Move, copy, rotate, align, snap презентация

function are built into one tool. To move an object, click the Move tool, and when the Move icon is close to an object, it automatically selects it and is ready to be moved. But if two objects are close to each other and the auto-select is selecting the wrong object, we should be able to fist select the object manually and then use the Move tool (see video).

When using the Move tool, pressing Cntrl turns it into Copy. At this time, a small + symbol appears next to the Move icon to tell us that it is now in Copy mode.

If Ortho model is ON (set by F8 or some other key), the object being moved or copied only travels in the X or Y direction set by the Ortho (general ortho, not object ortho).

Move and Copy should have snap modes available to use.

Move

Copy

Copy multiple

There should also be a dedicated copy tool. Move + Copy tool is not a fast option for copying objects multiple times. You have to click the object again each time to copy it again. If we have 50 chimneys or 200 trees to copy, a dedicated Multiple copy works better. With a dedicated multiple copy, you select the object, then select a base point for Copy and then each time you click the mouse at a point, it pastes a copy of the object at that point.

The move tool should also activate a simple Rotate handle on the object similar to PowerPoint or Sketchup. This means that while the Move tool is active, the object can also rotated by using the handle. This is different from a proper Rotate tool. A proper Rotate tool allows for precision rotate using base point and snap while this is just a simple rotate around a base point which is automatically fixed at the centre of an object like in SKP.

The Move tool should also activate a simple XY scaling tool – same as in PowerPoint. It will automatically use the current XY direction of the object and display the grips (we can set the XY direction icon for an object before starting to copy it. So no need to display the XY icon or ability to edit it). Again, this is a quick version of the XY scale function.

All the above means that it will be possible to quickly move or copy an object, rotate it and scale it without having to click separate tool icons for all those actions.

Once copied object is placed, it displays the grips (ready for XY scaling, CNTRL makes it obey base point for scaling, no need for XY and base icon display or editing options here, just simple way to scale quickly like in PPT). Press ESC to get rid of grips and rotate icon.

Once a moved or copied object is placed, it displays a simple Rotate handle. Once clicked and rotate starts, the handle point can be moved far away from the object and it still works (same as in PPT). This gives more accuracy to control the rotation angle. The base point will be the rough centre of the object.

Copied

to the basic rotate tool that comes with the Move tool. The tool works exactly as in Sketchup.

Once you select the tool, moving over an object auto-selects it. This way, many objects can be rotated quickly without having to go away from the tool and selecting the object, then pick the rotate tool again. But if two objects share a vertex and this vertex is to be used as the base point, it may be necessary to select the object first before rotation.

You select a base point, then another point to define the start angle of rotation (base line) and then you start to rotate. While rotating, the handle can be pulled far away from the object so that the end angle can be set by snapping on to some object far away.

Clicking Rotate tool changes mouse pointer to Rotate tool

Select another point to set the base line of rotation

Move tool over object to rotate and object is auto-selected (or select first before clicking rotate tool).

Click on a point on the object to set the base point of rotation.

Handle is elastic and can be snapped to far away objects

Once an object has been rotated, the rotate tool pointer is ready to auto-select and rotate the next object. This allows many objects to be rotated quickly one after the other.

All point selection should have snap available (end point, mid point, nearest, perpendicular etc).

Now an infinitely stretchable handle line appears and you start rotating it.

same time, basically aligning an object to another. It can also scale the object at the same time if necessary.

Align is useful when we want to copy a window and then move it to a wall of a house and align it such that the window sits flush with the wall.

Align will use 4 points. Two points on the object to be aligned and the corresponding two points on the object to be aligned to.

Once the tool is activated, move the tool pointer close to the object and it auto-selects (or select the object first if necessary). The cursor displays a tool icon (a + is enough?) and a number 1A next to it. This means select point 1 on the object (1st source point). Once selected, the cursor displays the 1B. This means select the corresponding point this point should move to (1st destination point).

Now cursor displays 2A. Select the next point on the object (second source point). Once this is picked, cursor displays 2B. Pick the 2nd destination point.

This moves the object in such a way that 1A is moved to 1B and 2A is moved to line up with 2B. Note that the object is just aligned, not scaled this time. But while selecting 2B, if CNTRL is also pressed, the object is also scaled (in X and Y). If SHIFT is pressed, the object is scaled in XY and Z using the same XY scale factor.

1A

1B

2B

2A

Align without CNTRL key (no scaling)

1A

1B

2B

2A

Align + CNTRL key (object is scaled as well in XY)
Align + Shift key (object is scaled in XY and Z)

on Photomod. When we draw buildings, often we need to snap to the middle point of a line or snap a line perpendicular to another line. So the snap options we need are as below. They are all pretty simple ones. Need option to completely turn snap On/off (just use F3) and option to turn off individual type of snaps (ie, turn off only Midpoint snap for example) suing a snap options window (CNTRL + Right mouse button).

End Point (already have it)
Nearest (already have it)
Middle point
Perpendicular
Intersection
Centre (of circle)
Extension snap (explained next page)

End

Perpendicular

Nearest

Midpoint

Snap in Vertex Edit mode (Very Important)

One key thing we are missing is the ability to snap when we are editing the vertices of an existing object. If we are drawing a new line, it does snap to other objects. This is fine. But if we move the vertex of an existing object and try to snap it to another existing object, we cannot do it. We need that. This is already part of the Vertex edit under Scaling and Stretching videos. Basically, Snap should be available everywhere.

Snap working in AutoCAD

Need option to switch individual snaps On/Off separately. So we can switch off Midpoint snap, but keep all other snaps for example. A simple options window like this should do. Activate the window using CNTRL + Right mouse button (or some other quick combination)

Centre

SNAP

Need a quick pull-down Snap tool bar to quickly change snap selections

the end point of a line to be aligned to some other point on the same polyline (or even another object). See examples below where it will be used.

Line start point

When we reach near here, we need to pick the Y coordinate of the start point.

The helper lines will be needed in both X and Y direction.

Extension Snap

How it would work
The snap is used to pick either the X or the Y coordinate of a point. Whether it will be the X or the Y coordinate can easily be determined automatically. In most cases, we will be drawing with Ortho mode ON. So the new line we are drawing is either travelling in the X direction or Y direction. If it is being drawn in Y direction, that means X coordinate is already fixed. So we will be picking the Y coordinate from some other point.

In Autocad and Sketchup, a similar tool exists. Please see video on how that works. But we need a little bit more control and it can work better. I am going to combine the good points of both.

Switch on Extension snap. Start drawing the cursor will automatically keep drawing a rubber band line to the various X or Y end points on the same line (it assumes that you want to align points to the same line you are currently drawing rather than some other object) that shares the closest X or Y value (end point only). If you keep moving the cursor, it will keep picking a different X or Y points. Click when the rubberband has picked the correct point you need. This works similar to Sketchup.

But sometimes the user may want to manually select a point for X or Y reference (maybe from another object other than the current line being drawn or a mid-point rather than end point). In this case, the Autocad method works better. Press key X to enter eXtension snap manual point picking mode. Now move the cursor on top of the point you want to pick the X or Y coordinate from and click (snap will be on). It then draws the rubber band line from the selected point. Now go to the point where you want the end point of the line and finish off. See next page for further explanation.

Ortho icon

Ortho icon

the closest Y point on the line being drawn, which is the line’s start point.

The helper rubber band lines will keep on picking the closest X or Y points on the line being drawn, in both X and Y direction.

Extension Snap

Ortho icon

Ortho icon

Auto mode

Auto mode

Ortho icon

It will ignore points on other nearby objects that are not the line currently being drawn.

Automatically selected point

Manually selected mid point of another line after pressing X key while drawing to go into manual point picking mode

Manually selected end point of another object that is not part of the line being drawn.

Manual snap point picking