Controlling Grid Size for Snapping

When snapping to the grid, elements snap to intersections of the grid lines. You can control the spacing of the intersections by setting the size of the cells between lines. For example, this would be useful if you wanted to place rivets at precise intervals along a metal plate.

The grid that is active for snapping depends on the manipulation mode:

The XYZ manipulation modes — Global, Local, Par, Object, and Ref — use the Snap Increments set in the Transform preferences. They do not use the visible floor/grid displayed in 3D views.
View mode uses the Floor/Grid Setup set in the Camera Visibility property editor.
Plane mode uses the Snap Size set in the Reference Plane property editor.

Setting the Grid Snapping Increments for XYZ Modes

When snapping to the grid in Global, Local, Par, Object, and Ref modes, the Snap Increments options in the Transform preferences are used. The visible floor/grid that is displayed in the 3D views is not used for snapping in the XYZ modes. However, you can copy the Snap Increment values to and from the visible floor/grid display of a 3D view — this lets you maintain a visual reference for the active grid when using XYZ modes. Whenever the grid for snapping does not match the displayed floor/grid, an orange snapping grid is overlaid on the view.

To set the grid snapping increments for XYZ modes

Open the Transform preferences by choosing Transform Transform Preferences.
Set Snap Increments - Translate. Values are in Softimage units.

When snapping to the grid in Global, Local, Par, Object, or Ref mode, the element you are manipulating will snap at exact multiples of the new value.

To copy the visible grid increments to the grid snapping increments

Open the Camera Visibility property editor.
- To do this for a single 3D view, press Shift+S while the mouse pointer is over the view, or click the eye icon (Show menu) and choose Visibility Options.
- To do this for all open 3D views, choose Display Visibility Options (All Cameras) from the main menu bar.
On the Visual Cues tab, set the U and V Snap Size under Floor/Grid Setup if necessary. Values are in Softimage units.
Click Copy to Translate Snap Increments.

The U Snap Size value is copied to the Snap Increments - Translate parameter of the Transform preferences.

When snapping to the grid in Global, Local, Par, Object, or Ref mode, the element you are manipulating will snap at exact multiples of the new Snap Increments - Translate value.

To copy the visible grid increments from the grid snapping increments

Open the Camera Visibility property editor.
- To do this for a single 3D view, press Shift+S while the mouse pointer is over the view, or click the eye icon (Show menu) and choose Visibility Options.
- To do this for all open 3D views, choose Display Visibility Options (All Cameras) from the main menu bar.
Click Copy from Translate Snap Increments.

The value of the Snap Increments - Translate parameter in the Transform preferences is copied to the U and V Snap Size parameters.

The visible floor/grid in the view port updates with the new cell size, which now reflects the grid used for snapping in Global, Local, Par, Object, or Ref mode.

Setting the Grid Snapping Increments for View Mode

When snapping to the grid in View mode, the settings under Floor/Grid Setup on the Visual Cues tab of the Camera Visibility property of the corresponding 3D view are used.

To set the grid snapping increments for View mode

Open the Camera Visibility property editor.
- To do this for a single 3D view, press Shift+S while the mouse pointer is over the view, or click the eye icon (Show menu) and choose Visibility Options.
- To do this for all open 3D views, choose Display Visibility Options (All Cameras) from the main menu bar.
On the Visual Cues tab, set the U and V Snap Size under Floor/Grid Setup. Values are in Softimage units.

When snapping to the grid in View mode, the element you are manipulating snaps to exact multiples of the snap size.

Setting the Grid Snapping Increments for Plane Mode

When snapping to the grid in Plane mode, the Snap Size values set in the Reference Plane property editor are used.

To set the grid snapping increments for Plane mode

Open the property editor of the current reference plane by right-clicking on Plane and choosing Current Reference Properties.
Set the U and V Snap Size.

When snapping to the grid in Plane mode, the element you are manipulating will snap at exact multiples of the new value.