Can't see/use manipulator tool when zoomed in close

[RobMeade]

Hello all,

My first post!  I'm very new to Maya so please be gentle 🙂

I find myself with a slight issue to which I'm sure someone more experienced will have an answer for. 

I'm using a reference image at the moment to create a model, I have an edge look which I want to scale, I'd like to be fairly precise and have zoomed in fairly close so that I can align some of the edges more vertically.

The problem I have is that when I zoom right in, the "manipulator" (I think that's the correct term) disappears out of the viewport.  I have a vert loop selection, and I'm assuming that, at least by default, the scale is performed based on the pivot which is where the manipulator seems to default to, which makes perfect sense.

I don't want to change the pivot, as I believe this would effect the scale, e.g. the verts in the loop would all be effected equally.

Is there any way to have the manipulator "float", so that it remains within the viewport and can be seen, it's handles can be grabbed, but it still retains the actual pivot point data when its used?

I can obviously zoom back out and by doing so I can access to the manipulator, but then I cannot be as accurate as I would like to be.

I see there are some options for the manipulator under Windows -> Settings/Preferences -> Preferences

Thanks in advance, Rob

[mspeer]

Hi!

Please try a lower value for camera attribute "Near Clip Plane".

[RobMeade]

Hi, thank you for such a prompt response, appreciated.

With regards to the suggestion, is this something I would find under the Settings/Preferences or elsewhere in the editor?

I found this under Settings/Preferences, then Cameras.  the "Near Clip" value is set to 0.1 by default, should I just try random lower values or is there something specific I should try?

I did include a screenshot in my original post, but oddly that, and a chunk of the text appears to have disappeared, I also don't appear to be able to edit my original post, is that perhaps because I'm a new member? (I could edit this reply though?!)

[mspeer]

Hi!

Make the value as small as needed.

[RobMeade]

Ok, could you tell me what this is supposed to change please?

I've changed it from 0.1 to 0.05 and in the viewports I'm not seeing any differences/changes at all?

[mspeer]

Hi!

Set to "0.001".

For further help, please upload a scene-file showing the problem.

[RobMeade]

Hi,

Ok, I tried that, still no joy.  So, here's some images and another go at trying to explain my issue (most likely a lack of understanding on my part!)...

In this first image, I am zoomed in a little bit, the full width of the model is displayed and, importantly, I can see the manipulator so that I can then move/scale easily.

Now, if I want to zoom in very closely to a specific area of this model to do some "fine tuning", once I zoom in, the manipulator tool is no longer visible in the viewport, in this image, it would be way off to the right somewhere.

So, whilst I can select an edge, or a vert, or an edge loop, I no longer have direct access to the manipulator in order to adjust things.

What I was trying to ask in the original post was, is there a way to have the manipulator still visible, even when zoom right in like this, but without changing the pivot point, for example, allowing it to "float", but the reference point it still relates to would be that of the first image. (like an undocked window, but with this gizmo instead).

Does the above help?  Sorry if I'm not explaining this very well, or not using terms that those more familiar with the product would use. 😕 

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

No that's not possible.

If the Manipulator is off screen you have to move it back into your visible Viewport area.

Why do you want to use the visual Manipulator for such kind of work? I recommend to use the Channel Box or the Attribute Editor to edit values, it's also far more precise (Edit Mesh -> Transform).

[RobMeade]

Hey,

Ah, ok, thanks.

Initially I assumed this, other than keyboard shortcuts was the main way to interact with the geometry, as its going to take me a while to learn the keyboard shortcuts I was just trying to find the easiest ways initially, whilst I start to learn etc.

I did find that using SHIFT+MMB seemed to offer some of the functionality I wanted with the scale/move tools, but on a few occasions I've inadvertently performed an unintended action which has caused me problems later.

Thank you for all of the replies and information though, and for confirming that you can't do what I'd hope perhaps was possible. 🙂