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Move, rotate & scale

The three transform tools, world vs local space, where the pivot sits, snapping to a grid, and typing exact numbers.

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Every object is positioned with three tools — Move, Rotate, and Scale — that you drive with an on-screen gizmo (the colored handles on the selected object).

Switching tools

ToolKeyWhat it does
MoveWDrag an arrow to slide along that axis.
RotateEDrag a ring to spin around that axis.
ScaleRDrag a handle to resize.

You can also switch in the Transform menu or the Tools rail. The active tool shows in the menu title and the status bar.

World vs local space

In the Transform menu, toggle Space ▸ Local / World. Local aligns the gizmo to the object's own orientation (handy after you've rotated something); World aligns it to the world axes. If a move ever seems to go "the wrong way," check which space you're in.

The pivot

The pivot is the point an object rotates and scales around. Two ways to set it:

  • Center pivot — Transform menu ▸ Center pivot recenters it on the object.
  • Manual pivot — the Properties panel has a Pivot X/Y/Z field for offsetting the center deliberately, perfect for off-center spins and hinges (think a door swinging on its edge).

Snapping

Snapping is off by default. Toggle it with the S key (or the status-bar Snap button). When it's on, transforms jump in fixed increments:

Move — 0.5 m Rotate — 15° Scale — 0.1×

All three increments are adjustable in Settings ▸ Transform Snap, which also has quick presets (0.1 / 0.25 / 0.5 / 1 m and 5 / 15 / 45 / 90°). Your snap on/off state and increments are remembered across sessions, so once you set them the way you like they stay put.

Right-click a tool for its snap settings On desktop, right-click the Move, Rotate, or Scale button in the Tools rail to pop a menu scoped to that tool: snap on/off, a few increment presets for that mode (Move 0.25 / 0.5 / 1 m · Rotate 5 / 15 / 45° · Scale 0.1 / 0.25 / 0.5), the Local / World space toggle, and an Open Transform Settings… shortcut into the full Settings group — so you never have to leave the viewport to retune a snap.

Typing exact values

For precision, type straight into the Position, Rotation, Scale, and Pivot fields in Properties. In any number field:

  • / nudge the value.
  • Shift+/ step ×10; Alt+/ step ×0.1.
  • Each field has a ↺ reset button, and Rotation has a degrees / radians toggle.

A burst of typing in one field collapses into a single Undo step.

Spotted something off, or want a topic covered? Email buck.rackley@gmail.com.