag the cursor to a snap point.
3. Release the mouse button to snap to that position.

Move Tool Options

Before moving, you can set the following options from the Tool Options Bar:

• Transformation Space: Choose between local or world space for the movement.
• Pivot Mode: Select the pivot point for the movement, either object center or object pivot.
• Rounding Position: Enable this option to round the position property values after releasing the mouse button.
• Snap Mode: Choose between two snapping modes:
  • Snap to Bounding Box: Snap points are placed at the corners of the bounding boxes of the objects in the scene.
  • Snap to Base Grid: Snap points are placed at the intersections of the grid.