Manipulators preferences

Manipulator sizes

Global scale: Specifies the size of the manipulators. The range is from 0.10 to 10.00.
Handle size: Specifies the size of the handle. The range is from 4 to 100.
Line size: Specifies the line thickness size of the rotate manipulator’s rings.
Line pick size: Determines the line thickness used when picking the rotate manipulator rings. The pick size should be the same as line size, so you can identify which handle will be picked by the size of the ring.
Previous state size: Controls the size of the points drawn for a previous feedback. For example, for the Move Tool, an axis is drawn to indicate the previous position, with square points at the end of the axes. This controls the size of the squares.

Rotate and scale manipulators also have previous state feedback. This type of feedback is shown only when you drag; it disappears as soon as you release the mouse.

Show Manipulator

Default manipulator

You can specify a Default Manipulator option in the Show Manipulator section to control what manipulator, if any, appears when you select the Show Manipulator Tool. The Default Manipulator options include:

None: Does not display a manipulator.
Translate: Displays the Move Tool’s manipulator.
Rotate: Displays the Rotate Tool’s manipulator.
Scale: Displays the Scale Tool’s manipulator.
Transform: Displays the Transform (triple) manipulator.
Smart: Checks the first child and if it is a shape displays the history manipulator for the shape. Otherwise displays the Transform (triple) manipulator. This is the default.

Component Manipulators

Reposition using middle mouse button: Reposition the move, rotate, and scale manipulators using the middle mouse button in component mode. This moves the pivot point and manipulator in a single action.

When you -click on an area of the screen, the manipulator moves to that location and immediately is active. This is useful with the Rotate Tool as the pivot point and the manipulator move in a single action.