Scale, Translate and Rotate a 3D Object
It is possible to modify the shape of a 3D object in order to match the ratio of the real-world prop, set element, screen structure, etc. it represents. You can also position and rotate the 3D object in space to match the position and orientation of the real-world prop.
Scaling, positioning and orienting are crucial in stage contexts where many real-world projectors cover many Screen Surfaces. Under these circumstances, it is important to accurately represent the spatial relations between all objects in PHOTON’s virtual world. If the spatial relations between objects aren’t accurately represented it won’t be possible to complete the calibration process.
Scaling, positioning and orienting are not crucial in stage contexts involving single Displays linked to single Screen Surfaces that act as autonomous pairs. However, doing so is considered a best practice and will give you access to a realistic pre-visualization of the project.
Project pre-visualization is one of PHOTON’s key features. VYV’s software can create full 3D simulations of the real-world stage space. In the 3D Scene module Screen Surfaces (with their video content), Displays, cameras, lighting equipment, and set elements can be placed in a virtual space that provides a complete overview of a project.
An object’s size, position or orientation (Decorative Objects as well as Projection Surfaces) in the 3D Scene can be modified using the Transformations Panel or Transformation Manipulators.
The Transformations Panel contains multiple sliders that allow the modification of the Scale, Translate and Rotate parameters for each axis (X, Y and Z) for any object previously created in the 3D Scene module.
- Select the object you want to alter by clicking on its entry in the Scene Primitives list.
- To open the Transformations Panel, press T on the keyboard OR select in the 3D Scene’s main menu.
- To change the geometric coordinates of an object, adjust the value of the sliders. You can adjust the value of a slider by manipulating it with a
Click+Drag, or you can Double-click on it to open a text field where you can enter a desired numeric value.
The effects of these transformations can be seen in the 3D Scene Preview. The visual representation of the selected object will be modified as well.
Slider values differ depending on the parameters they represent. The Scale sliders are not dimension sliders; they act as scaling coefficients applied to the object’s original size. For example, if the scale value of a cube featuring edges of 2 meters is changed from 1 to 4 on all three axes, the cube will now have edges of 8 meters. The Translate sliders express a value in meters. The Rotate sliders express values in angles. And the Rotate Axis sliders are used to apply a rotation expressed in an angle that corresponds to specific vectors. For example, an angle is set with the first slider while the three other sliders represent vector values for each axis that will determine how the rotation will be applied to each.
The Transformation Manipulators facilitate direct modification of a 3D object’s parameters —Scale, Translate, Rotate — by manipulating your mouse in the 3D Scene Preview.
Enable the desired Transformations Manipulator using the following methods:
- Scale Manipulator: Press X on the keyboard OR click on the Scale button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
- Translate Manipulator: Press V on the keyboard OR click on the Translate button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
- Rotate Manipulator: Press C on the keyboard OR click on the Rotate button located in the top-right corner of the 3D Scene window.
The Transformation Manipulators will appear when a 3D object is selected.
PHOTON’s Manipulators feature a standard color-scheme for its 3D coordinate system: X is red, Y is green and Z is blue.
Click+Drag the handle of the axis parameter you want to modify (X, Y or Z). The handle will become yellow when selected.- The Scale and Translate Manipulators feature a yellow dot at the intersection of their axes.
Click+Drag the yellow dot to simultaneously apply transformations to all axes.
Warning:Enabling a Manipulator will disable camera movements in the 3D Scene Preview. To switch back to camera control, press S on the keyboard OR click the Camera button located at the top-right corner of the 3D Scene.
If you want to control the camera while a Manipulator is enabled, press and hold S on the keyboard. This will allow you to manipulate the camera. To switch back to Manipulator control, release the S key.
Freezing an object’s Transformations sets its current size, orientation and location as the new default values without modifying the object’s geometric coordinates.
Freeze an Object
- Select the object by clicking on its entry in the Scene Primitives list.
- To activate the Transformations Panel press T on the keyboard OR select in the 3D Scene main menu.
- Click on the
Set Freeze button located at the top of the Transformations Panel.
- If you want to revert to the object’s initial parameters, you can unfreeze it by clicking on the
Reset Freeze button located at the top of the Transformations Panel.
Why Freeze?
Freezing an object sets its Calibration Points directly in relation to its new position in the 3D Scene Preview. Calibration Points are created out of a 3D object’s vertices and are the main features used during the calibration process. Therefore, it is crucial to alert the software through the Set Freeze command if a 3D object’s geometric parameters have been modified before starting the calibration process.
Furthermore, 3D objects in PHOTON can be linked to position and orientation data (provided by stage automation and tracking or animations). These 3D objects will move in the real world but you will want to retain their original geometric data for the purposes of display calibration. Freezing makes this possible, and facilitates accurate projection on surfaces that move.