Fractal Architect 5 Help Index
Using the Tetrahedron Viewport
Applies to:FA 5
2D transforms are shown as a 2D triangle. 3D transforms are represented as a 3D tetrahedron. A tetrahedron is a solid object with 4 triangular faces (3 of these are editable).
Using either the mouse or trackpad, the graphical Tetrahedron viewport is used to modify the selected matrix’s values (shown as a 3D tetrahedron).
The tetrahedron is a convenient way of showing the selected 3D matrix’s parameter values and allowing you to easily modify its values.
The tetrahedron has 4 vertexes called:
- To (Black vertex)
- Tx (Blue vertex)
- Ty (Red vertex)
- Tz (Green vertex)
Note how 3 of the vertexes have colored lines (that are the same color as its vertex). These lines can be grabbed with the mouse and dragged to rotate the tetrahedron.
As solid objects, showing all of the transforms at once is not feasible. Tetrahedrons might overlap or be contained inside another (and thus be invisible). So the Tetrahedron editor only shows 1 tetrahedron at a time.
Changing Viewport Zoom Magnification
If the tetrahedron is either too small or too big to work with, the zoom magnification can be adjusted by:
- Rolling the middle mouse wheel forward/backward to zoom out/in.
- Drag two fingers up/down on the trackpad to zoom out/in.
For example:
to
This operation does not change the 3D transform (just the camera’s zoom).
Moving the center of the window relative to the tetrahedron
Click outside of the tetrahedron and drag the mouse. The tetrahedron will move sideways in the view. This operation does not change the 3D transform (just the camera’s location).
You can always reset the camera orientation by clicking the Reset Pan and Zoom button.
Tetrahedron Editor Camera
The Camera lets you view the tetrahedron from any orientation. The background skybox image gives you some feedback on the camera’s orientation.
Important !! The camera’s orientation sets both the rotation axis and the 3D plane in which the vertexes are moved by editing operation.
Change Camera Orientation First
The Camera Orientation is very important. It defines an arbitrary axis of rotation for the tetrahedron (see rotation below). It also defines the plane in which the tetrahedron will be translated by mouse dragging.
The Tetrahedron editor view shows a simple image scene in the background. This scene helps you to “see” the camera’s orientation. (So you know if you are looking down/up/left/right)
The camera’s orientation (rotation) relative to the tetrahedron can be changed in two ways. When changing the camera’s orientation, always the Option key must be held down.
- Press and hold the Option key. Click (anywhere in the view) and drag with the mouse. Release the Option key.
- Press and hold the Option key. Press the arrow keys. The Shift key can be pressed to access a 3rd rotation option. Release the Option key.
You can always reset the camera orientation by clicking the Reset Pan and Zoom button.
Selecting which tetrahedron to view/edit
- Click on one of the rows in the Transform list.
Moving (translation of) the Tetrahedron
Note: set your Camera orientation first. It does effect the actual 3D movement of the tetrahedron by this procedure.
Move the mouse inside the tetrahedron until the hand cursor is shown. Click-drag the tetrahedron to another location. (Note the tetrahedron is moved in the plane perpendicular to the view camera’s orientation axis.)
This operation does change the 3D transform.
Rotating the Tetrahedron
Note: set your Camera orientation first. It defines the axis of rotation about which the tetrahedron will be rotated.
Move the mouse over either a red, blue or green line until the rotation cursor is visible. Click-drag to rotate the tetrahedron around the view camera’s orientation axis. This operation does change the 3D transform.
Shrinking/expanding (scaling of) the Tetrahedron
Move the mouse to a spot, opposite the endpoint having a black square, until the zoom cursor is visible. Click-drag the triangle to another location.
This operation does change the 3D transform.
Adjusting location of just one of the Tetrahedron’s endpoints (Skew)
Move the mouse over a tetrahedron vertex until the translate cursor is visible. Click-drag the endpoint to another location. (Note the tetrahedron is moved in the plane perpendicular to the view camera’s orientation axis.)
This operation does change the 3D transform.
Other Tetrahedron View operations
Coarse/Fine/Very Fine Switch
Select Fine for slower triangle changes from mouse dragging or arrow key presses.
Select V. Fine for much slower tetrahedron changes from mouse dragging or arrow key presses.
Adjusting the Size and Location of Triangles
- Use middle mouse button or do a two finger vertical sweep on trackpad to adjust the tetrahedron’s size.
- Click and drag outside the tetrahedron to move the entire grid around. Clicking inside a tetrahedron will drag that selected tetrahedron around.
- Click Reset Pan & Zoom button to reset the tetrahedron’s size and location to default.