Working with Object Transforms

You can use the Object Transform panel to view and enter precise numerical data for the position, rotation, and scale of objects in the scene.

Understanding the 3D World of DART MAX

Stages, courses, and scenarios in DART MAX occur inside a three-dimensional world. We use X, Y, and Z coordinates to describe where objects are in 3D space.

Imagine a toy car. When the car moves forward and backward, it is moving along the X-axis.

When it moves side to side, it is moving along the Y-axis.

And if you lift it off the floor or put it back down, that’s the Z-axis.

In addition to using the transform controls on the toolbar to move, rotate, and scale objects in the viewport with the mouse, object transform controls can be used when you want to enter precise information.

Position

In this example, I have a prop located at coordinates 0, 0, 0. That is the exact center of our 3D world.

The first thing I’ll do is set the units of measure with the measurement option. This will allow me to move my object in inches, feet, or yards. Let’s select feet for this example.

Object transforms are divided into three groups; position, rotation, and scale.

By left-clicking the number for Position X, I can type in an exact value such as 5 and press enter. As you can see, positive values move the object further away. If I type in a negative value, such as -5, the object will move closer.

Likewise, positive values for Position Y will move the object to the right (3), while negative values will move the object to the left (-3).

That leaves Position Z, which I’m sure you’ve already guessed is up and down. Positive values move the object up (2), while negative values move the object down (-2).

You’ll need to keep in mind that moving objects along X and Y coordinates may appear different depending on your viewpoint. For example, if I were to move my view to the opposite side of the object, then higher values for Position X would seem to move the object closer to me, while smaller values would move it further away. It all depends on your perspective!

If you’re ever unsure which axis will move the object in a specific direction, select the move icon in the toolbar and move the object around. You’ll see how values in the object transform panel update as you move the object around.

Rotation

Like position, objects can be rotated in three axes. This will rotate the object from left to right, front to back, and spin it around.

In addition to directly entering numerical data as we saw with position, you can click and drag the slider bar.

Scale

Scale is used to size an object. It generally works best with props but can be used with most objects. Objects can be scaled along any axis. For example, we can make this wall thicker, wider, or taller.

You can also scale an object proportionately by selecting the scale icon on the toolbar and dragging the white cube at the center of the rotation control.