---
title: "The Rotate Tool of Maxon Redshift for Architects"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/html/Tool_Rotate.html"
section_path: "The Tool Palette > Rotate Tool"
description: "In Redshift for Architects, the Rotate Tool is the standard tool for rotation objects in the scene. You can also intuitively restrict rotations along specific directions."
---

# The Rotate Tool

This tool allows you to select objects by clicking on them and then interactively rotate them in place. Unlike the [Move Tool](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/html/Tool_Move.html.md), this tool can only be used to change rotations. Various graphic elements are displayed around the position of the selected object to offer options for the direction of rotation.

As already mentioned, simply left-clicking on the object you want to rotate in the viewport or in the [Objects List](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/html/Objects_List.html.md) is enough to select it. However, you can also select multiple objects at once and then rotate them together. To do this, hold down the `ctrl` (Windows) or `cmd` key (macOS) while clicking to add more objects to a selection. Objects selected by mistake can be deselected by `ctrl`/`cmd`-clicking on them again.

If multiple objects have been selected, the tool’s axis system marks the average position of these objects.

**Quick Navigation**

- Interactive Elements
- Special Functions
- Using exact values

---

## Interactive Elements

[Video: Rotate_Tool_01.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Rotate_Tool_01.mp4)

The rotation of selected objects can be carried out in different ways or restricted:

- *Free rotation*: Hold down the left mouse button while the mouse pointer is not over one of the rotation bands of the selected object and at the same time inside of the gray circle. The mouse movement is then transferred directly to the free rotation of the object around all three axis directions.
- *Rotation around the cameras viewing direction*: If the mouse pointer is placed outside of the gray circle and not on one of the colored rotation bands, the selected object can only be rotated around the current line of sight between the objct and the camera.
- *Restricted rotation around one axis*: Each of the three colored bands represents a direction of rotation around the corresponding axis of the selected object.\
  The red band represents rotation around the object's X-axis,\
  the green band represents rotation around the Y-axis,\
  and the blue band represents rotation around the object's Z-axis.\
  If you place the mouse pointer over one of these bands, it will be highlighted in white for confirmation. If you now hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse, the object can be rotated around the direction of the rotation band.

## Special Functions

Rotating a selected object can also be combined with additional keyboard shortcuts. It is important to **first** press the left mouse button and then hold down the corresponding key:

- Holding `cmd` (Mac) /`ctrl` (Windows) in combination with the left mouse button will create a copy of the rotated object.

  [Video: Rotate_Tool_02.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Rotate_Tool_02.mp4)

- By holding down the `shift` key in addition to the left mouse button, an object can be rotated in fixed increments (quantization) of 5°.\
  Without the `shift` key, any small angle of rotation is possible.

  [Video: Rotate_Tool_03.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Rotate_Tool_03.mp4)

## Using exact values

Positions, Scale values and Rotation angles can also be read or entered precisely without having to use the interactive tools in the viewport. To do this, simply select the corresponding object and ensure that the [Scene](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/html/Interface.html.md) area on the right-hand side is open. In the *Objects* area, below the list of all scene elements, you will find the *Transform* area, where you can read the **Position**, **Rotation**, and **Scale** of the object.

![The Transform section offers numerical values for input.](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Transform_01.png)

The Transform section allows you to view and edit the **Position**, **Rotation** angles, and the **Scale** of the selected object.

Values can be edited directly by clicking into the value fields and hitting `Return`/`Enter`.\
When the mouse pointer is placed over a value input field, small arrow symbols appear to the left and right of the value. These can be clicked and combined with additional key combinations to reduce or increase the value in specific increments or even reset a setting to its default value:

- *Clicks on the arrows*: Clicking on the left arrow decreases, clicking on the right arrow increases a value by 1.
- *`Shift`-Clicks on the arrows*: This allows the value to be reduced or increased by 10 units per click.
- *`Alt`-Clicks on the arrows*: This allows the value to be reduced or increased by .1 units per click.
- *Right-Clicks on the arrows*: This automatically resets the value to the default value. For the **Position** and **Rotation** values, this is 0 in each case, and for **Scale**, it is 1 for each of the components. This centers an object again—relative to the parent system—aligns it neutrally, and resets it to its original size.

[Video: Transform_Shortcuts_01.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Transform_Shortcuts_01.mp4)

The video demonstrates the various uses of the arrow keys while editing values.

> **Note:** The *Transform* values can also be applied to multiple objects selected at the same time, as shown in the following image. The number of elements selected simultaneously is displayed next to their names above the *Transform* area.
>
> ![Multiple values can be selected and edited together.](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Transform_02.png)
>
> The term “*Mixed*” is displayed in those value fields where the objects have different values. However, values can still be entered anywhere, which are then applied identically to all selected objects. This allows you to edit the **Rotation** angles, the **Scale** or Y **Position** of multiple objects at the same time, for example.

While the three number fields for **Position** and **Scale** represent the position or scale of the object along the X, Y, and Z axes, respectively, HPB rotation angles are used for **Rotation**. The abbreviation *HPB* stands for *Heading*, *Pitch*, and *Bank* and has the advantage over specifying rotation angles around the X, Y, and Z axes in that the order in which an object is rotated around individual axes has no effect on the final orientation. Only for the first rotation around individual axes is the result identical to rotations around X, Y, or Z. The terms **Heading**, **Pitch**, and **Bank** stand for:

- **Heading** (yaw): Rotation around the vertical object axis (usually the Y-axis). Represents the alignment to the left or right.
- **Pitch**: Rotation around the horizontal direction axis (usually the X axis). Moves the "nose" of the object up or down.
- **Bank** (Roll): Rotation around the longitudinal axis (usually the Z axis). Tilts the object sideways.

[Video: Transform_HPB_01.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Transform_HPB_01.mp4)

The video above illustrates that individual rotations from the neutral orientation around individual axes function almost identically when HPB values are entered for **Rotation**. The only difference seems to be that during rotation, the first input field does not represent the X-axis as usual, but rather the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, the second rotation value is responsible for rotations around the X-axis direction. The third value therefore controls the rotation around the Z-axis.

As can be seen in the following video, this similarity changes when an object has already been rotated in multiple directions. Even if it is only rotated around one axis, all three **Rotation** angles are automatically adjusted. This automatic angle conversion to the HPB system is particularly helpful in animation, e.g., of camera angles, as the order of the HPB angles no longer matters when assigning them to the object. In relation to a camera, the identical viewing direction will always be calculated, regardless of the order in which the H, P, and B angles are interpolated and evaluated during the animation.\
HPB angles always ensure that the most direct direction of rotation is implemented in angle animations, thus avoiding unsightly swings in alignment.

[Video: Transform_HPB_02.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/rva/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Transform_HPB_02.mp4)