The transform gizmo is an interactive 3D tool in LiquidEarth that enables users to manipulate the selected content within the 3D workspace. It features three distinct modes of operation – moving, rotating, and scaling. These operations provide flexibility and control when altering the position (Move Gizmo), orientation (Rotate Gizmo), and size of the selected content (Scale Gizmo), respectively.
Users can choose the desired mode via the Inspector. The Transform Gizmo can also be deactivated from this panel. Additionally, on the desktop version, hotkeys 1, 2, and 3 allow for quick switching between modes. In the XR environment, a designated controller button serves the same function.
The Transform Gizmo options are accessible via the inspector.
Whilst the Move and the Rotate Gizmo operate in alignment with the 3D workspace coordinates by default and are oriented the same as the 3D Workspace Compass, they can also be used as “localized” gizmos by activating the respective option in the inspector. This shifts the alignment to coincide with the orientation of the selected content instead of the workspace. It's important to note that the Scale Gizmo is always localized to the content.
Holding LCTRL activates discrete snapping for each gizmo mode. To ensure good accessibility, the size of the Transform Gizmo can be adjusted in the inspector.
The three Transform Gizmo modes are presented in more detail in the following:
Hotkey: 1
The Move Gizmo facilitates the shifting of selected content along the X, Y, and Z axes. Color-coded arrows represent each axis, and by clicking and dragging these arrows, users can relocate the content. To move content along a plane, users can click and drag within the square interfaces between the arrows. The Move Gizmo can also be used in 2D on a plane perpendicular to the viewing direction. This is done by holding LSHIFT whilst interacting with the gizmo, or by activating the respective option in the inspector.
The Move Gizmo.
Hotkey: 2
The Rotate Gizmo allows users to change the orientation of the selected content around the X, Y, and Z axes. The rotation circles, color-coded according to the axis they represent, can be clicked and dragged to alter the content's angle.
The Rotate Gizmo.
Hotkey: 3
The Scale Gizmo provides the capability to modify the size of the selected content along the X, Y, and Z axes. Users can click and drag the color-coded cubes to expand or contract the content. To uniformly scale in all dimensions, click and drag the central white cube. Holding LSHIFT activates multi-axis scaling whilst using this gizmo.
The Scale Gizmo.