Adobe Director Basics

ADOBE DIRECTOR BASICS
3D basics
Applying a transform to a position
A transform is a frame of reference in mathematical terms. When a transform is applied to a vector position, it moves
that vector position to a new point in space. The lines highlighted in yellow in the Script window and the Message
window show what happens when a neutral transform is applied to the position of vertex 1: it stays the same. The lines
highlighted in orange in the Script window and the Message window show what happens when the modified transform
is applied to the position of vertex 1. In this case, the vertex moves to the new position that is shown by the orange
circle.
For more mathematical information concerning transforms, see “Transforms” on page 370.
Translation
To move a model from one position to another, you can use the node.translate() command. In the simplest terms, the
translate() command tells the model how far to move to the right, how far to move up, and how far to move
forward.
After a translate()command has been executed, the model will still be facing in the same direction. When you think
about a translate() command, the order of the three separate movements is not important. Imagine that you move
a model 3 units to the left, 4 units down and 7 forward. The model would arrive in exactly the same spot as if you started
from the original position and moved it 7 units forward, 3 units left, and then 4 units down.
Rotation
To rotate a model, you can use the rotate() command.
In a 3D world, you can rotate around three different axes: x, y and z. The rotate() command expects a value in
degrees for each axis. For example, this statement will rotate the Jug model 45°around the x-axis, -90° around the yaxis,
and 0° around the z-axis:
member("Dinner Party").model("Jug").rotate(45, -90, 0)
The order in which the rotations are performed is important.
Imagine that you are sitting at a table. You have a cup in front of you, and you are holding a jug of water to the right
of the glass. Imagine that the handle of the jug is to your right. You take hold of the jug and tilt it forward. The water
will pour out of its spout into the cup. Imagine that you keep the jug tilted rotate it around its vertical axis. The water
will continue to pour into the cup, but from the side of the jug. All is well (if a little unconventional).
Now imagine that you performed those rotations in a different order. Imagine that you start by rotating the jug around
its vertical axis. The spout is now pointing away from you, and not at the cup. If you now tilt the jug, the water will spill
on the table. This is probably not good.
Direction of rotation
In the Cube example above, the cube model was rotated through -60° around the y-axis. How do you know if that is a
clockwise or a counter-clockwise rotation?
The second “right-hand rule” helps here. Stick out the thumb of your right hand and curl the fingers. Imagine that your
thumb is pointing in the direction of the axis of rotation. Now turn your hand in the direction that your fingers are
pointing. That is the direction of a positive rotation.
The right-hand rule for rotation
Last updated 8/26/2011
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