Constraining the Pose Tool

[eskay]

How do you constrain the Pose tool line to a specific axis?

I want to make sure the origin point and the end point are exactly in line on an axis.

[Carlosan]

Hi !

Is this option helpful for your workflow ?

[eskay]

Carlosan thanks for the reply but its not the kind of example I was referring to.  I've been using 3D Coat for just over a week and I have been overdosing on tutorials so excuse the lack of detail in my question.

I had selected the pose tool and was using a brush in stroke mode to draw a line to get a soft selection type of falloff but I couldn't find a way to ensure that the start and end points of the stroke were constrained to the same axis.
See the attached picture - the right side image is an exaggerated example to help show what I mean.

[Tony Nemo]

I don't have 3DC open but have you tried using the Shift key?

[AbnRanger]

3 hours ago, eskay said:

Carlosan thanks for the reply but its not the kind of example I was referring to.  I've been using 3D Coat for just over a week and I have been overdosing on tutorials so excuse the lack of detail in my question.

I had selected the pose tool and was using a brush in stroke mode to draw a line to get a soft selection type of falloff but I couldn't find a way to ensure that the start and end points of the stroke were constrained to the same axis.
See the attached picture - the right side image is an exaggerated example to help show what I mean.

 

I asked Andrew to enable the SHIFT key to constrain the LINE and RING selection, but he just eluded to a work-around rather than build the capacity into the tool. That work-around is to enable the 2D grid in the VIEW menu > enable SNAP TO 2D GRID. To be fair to Andrew, that is sort of what the 2D grid is designed to do....to help provide an accurate visual guide and allow users to snap to grid if needed. You can even store the scale and position of the 2D Grid by going to the CAMERA menu (upper right corner of the viewport) and click ADD CAMERA SHORTCUT (or CTRL + UP arrow). From that point on, you can cycle back to that stored camera shortcut (CTRL + LEFT or RIGHT arrow).

So, although I do wish Andrew would add some sort of linear constraint to the LINE and RING selection mode....in 15 degree increments (would be nice to allow the user to set the number of increments. ie, 5,10,15, etc. , in the Tool Options panel), until he does, one can assign a hotkey to the 2D Grid + 2D Grid snapping, to invoke it on the fly.

 

 

[AbnRanger]

 

These demonstrate the 2D Grid in detail. The last one uses it specifically the way the OP wanted to use the Pose tool

[eskay]

AbnRanger, thanks for those videos.  The 2D Gizmo tutorial contained the information that I needed to know.  Having the shift key assigned to constraining the axis of the tool line draw would enable a faster workflow in simple actions the flexibility and power of the 2d grid and snap is brilliant.  Thanks again for those videos they were very helpful.