Rotate around a point

[SamSed]

the only think in my mind
select your polys detach'em and move the new object's gizmo to the center of rotation , rotate your object, then reattach it by building new faces .
but i don't see the point on doing that , maybe putting a screen capture could help to get a better idea .

[robinb]

You can rotate or scale a sub object selection around a snap point. Pull the drop down next to the reference coordinate system list down to the middle option- Use selection centre (the bottom option works too), activate a snap (pivot in this case), lock the selection and you should be able to rotate around that snap point. You'll probably have to turn off the rotate gizmo and use the F5-8 keys to toggle the axis of rotation.

[Fisticuffs]

Thanks for the tips,


Robinb, your tip worked a treat, all this time using a program and I still manage to not know what some buttons on the main tool bar mean :)

Thanks again

**edit to remove wierd symbols**

[rob-beddall]

i saw a video tutorial of a woman demonstrating this technique.

but she managed to do it AND keep the rotate gizmo on screen.
unfortunately she doesn't say how she does it and the picture is so small and bad quality that i can't see how she did it either.

anyone know how to keep the gizmo while doing this?
it would make it much easier for me.

thanks

[j-man]

The funny thing is that max 7 will move the gizmo to the snap point when doing a relative transform with this technique, but my max 7.5 doesn't with their new imporoved snaps. I've been looking for a checkbox somewhere to fix things up but I generally use F5 through F8 anyways so it's no big deal.
What version are you using Rob?

J.

[rob-beddall]

hey!!

i'm using max 7 but it doesn't move the gizmo there.
unless i am doing something wrong.
the gizmo just disappears.

thanks

[j-man]

hmmmm, maybe it's a sub-object thing. I've just tested it again and the gizmo moves when I'm not in SO mode, but it doesn't otherwise. IK just tested it on a 7.1 machine also and the result are similar

J.

[Bao2]

Two methods (I prefer the second one):
1) Rotate about a new Grid
2) Rotate about a Helper Point

1) Create a Grid Helper and place it where you want your axis of rotation.
Right mouse on it and Select Activate Grid.
Select a few verts, faces, polys... in your mesh.
Select the Rotate Tool and Grid as the Coordinate System
Just to the right of Coordinate System you select now Use Transform Coordinate Center
Rotate.
Exit SubObject Level
Select your Helper Grid and Right mouse and Select Activate Home Grid.
Delete the Custom Grid

2) Create a Point Helper and place it where you want your axis of rotation.
Select a few verts, faces, polys... in your mesh.
Select the Rotate Tool and Pick as the Coordinate System and pick the point helper
Just to the right of Coordinate System you select now Use Transform Coordinate Center
Rotate.
Delete the helper.

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