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USING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL
Creating and Editing Artwork
The default mode of the 3D Translation tool is global. Moving an object in global 3D space is the same as moving it
relative to the Stage. Moving an object in local 3D space is the same as moving it relative to its parent movie clip if it
has one. To toggle the 3D Translation tool between global and local modes, click the Global toggle button in the
Options section of the Tools panel while the 3D Translation tool is selected. You can temporarily toggle the mode from
global to local by pressing the D key while dragging with the 3D Translation tool.
The 3D Translation and Rotation tools occupy the same space in the Tools panel. Click and hold the active 3D tool
icon in the Tools panel to select the currently inactive 3D tool.
By default, selected objects that have 3D translation applied appear with a 3D axis overlay on the Stage. You can turn
off this overlay in the General section of Flash Preferences.
The 3D Translation tool overlay.
Note:
Changing the z axis position of a 3D movie clip will cause the movie clip to appear to change its x and y position as
well. This is because movement along the z axis follows the invisible perspective lines which radiate from the 3D vanishing
point (set in the 3D symbol instance Property inspector) to the edges of the Stage.
Move a single object in 3D space
1
Select the 3D Translation tool
in the Tools panel (or press the G key to select it).
2
Set the tool to Local or Global mode.
Be sure that the tool is in the mode you want mode by checking the Global toggle button in the Options section of the
Tools panel. Click the button or press the D key to toggle the mode.
3
Select a movie clip with the 3D Translation tool
.
4
To move the object by dragging with the tool, move the pointer over the x-, y-, or z-axis controls. The pointer
changes when over any of the controls.
The x- and y-axis controls are the arrow tips on each axis. Drag one of these controls in the direction of its arrow to
move the object along the selected axis. The z-axis control is the black dot at the center of the movie clip. Drag the z-
axis control up or down to move the object on the z axis.
5
To move the object using the Property inspector, enter a value for X, Y, or Z in the 3D Position and View section
of the Property inspector.
When you move an object on the z axis, its apparent size changes. The apparent size appears in the Property inspector as
the Width and Height values in the 3D Position and View section of the Property inspector. These values are read-only.
Updated 5 March 2009
