3ds max scale an object from only one side

[RadioRahim]

I want to scale a plane from oe side only, leaving one edge in place. In other answers, people have said to use 'block's but did not describe how to do this. 

How can i make blocks to help me scale an object in one direction?

[leeminardi]

Does the following not do what you want?

1. Move the object's pivot point to the side that is to remain stationary.

2. Use non-uniform scaling to modify the part.

If not, what type of geometry are you working with?  E.d., Editable mesh, soldi,...

[RadioRahim]

thanks for your reply. 

Does the following not do what you want?

1. Move the object's pivot point to the side that is to remain stationary.

2. Use non-uniform scaling to modify the part

Im not sure how to move the object's pivot point, and I thought maybe there was an easier way to do this without having to do that.
I have to be very careful with those pivot points because if they move, when I export the obj the coordinates can get screwed up. I would be happy to try that if there was a way to reset all teh pivot points to 0,0,0 afterwards.  

I am working with a 2d plane for this example. 

[leeminardi]

To move the pivot point go to the Hierarchy tab click Pivot and Affect Pivot only.  It is probably best to be using world coordinates when you do this.

To scale in one direction click the Select and Non-uniform Scale button and place the cursor over the arrowhead of the axis you want to stretch. To get a precise scale factor I like to use the Transform Type-in tool (F12).

[bob.bernstein]

you should explore this freely.  No need to be cautious.  Just make backup copies of your scene, and experiment.  You'll be pleasantly surprised.  You can find the tools to adjust the pivot in the hierarchy tab (just to the right of the Modify tab) click impact pivot only, and then snap your pivot to the end of the part that should be stationary.  When done with your edits, you can click "center pivot to object", which will center the pivot.  

Another option would be to enable a "working pivot" from the same heirarchy menu, and place that where you want it using the "edit working pivot" button.  Use working pivot button is a toggle, so after you place the working pivot on the desired edge, with Use working pivot depressed, do your edit.  When done unclick Use working pivot, and you'll have your desired geometry without impacting your actual pivot.  

[RadioRahim]

thanks for the reply. I tried this with both proposed solutions but it is still scaling the same way. please see this video:  

[leeminardi]

MOVE the pivot, do not scale it (your video has you scaling the pivot, not moving it). Then SCALE the object.  When the inner scale gizmo is filled in you are doing a uniform scale.  That is why I said to place the cursor over the arrowhead of the scale icon.

[RadioRahim]

sorry im so new to this. Its not working! i dont know how to move the pivot. In the video, it seemed like to me I was scaling the plane, not the pivot.  Without a visual cue of how to do this it seems all very all abstract to me. 

If there are any videos out there please let me know. 

[bob.bernstein]

search for "move tool" in help.

[RadioRahim]

ok i have moved the pivot, and you can see in this video whats going here. Perhaps this might shed some light:

[leeminardi]

After moving the pivot you need to unselect Affect Pivot only before scaling the object.  I made a screencast of the process but it is still being processed.

[bob.bernstein]

http://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2015/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-D2A59192-0A81-49D5-AAA1-E6898D0B3...

[RadioRahim]

"After moving the pivot you need to unselect Affect Pivot only before scaling the object."

If you see at the end of my second video, I did just this, and the plane is still being scaled in either direction.
I want one side of the plane to remain exactly where it is while I am scaling it the other direction. This seems like a very complicated way of simply trying to transform somthing from one side. Is there not a way to select the side I want to remain still and transform the plane from there?

[leeminardi · Accepted solution]

Here's the Screencast. Not so complicated!

[RadioRahim]

thanks for this it really helped. One thing though now is that there is a little yellow box that follows my cursor around when snap is on
What do i 'uncheck' to revert back to normal?

[leeminardi]

Click the Snaps Toggle button to turn off snaps!