Snapping to Align Objects
on this page: task summary | activating and placing | tips
There are two kinds of targets you can use to align objects. The Snap Target
(yellow arrow), and the Snap Source (green arrow). Use the Snap Target to
mark a position in the scene to which you want another object moved or
aligned. Use the Snap Source to specify a particular point on the
selection to move to the Snap Target. The snap arrows can also be used
in the PEP editor to align individual points, edges, and polygons. See Aligning PEPs for details.
Uses for the Snap Target:
Use for the Snap Source:
-
Activate and place the Snap
Target and the Snap Source
(if you decide to use it).
-
Select the object you want to move to the target (click the object).
Don't forget this step! If you don't select the object, it won't move
to the target. If the Snap Source is activated, it will move to the
Snap Target without the object.
-
Choose Layout > Move Selection to Snap Target or press Ctrl-m
to move the selected object to the target. You can also choose one of
the other options under Layout; these include Center Snap Target
in Selection and Move Selection Center to Snap Target.
-
If you want, put away the Snap Target and Snap Source by rechoosing Layout
> Activate Snap Target / Source or click the middle mouse
button over empty space to put away the Snap Target, and Ctrl-click
middle over empty space to put away the Snap Source.
To activate and place the Snap Target and Snap
Source:
-
Choose Layout > Activate Snap
Target or Layout > Activate Snap Source.
Other ways to place the Snap Target include:
-
Click middle over an object's surface or over its manipulator.
-
Click the Activate Snap Target button on the Layout
palette:
Other ways to place the Snap Source include: Ctrl-click
middle over an object's surface or over its manipulator.
-
If necessary, reposition the Snap Target or Snap Source by dragging its
arrow. If you have trouble getting the Snap Target to follow the
cursor, try dragging while pressing the middle mouse button. This
ensures that the target remains at the cursor and makes repositioning
the target easier.
-
Shift-drag makes the Snap Target "stick" to the
object's major features. For example, if you Shift-drag the
target across a cylinder, it sticks to the cylinder's edges and
equator. If you Shift-drag the target across a PEP object,
it sticks to the PEP object's vertices, edges, and edge centers. The
target turns purple when it is aligned with one of these features.
-
You can place the Snap Target to align an object's feature to the same
plane as that of another. For example, suppose you have cube and a cone
in your scene, and you'd like the cone's bottom polygon to align in the
same plane as that of the cube. Place the Snap Target on one of the
cube's polygons, then select and move the cone toward the cube until
the Snap Target turns purple:

-
If you cut an object and paste it when the Snap Target is in the scene,
the cut object is pasted on the Snap Target.
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You can also nudge a selected object by small increments to adjust its
alignment. Use the arrow keys or choose Layout > Nudge >
Left a Little, etc.
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