Modeling Toolkit preferences

 
 
 

General

Auto-Activate Modeling Toolkit
The Auto-Activate Modeling Toolkit option forces Maya to use the Modeling Toolkit's selection and transformation tools. When enabled, the Modeling Toolkit's tools are always used regardless of whether the Modeling Toolkit is active or not. When disabled, the Modeling Toolkit's tools are only used when they are selected from the Modeling Toolkit window.
On pressing active component mode button
The following options determine what happens when an already active component mode button is selected:
Toggle out of Component Mode
When enabled, Maya switches to object mode and the Modeling Toolkit is deactivated.
Use Custom Command
When enabled, any custom MEL commands that are entered in this field are added to the hotbox and executed.
Select Dead Space Range
Sets the Dead Space Range in which you want Maya to look for components. Dead space is the empty regions surrounding an object in the scene. If this range is greater than 0 and your cursor is in dead space, Maya highlights the nearest component that falls within the range. By default, Select Dead Space Range is set to 4 pixels.
Tweak Dead Space Range
Sets the Tweak Dead Space Range in which you want Maya to look for components. If this range is greater than 0 and you are in tweak mode, Maya highlights the nearest component that falls within the range. By default, Tweak Dead Space Range is set to 120 pixels.

Manipulators

Free Rotate
Lets you use the center of the rotate manipulator to rotate an object freely. This option is enabled by default.
Prevent Negative Scaling
When enabled, Maya prevents negative scaling. For example, if you attempt to scale an object in Z when this option is enabled, it will not scale beyond the zero point of the Z-axis.
Center the translation manipulator for Custom Coordinate Space

Specifies where the translation manipulator is displayed. When this option is disabled, or when working with a custom pivot, the translation manipulator is displayed wherever you position it. When this option is on, the translation manipulator is always positioned on the selection center. See Translation manipulator.

NoteThis option has no effect on the rotation or scaling manipulators.

Update transformations in active view only
When enabled, all viewports are refreshed after each transformation. This option is disabled by default.
On Transform Tool switch
Specifies how the active manipulator handle is affected when you change between Modeling Toolkit transform tools. Select between Reset to Screen Handle and Keep Last Active Handle. See Transform tools.
On Selection change
Specifies how the active manipulator handle changes when you adjust your selection. Select between Reset to Screen Handle and Keep Last Active Handle.
Manipulator Pick Range
Sets the range within which the cursor must land before the manipulator handle is highlighted. The range is set to 4 pixels by default.
Plane handle offset
Sets the distance between the plane handles and the center of the manipulator. See Manipulators overview.
Hide Manipulator when
When the manipulator is hidden, selectable components are more visible, and you can more easily add or subtract components from your selection. This option lets you assign a hokey to hide the manipulator: Ctrl, Shift, and/or Ctrl + Shift.

Heads Up Display

This section contains options that display information over top of the view panel content.

Show Tool Mode
When enabled, displays the current tool mode. Tool mode includes any of the transform tools or mesh editing tools.
Show Coordinate Space
When enabled, displays the coordinate space (world, local, object, custom). See Coordinate space.
Show Soft Selection Info
When enabled, displays whether soft selection is on or off and the current falloff distance. See Soft selection mode.
Enable Dynamic HUD
When enabled, displays details for dynamic actions including extrusions, bevels, or soft selection resizing. For example, if you're resizing the soft selection falloff radius and Enable Dynamic HUD is enabled, the falloff radius value is displayed.

Colors

Use Inverted Cursor colors
When enabled, Maya uses inverted cursor colors. Disable this option if you use a dark background.
Soft Selection Colors
Sets the colors of the inner and outer part of a selection when Soft Selection is enabled.
Highlight Colors
Sets the colors of vertices, edges, and faces when Pick/Marquee selection mode or any transform tool is active.
Paint Selection Colors
Sets the colors of vertices, edges, and faces when Raycast selection mode is active.
Manipulator Handle
Sets the color of the active manipulator handle.
Opacity
Sets the level of transparency that is applied to the colors.

Keyboard/Mouse

Replace selection when not using modifier keys (Tab, Ctrl, or Shift) in raycast

This option controls the behavior of the Raycast selection tool. (See Selection modes and tools.

When this option is on:
  • Any paint selections performed will cause the entire selection to be replaced by the new selection.

When this option is off:

  • The first painted component determines whether a selection or deselection should occur. This is the same behavior used when holding the Tab key. If the first painted component is selected, all components passing beneath the cursor will become deselected. If the first painted component is not selected, all components passing beneath the cursor will be added to the selection.

Shift + MMB Drag
This option controls the behavior of +-drag while any of the Modeling Toolkit transformation tools are active.
Slides Components
Slide is used to transform the components, and the active handle is temporarily set to screen. This allows the components to slide without any constraints.
Slides Components using active manipulator handle
Slide is used to transform the components, and the transformation is constrained along whatever manipulator handle is active.
Engages Predictive Transformations
Based upon the direction of your mouse movement when dragging, Maya will activate the appropriate manipulator handle. For example, if the Y-axis happens to be pointing towards the top of the viewport and you +-drag upward, the Y-axis handle will be activated. This is consistent with the way the Maya manipulators behave when Shift is held. This applies only to the move and scale manipulators.
Ctrl + Shift + MMB Drag
Specifies the behavior of ++-drag while any of the Modeling Toolkit transformation tools are active.
Slides Components
Slide is used to transform the components, and the active handle is temporarily set to screen. This allows the components to be slid without any constraints.
Slides Components using active manipulator handle
Slide is used to transform the components, and the transformation is constrained along whatever manipulator handle is active.

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