Scale works with reference points in this way to make it possible to snap points on to strategic areas to calculate scaling measured to existing objects. If you move the second reference point closer to the scale origin than the first reference point, the object will become smaller: If you move the second reference point further away from the scale origin than the first reference point, the object will become larger: Then the final reference point determines the scale factor, comparing its distance with the first distance.
Often times the first reference point may be snapped on to the perimeter of the object away from the scale origin: In this case the opposite corner of the rectangle was picked. In a certain sense this point will calibrate the scale and set the distance that will correspond to a scale factor of 1. Įxample of scaling a rectangle using the mouse to set the scale factor:Īfter selecting the rectangle and running Scale, pick the center point for the scale, in this case the corner of the rectangle: For example, if the second point is twice as far away from the origin as the first point, the scale factor will be 2.0. The relative distances of these points from the scale origin determines the scale factor. You can set the scale factor using the mouse by picking 2 additional reference points. So for example:Ġ.5 will shrink the object to one-half the original size,Ġ.1 will shrink the object to one-tenth the original size, When entering in a number for the scale factor, 1 represents no scaling. After you have picked the origin for the scale you can then either type in a number for the scale factor, or you can use the mouse to pick a scale factor. This will be the fixed point which the objects will scale around. To scale objects, first select the objects then run the Scale command. This type of scaling is sometimes called a "Uniform" or "3D" scale since it scales equally in all axis directions. The rotation axis works as kind of a hinge and the objects pivot around that hinge. Then 30 was entered for the angle, resulting in the polygon rotating up from the x/y plane by 30 degrees: The second axis point is picked at the other end of the polygon's edge: Then you can enter a numeric angle to rotate by, or use the mouse in the same way as 2D rotate, with 2 reference arms tracking out from the first point of the axis.Īn example of rotating a polygon up 30 degrees from the x/y plane around one of its own edges:Īfter selecting the polygon and running Rotate Axis, the first axis point is picked at one corner of the polygon: The operation is similar to 2D rotate, except instead of a center point you pick 2 points to make an axis line. It can be used to rotate around an arbitrary direction that is not aligned with any grid. Rotate axis allows you to pick 2 points to define an axis line to rotate around. The regular Rotate command operates in a 2D fashion relative to the grid. You can check the "Make copies" button or hold down the Ctrl key when clicking the last point to drop rotated copies of the object. Here's an example showing how the points can be snapped to calculate a precise rotation relative to existing objects, in this case snapping on to the corners of the rectangle, with the center of rotation off to the left side: The object will rotate by the angle between the 2 reference lines: This sets the ending point for the angle. This sets the starting point for the angle:įinally, the second angle reference point is placed off to the top snapped on to the y axis. Next, the first angle reference point is placed off to the right snapped to the x axis. The angle is specified using these 2 clicks so that it is possible to snap on to existing objects to calculate a precise rotation.Įxample of rotating a rectangle 90 degrees using the mouse:Īfter selecting the rectangle and running Rotate, pick the center point for the rotation, in this case the center of the rectangle: The angle between these 2 arms will be the angle of rotation. To use the mouse you pick 2 additional points that act as arms or handles coming out from the center point. After you have picked the center of rotation you can then either type in a number for the angle to rotate by, or you can use the mouse to pick an angle. Next pick a center point for the rotation.
To rotate objects, first select the objects and then run the Rotate command.