Interactive Transform

The Interactive Transform tool allows you to transform surface objects using an interactive gizmo (manipulator) widget directly in the 2D and 3D views. Drag the manipulator handles to translate, rotate, and scale surfaces with visual feedback.

Accessing the Tool

1. Navigate to the Surface tab in the ribbon.
2. Click Interactive Transform in the Transform section.

Description

Transform the active surface interactively using a 3D manipulator widget. The gizmo provides handles for translation along axes, rotation around axes, and scaling. Changes can be previewed in real-time or applied after manipulation.

Manipulator Options

Configure how the interactive manipulator behaves:

Option	Description
Show manipulator in 2D views	Enable to display and interact with the manipulator in 2D slice views (Axial, Coronal, Sagittal).
Apply transformation on mouse drag	When enabled, transformations are applied in real-time as you drag. When disabled, the manipulator acts as a preview.
Show plane axes	Display planar translation handles that allow movement along two axes simultaneously.
Show rotate axes	Display rotation rings for rotating around each axis.
Show scale axes	Display scale handles for resizing along each axis.
Lock interaction	Disable mouse interaction with the manipulator. Useful when you need to navigate the view without accidentally modifying the transform.

Transformation Controls

The panel displays the current transformation values, which can also be edited numerically:

Translate Distance (mm)

Parameter	Description
X	Translation distance along the X-axis from the original position.
Y	Translation distance along the Y-axis from the original position.
Z	Translation distance along the Z-axis from the original position.

Rotate Angle (°)

Parameter	Description
X	Rotation angle around the X-axis (-180° to 180°).
Y	Rotation angle around the Y-axis (-180° to 180°).
Z	Rotation angle around the Z-axis (-180° to 180°).

Scale Factor

Parameter	Description
X	Scale factor along the X-axis (1.0 = no change).
Y	Scale factor along the Y-axis (1.0 = no change).
Z	Scale factor along the Z-axis (1.0 = no change).

Manipulator Interaction

The 3D gizmo widget provides visual handles for different transformation types:

Translation Handles

• Axis arrows: Drag the colored arrows to translate along a single axis (X = red, Y = green, Z = blue).
• Plane handles: When enabled, drag the plane squares to translate along two axes simultaneously.
• Center handle: Drag the center to translate freely in all directions.

Rotation Handles

• Rotation rings: When enabled, drag the colored rings to rotate around the corresponding axis.
• Rotation occurs around the center of the manipulator widget.

Scale Handles

• Scale boxes: When enabled, drag the colored box handles to scale along individual axes.
• Dragging scales the object relative to the manipulator center.

Workflow

1. Select the surface object you want to transform in the Object Browser.
2. Open the Interactive Transform tool from the Surface tab.
3. The manipulator widget appears centered on the active surface.
4. Configure the Manipulator options to show the desired handles.
5. Interact with the manipulator:
   • Drag axis arrows to translate.
   • Drag rotation rings to rotate.
   • Drag scale handles to resize.
6. Observe the transformation values updating in the panel.
7. Optionally, edit the numeric values directly for precise control.
8. Click Reset to revert to the original position if needed.

info

When Apply transformation on mouse drag is enabled, changes are applied immediately to the surface geometry. When disabled, you can preview the transformation and decide whether to apply it.

Use Cases

Quick Visual Alignment

Use the interactive manipulator for intuitive, visual positioning of surfaces when exact numeric values are not required.

Fine-Tuning Position

After rough alignment, use the numeric input fields to make precise adjustments to the transformation values.

Multi-View Manipulation

Enable Show manipulator in 2D views to position objects by manipulating them in orthographic slice views for better precision along specific axes.

Combined Transformations

Apply multiple transformation types (translate, rotate, scale) in a single session before closing the tool.

Tips

• Use Show plane axes for easier translation in a plane when you don't want to move along a single axis.
• Disable Apply transformation on mouse drag when you want to experiment with different positions before committing.
• Use Lock interaction temporarily when you need to rotate the view without affecting the manipulator.
• The Reset button returns the surface to its original state, undoing all manipulator transformations.
• For precise numeric transformations without interactive manipulation, use the Transform tool instead.
• The manipulator is always positioned at the object's center. To rotate around a different point, use the Transform tool's rotation center option.

Related Tools

• Transform: Apply transformations using precise numeric input.
• Global Registration: Automatically align surfaces using registration algorithms.