---
title: "Inputs"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_NEUTRON_NODE_ALIGN-NET_MAXON_NODE_BASE_GROUP_INPUTS.html"
section_path: "The Node Editor > The individual Assets > Math > Alignment > Inputs"
element_id: "NET_MAXON_NEUTRON_NODE_ALIGN"
group_id: "NET_MAXON_NODE_BASE_GROUP_INPUTS"
description: "Here you can select the axis along which the matrix that is created should point. This is the only alignment that you can fully define yourself and that …"
---

## Inputs

### Axis

Parameter ID: `AXIS`

Here you can select the axis along which the matrix that is created should point. This is the only alignment that you can fully define yourself and that the matrix will definitely use. You can select from X, Y or Z. These directions are known to other Nodes such as the Vectors to Matrix Node as V1, V2 and V3, respectively.

### Direction

Parameter ID: `DIRECTION` · Range: [XYZ ]

Here you can define the direction in which the matrix's **Axis** should be aligned. This can, for example, be the directional vector to a target point.

### Orientation

Parameter ID: `SECONDARY` · Range: [XYZ ]

This is an additional vector with which you can define the position of both matrix axes that are not defined by the **Direction** setting. The **Orientation** will only rarely be assumed precisely by one of the matrix axes because all of a matrix's axes must run perpendicular to one another and already have an orientation defined by the **Direction** setting. Nevertheless, the Orientation setting can help define the matrix's final position and can also be used to control the rotation around the **Axis**. If **Axis** is set to X or Y, the matrix's Z axis will be calculated as closely as possible to the defined **Orientation**. If **Axis** is set to Z, the **Orientation** value will be applied to the matrix's Y axis.