The universal manipulator is used for 3D elements that don't have their own manipulator defined and for manipulating multiple 3D elements or Assets. One of the drawbacks of the universal manipulator is that it is always aligned to the major axes.

Universal Manipulator is always aligned to the major axes

Rotation

A 3D element or Asset can be rotated by clicking and dragging on one of the spheres attached to each face of the manipulator.

All rotations are performed around the center of the 3D element or Asset.

During a rotation the angle through which the 3D element or Asset has been rotated is displayed in the Asset View.

Dragging the mouse in one direction will rotate the 3D element or Asset about one axis and dragging the mouse in the other direction will rotate the 3D element or Asset about the other axis.

Display the manipulator for the 3D element

Click on one of the manipulator's spheres to start rotating

Move cursor up to rotate about one axis

Move cursor across to rotate about a different axis

During a rotation the user can press the 'X' key while dragging the mouse to cycle through the different rotation modes.

Start rotation about one axis

Press the 'X' key to rotate about the other axis

Press the 'X' key again to freely rotate about any axis

By default during a rotation the manipulator will snap to the following common angles, 30, 45, 60, 90, etc. To disable this snapping the user must press and hold the ‘Control’ key while rotating.

Start rotating the Asset, notice how is
snaps to common angles

Press the ‘Control’ key to temporarily
disable snapping.

Release the ‘Control’ key to
re-enable snapping.

Translation

A 3D element or Asset can be translated by clicking and dragging on one face of the manipulator.

Dragging the mouse in one direction will translate the 3D element or Asset in one direction and dragging the mouse in the other direction will translate the 3D element or Asset in the other direction.

Display the manipulator for the 3D element

Click on one of the manipulator's planes to start translating

Move cursor up to translate in one direction

Move cursor across to translate in the other direction

During a translation the user can press the 'X' key while dragging the mouse to cycle through the different translation modes.

Start translation in one direction

Press the 'X' key to translate in the other direction

Press the 'X' key again to freely translate within the manipulator's plane

General

In situations where the Asset being manipulated is occluded by other Asset the user can press the ‘H’ key to temporarily hide all other Assets in the scene. Releasing the ‘H’ key will redisplay the hidden Assets.

Display the manipulator for the Asset

Press and hold ‘H’ to hide all the Assets not being manipulated

Release ‘H’ to show all the Assets not being manipulated

At any time during a manipulation the user can press the ‘Esc’ key to cancel the current action and return the Asset to its original position and/or orientation.

Display the manipulator for the Asset

Click on part of the manipulator to start manipulating

Press the ‘Esc’ key to cancel the current manipulation