The Match and Align functions provide a simple means of positioning multiple objects in relation to each other in 3D space for animation, or simply for layout purposes as well. Most option are simple one-shot commands, where users make a selection, and then press the appropriate command button to get the desired result. For finer control, there are also the 'Match' and 'Align' dialogues that provide users a way to choose specific options.
Match Position: Exactly as the name states, 'Match Position' command will match the position of two items based on their center points. Selection order matters, as the first item selected is moved to match the position of the second item selected. Subsequent selection will be ignored, as will scale and rotation of the items.
Center Position: The 'Center Position' command will match the center position of an item, to the center position of another without actually moving the item itself, it only affect the center position and ignores rotations and scale. To use, select the first item whose center you wish to edit, then shift select the second item whose center position you wish to match and click the 'Center Position' command. If you can't find it, it is a popup command under 'Match Position', if you LMB click and hold, the popup will allow you to select the alternate tool.
Pivot Position: The 'Pivot Position' command will match the pivot position of an item, to the pivot position of another without actually moving the item itself, it only affect the center position and ignores rotations and scale. To use, select the first item whose pivot you wish to edit, then shift select the second item whose pivot position you wish to match and click the 'Pivot Position' command. If you can't find it, it is a popup command under 'Match Position', if you LMB click and hold, the popup will allow you to select the alternate tool.
Match Rotation: The 'Match Rotation' command will match the rotation of two items based on their center points. Selection order matters, as the first item selected is rotated to match the rotation of the second item selected. Subsequent selection will be ignored, as will position and scale of the items.
Center Rotation: The 'Center Rotation' command will match an items center rotation to that of another item, without actually rotating the item itself. To use, select the first item whose center you wish to edit, then shift select the second item whose center rotation you wish to match and click the 'Center Rotation' command. If you can't find it, it is a popup command under 'Match Rotation', if you LMB click and hold, the popup will allow you to select the alternate tool.
Pivot Rotation: The 'Pivot Rotation' command will match an items pivot rotation to that of another item, without actually rotating the item itself. To use, select the first item whose pivot you wish to edit, then shift select the second item whose pivot rotation you wish to match and click the 'Pivot Rotation' command. If you can't find it, it is a popup command under 'Match Rotation', if you LMB click and hold, the popup will allow you to select the alternate tool.
Match Scale: The 'Item Scale' command will match an items scale value to that of another's. To use, select the items whose scale you wish to modify, shift-select a second item whose scale you wish to match and click the 'Item Scale' command. The scale value will now match for both items.
Match... : The match tool will allow the user to select precisely how two or more selected items are matched. Before, invoking the command, you'll want to make your item selections. Selection order is important, the first item selected, is the item whose properties will be edited to match the properties of subsequent item selections. Use shift key and LMB-click to select additional items in the 3D viewport. Once you have the items selected, you can click the 'Match...' tool to open the popup requestor.
Mode: Mode selects what is being affected, 'Item' modifies the item itself, 'Center' will modify only the items center point and 'Pivot' will modify only the items 'Pivot' point.
Type: 'Type' specifies what value will be matched from one item to another. Option to choose either 'Position', 'Rotation' or 'Scale'.
Axis: 'Axis' specifies what axis will be matched from one item to another. Option to choose between 'X', 'Y', 'Z' or 'All'.
Average: Enabling the "Average' function will tell modo to average the values of subsequent item selections. The first selection is the item whose values are modified, if the average checkbox is enabled, and two more items were selected whose scale was 200% and 300% respectively, then the first item would be scaled to 250%, the average of the last two items selected. This will work for any type of value. If you wish to center an item between several others, you could simply select the item you wish to center and then shift-select the other items, set match to Mode:Item, Type:Position, Axis:All and enable average, the first item selected would now be centered between all the other items that were selected.
Align...: When setting up item hierarchies for Inverse Kinematics, a parents center position must point toward its child's center position. If the items in the hierarchy were created off-axis, meaning they are rotated away from any of the axes planes, the 'Align' command will rotate the center position of the item to align directly toward its child's center. To use, select the target item layer in the hierarchy you wish to affect, and run the command. The dialog box offers some options-
Mode: Choose to modify either the items 'Center or 'Pivot' rotations.
Orientation: Options to select the orientation of the center item when rotated, 'Direction' defines the axis that will point toward the child, while 'Axis' the actual orientation
Up Axis: Users can choose to use the 'Scene' or one of the three world axes for rotation.
Negative Axis: Orients the 'Up Axis' in the negative direction when enabled.
