9.5.2

506 • CHAPTER 8
TOOLS MENU • 507
The Axes
Using these options, you can restrict movement, scaling or rotation to specic axes. For example, to
allow movement along the Y-axis only, enable Y-axis and disable X-axis and Z-axis. Now, when you
drag with the Move tool selected, the movement will be along the Y-axis only.
Use the Coordinate System setting, also on the Tools menu, to choose whether the angles refer to the
world coordinate system or the object coordinate system.
If Use HPB System is enabled in the preferences (Units page), the HPB designators apply. (The letters
HPB stand for heading, pitch and bank.)
CINEMA 4D remembers the state of the axes (locked or unlocked) separately for each tool. For
example, if you have made a movement along the Y-axis while X and Z were locked with the Move
tool, and you then switch to Rotate, all axes are unlocked again. When you change back to Move, the
program remembers that only the Y-axis was unlocked for Move.
Coordinate System
Here you decide in which coordinate system an operation will take place. Not all options work with
both systems. Scaling of object axes for example can occur only within the object coordinate system.
The object coordinate system is the local system of an object, shown in the viewports by the colored
axes; X (red), Y (green) and Z (blue). Each object has its own object coordinate system.
For each type of operation, CINEMA 4D remembers the state of the coordinate system. For example,
if you have used the Move tool while in the world coordinate system, and then changed to the
Rotate tool, the setting switches from world to local. When you change back to Move, the program
remembers that the world coordinate system was selected and changes from local to world.
The difference between the coordinate systems is very important to animation. If HPB System is
enabled in the preferences (Units page), HPB angles will be used for the rotation, independently of the
axis system chosen. Internally, CINEMA 4D works exclusively in the HPB system. HPB is an abbreviation
for heading, pitch and bank.
Note:
When modelling, only the settings of the modelling axis will apply, independent
of which coordinate system you have applied.