Moving a 3D layer in the Composition window

In the Composition window, 3D layers appear with three axes. Axes are color coded: red arrows control the x axis, green arrows control the y axis, and blue arrows control the z axis. You can control the layer's location by dragging an axis with either the selection or rotation tool. Changing the position moves the layer along an axis; changing the angle (rotation) pivots the layer on its anchor point around the axis. The Info palette updates to show the coordinates of the layer you are adjusting.


3D layer axes in the Composition window A. y axis B. x axis C. z axis

You can also move 3D layers by dragging the layers in the Composition window. Dragging from the center of a layer using the selection tool moves the layer within the camera's plane of view. Dragging a layer handle using the rotation tool constrains the rotation to a particular axis.

Note: The axis along which you can drag a layer depends on the composition 3D view. (See Using 3D views.)

To adjust the position, orientation, or rotation of a 3D layer in the Composition window:

1. Select the 3D layer you want to move.
2. In the Tools palette, do one of the following:
• To adjust position, click the selection tool .
• To adjust orientation or rotation, click the rotation tool , and choose either Orientation or Rotation from the Set pop-up menu.
3. In the Composition window, do one of the following:
• Using the selection or rotation tool, drag an axis or anywhere on the layer. You can drag the pointer outside the Composition window.
• Using the rotation tool, drag a layer handle. If you drag a corner handle, the layer rotates along the z axis; if you drag a left or right center handle, the layer rotates along the y axis; if you drag a top or bottom center handle, the layer rotates along the x axis.

Note: To quickly move a layer axis, or to rotate a layer in constrained, 45-degree increments, hold down Shift while dragging.

To move the anchor point in 3D space using the axes:

1. Select a 3D layer.
2. In the Tools palette, click the pan behind tool .
3. In the Composition window, position the pointer over the center of the axes, and drag.

Note: This procedure also adjusts the layer position relative to the composition so that the layer remains where it was before you moved the anchor point. To move the layer relative only to the anchor point, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) while dragging the x, y, or z axis in the Composition window.

To show a wireframe representation of the layer movement:

In the Timeline window, click the Disable Dynamic Preview button . (See Using Dynamic Preview.)

To show or hide the axes:

1. Activate the Composition window that contains the axes you want to show or hide.
2. In the Timeline window, select the layer whose axes you want to show or hide.
3. Choose View > Show Layer Controls or View > Hide Layer Controls.

Note: Hiding the axes also hides such layer controls as the camera and light wireframe icons, layer handles, and the point of interest.