Using the Manipulators

The Manipulators are at the 3 icons at the top of the Viewport:

Select the first icon to change an object's position, the second to rotate the object and the third to change the scale.

When you've selected an object and a Manipulator, you'll see axis or arrows appear on that object in the Viewport:

Click and drag these axes, or the object itself, to transform the object.

In the example below, we selected a 3D object that looks like a diamond and clicked the first Manipulator icon - for position.

We then dragged the green axis to change the position of the object, moving it along the Y axis so it's no longer in the box:

You can also change the position or size of an object across all axes by clicking and dragging the yellow cube in the center of the object:

Or, click and drag the red, blue or green square to scale the object on 2 axes only.

Local or Global coordinates

When an object is a child of another object, it can either be transformed:

• In relation to its parent object's co-ordinates, which might not be the same as the Global co-ordinates - this is called Local.
• Based on the fixed X, Y and Z axis - this is called Global.

In the the image on the left we've selected Global co-ordinates. On the right we've selected Local. The axis has changed, because the position is set based on where the object is positioned within its parent:

Pivot points

Choose Pivot or Center to switch between manipulating an object around its own pivot point, or a central pivot point.

You'd usually use this feature to transform multiple objects, either around their individual pivot points or a central point.