Move Pivot Point?

Support Basics & Interface
1

Hi,

Im learning blender after being a 3dsmax user for years and im having a little bit of a hard time!

How do i relocate an objects pivot point (im assuming its the little pink dot). is there a way to move it interactively, and also have blender move it to the center of an object automatically?

thanks

lostbear

2

I don’t know how to move it manually, but you can automatically move it to the centre of an object by going into the editing buttons (F9) and selecting ‘Centre New’ in the ‘Mesh’ panel.

3

thanks, that worked a treat!

4

Centre to Cursor will snap it to wherever the 3D cursor is.
(Left click to place that cursor or Shift-S for menu to snap it where you want it).

5

Your right the pink dot is the objects centre but where you pivot depends on which selection you have shown in pic below

http://mediawiki.blender.org/uploads/c/c6/Manual-Part-I-Quick13.png

you can move your objects centre using the the centre buttons shown below (middle area of pic)

http://mediawiki.blender.org/uploads/4/46/Reference-Panels-Mesh.png

centre = shifts object data to be centred about objects origin
centre new = shifts objects origin to centre of objects data
centre cursor = shifts object origin to cursor location

6

excellent, thanks very much hazza.

also, another quick question that I gave up on after poking around for 30 minutes. I model with silo and import into blender in OBJ format, but when it imports, it makes all the objects into one object. the first time i did it, they were separate! Id like to know how i managed it in the first place and also, how do I break off parts of a model into a seperate object on its own, so i can send it to a layer. I know how to put objects on a layer, i just want to know how to break bits off.

im really liking blender, ive only been using it for a couple of months. I managed to rig a basic caracter so far. The rig isnt amazing im just amazed i managed it! If you want a peek, look here - http://www.jamessteel.co.uk/work/personal/blender/blender.php

7

I dont know how to keep the parts seperate when you import them but to seperate parts of a mesh.
Pressing the P key while in edit mode give you the option to seperate selected or any loose parts of the mesh.

8

lostbear,

Although it may come in as a single object, it may contain multiple meshes. In edit mode, select a single vertex, then press Ctrl-L to select linked vertices, then press P to separate them if you wish.

Best of Luck!

9

thanks everyone one for tips, very helpful. My main trouble is that i know 3dsmax very well, and my brain is looking for certain things, but often they are called something more obscure in Blender so im not sure what to look for. I know there are guides for people moving from one app to another, from maya and lightwave, i dont believe there is one for max yet.

anyway, thanks to all those who have chipped in with help…no doubt i will have more questions!

cheers

LB