Fractal Architect 4 Help Index

Using the Triangle Viewport

Applies to:FA 4

Using either the mouse or trackpad, the graphical Triangle viewport can be used to modify the selected matrix’s values (shown as a triangle). You can press the Up, Down, Right, or Left keys too as an alternative to using the mouse. (The Coarse/Fine switch also affects the amount of change made by each key press.)

The triangle is a convenient way of showing the selected matrix’s parameter values and allowing you to easily modify its values

Viewing either one or all triangles at once

In the Triangle editing options panel, click either the Selected or All position of the Which Transform switch.

Selecting which triangle to view/edit
  1. Click on one of the rows in the Transform list.
  2. Change the viewport to view all triangles and click on a different triangle.

All Triangles after clicking All Triangles 2

Note: if several transforms share the same triangle setting, only one them can be selected this way.

Changing Viewport Zoom Magnification

If the triangles are either too small or too big to work with, the zoom magnification can be adjusted by:

For example:

All Triangles 3 to All Triangles 4

Using the Arrow keys on the Keyboard

The arrow keys can be used instead of the mouse/trackpad to modify a triangle in the following sections. The operation applied is dependent on the cursor shape shown (see the images below). You can hold down the arrow key and auto-repeat the key press. It will apply the same triangle change operation as the initial key press in the auto-repeat key sequence.

Moving (translation of) the Triangle

Move the mouse inside a triangle until the hand cursor is visible. Click-drag the triangle to another location.

Triangle Hand
Triangle Hand
Rotating the Triangle

Move the mouse over either a blue or red line a triangle until the rotation cursor is visible. Click-drag to enlarge/shrink the triangle .

Triangle Rotate
Triangle Rotate
Shrinking/expanding (scaling of) the Triangle

Move the mouse to the triangle opposite the endpoint having a black square until the zoom cursor is visible. Click-drag the triangle to another location.

Triangle Scale
Triangle Scale
Adjusting location of just one of the Triangle’s endpoints (Skew)

Move the mouse to the triangle over a triangle endpoint until the tranlate cursor is visible. Click-drag the endpoint to another location.

Triangle Endpoint
Triangle Endpoint

Other Triangle View operations

Choosing Between Grid and Image Views

Adjust the Show Grid/Image toggle switch.
Triangle Editor - Grid View
Triangle Editor - Grid View
Triangle Editor - Image View
Triangle Editor - Image View

Coarse/Fine/Very Fine Switch

Select Fine for slower triangle changes from mouse dragging or arrow key presses.
New ! Select V. Fine for much slower triangle changes from mouse dragging or arrow key presses.

Adjusting the Size and Location of Triangles

  1. Use middle mouse button or do a two finger vertical sweep on trackpad to adjust the triangle sizes.
  2. Click and drag outside all triangles to move the entire grid around. Clicking inside a triangle will drag that selected triangle around.
  3. Click Reset Pan & Zoom button to reset the triangle sizes and location to defaut.