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Move a 3D object

Move the object around the artboard (in 2-dimensional space)

  1. Under Objects and Timeline, select the Viewport3D object that represents your 3D object.
    A blue bounding box appears around your 3D object on the artboard.
  2. Use your mouse to drag the object around the artboard, scale the object, or rotate the object on the X-Y plane. You can modify the movement in the following ways:
    • Hold the SHIFT key while resizing or scaling to constrain the aspect ratio.
    • Hold the ALT key while resizing, scaling, or skewing to maintain the position of the center point (instead of maintaining the position of the opposite corner or edge).
    • Hold the SHIFT key while rotating to snap every 15 degrees.
    Tip If you scale the object so that part of it extends beyond the blue bounding box, the parts outside of the box will not be visible unless you uncheck the ClipToBounds property in the Appearance category of the Properties panel.
    You can also rotate, reposition, and scale the Viewport3D object by using the properties in the Transform category of the Properties panel, just as you would with any object. You can also group 3D objects together. For more information about working with objects in general, see Working with objects.

Move the object within the viewport (in 3-dimensional space)

  1. Select the Selection tool from the toolbox, and then double-click your 3D object on the artboard to make the 3D translation handles appear.
    This action selects the world geometry container object under Objects and Timeline.
  2. Use your mouse to drag your 3D object around the artboard.
    Notice that the 3D object does not get closer or farther away from you as you drag it.
  3. Press ALT as you drag the mouse up and down.
    The 3D object moves closer and farther away from the camera.
    Tip If you move the object so that part of it extends beyond the blue bounding box, the parts outside of the box will not be visible unless you uncheck the ClipToBounds property in the Appearance category of the Properties panel. Alternatively, you can increase the size of the blue bounding box using the first procedure in this topic.

Rotate, translate, or scale the object in 3-dimensional space

  1. Select the Selection tool from the toolbox, and then double-click your 3D object on the artboard to make the 3D translation handles appear.
    This action selects the world geometry container object under Objects and Timeline.
  2. Use your mouse to grab the X, Y, or Z-axis handles on the artboard. Your cursor will change to indicate the action that you can take:
    • The rotation cursor (active when you mouse over the arc handle) allows you to rotate the object about an axis. When rotating, you can snap the rotation every 15 degrees by holding the SHIFT key.
    • The position cursor (active when you mouse over the arrow handle) allows you to move the object along an axis.
    • The scaling cursor (active when you mouse over the box handle) allows you to scale the object along an axis.

    X axis handles for 1) Rotation, 2) Position

    X axis handles for
    1 Rotation, and 2 Position

    Y axis handles for 1) Rotation, 2) Position

    Y axis handles for
    1 Rotation, and 2 Position

    Z axis handles for 1) Rotation, 2) Position

    Z axis handles for
    1 Rotation, and 2 Position

    Tip If you move the object so that part of it extends beyond the blue bounding box, the parts outside of the box will not be visible unless you select the Viewport3D object under Objects and Timeline and then uncheck the ClipToBounds property in the Appearance category of the Properties panel. Alternatively, you can increase the size of the blue bounding box using the first procedure in this topic.
You can also rotate, reposition, and scale the ModelVisual3D object by using the properties in the Transform category of the Properties panel, just as you would with any object.
Tip If you can not see your material after moving your object, you might be viewing the side of a face that does not have a material applied to it. Each face has a property for the front and back of a face. For instructions about applying materials to faces, see Add or remove a material.