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<title xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">Using a Grid</title>
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<a xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" name="hj-top"> </a><table xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" class="table1" id="table11"><tr><td><table class="DocHeader"><tr><td class="DocHeader1" colspan="2"><h1>Using a Grid</h1></td></tr><tr><td class="DocHeader4" colspan="2"/></tr><tr><td class="DocHeader3"><table class="DocHeaderIntro" id="table12"><tr><td class="Intro1Only"><p class="header"><p class="abstract"><span class="shortdesc">Grids are planes that help you precisely place and align actors in 3D space.
    For example, use grids to position lights and cameras around your model.</span>

    
  
<p><span class="run-in">Tip:
		</span>To restrict placement of actors to grid lines only, select 
<a class="xref" href="cps-r-ui-StatusBar.htm" title="The status bar is located at the bottom of the Composer window. It displays instructions for using commands and other useful information, and it contains several commands.">Grid Mode</a> 
<img class="image" src="../Icons3DVIA/I_CPSGridMode.png"/> in the status bar.</p>
</p>

</p></td></tr></table></td><td class="DocHeader2"><table class="DocTopics" id="table13"><tr><td class="TopicsTitle">Related Topics</td></tr><tr><td><a href="cps-r-Ribbon-Author.htm#r-ToolsCommands" class="link" title="Grids and magnetic lines help you place and align actors in your scene.">Tools Commands</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="cps-c-ActorsPlaceAlign-GridsMagneticLines.htm#cps-c-ActorsPlaceAlign-GridsMagneticLines" class="link" title="This topic explains what you need to know before you get started with grids and magnetic lines.">About Grids and Magnetic Lines</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

  

  
  
  <div class="body taskbody">
    
    <ol class="ol steps">
      <li class="stepexpand"><p class="li step">Click <span class="ph menucascade"><span class="ph uicontrol">Author</span> &gt; <span class="ph uicontrol" id="cps-t-ActorsPlaceAlign-Grid__Grid_on_Part">Create Grid on Geometry</span></span> <img class="image" src="../Icons3DVIA/I_CPSGridOnPart.png"/>.</p></li>

      <li class="stepexpand"><p class="li step">
        
          Click a geometry actor in the viewport or Assembly pane.
        
        <p> The grid is attached to the local frame of the selected geometry actor. <br/><img class="image" src="../CpsUserImages/Grid.png"/><br/>

          
        <p>Note:
		You can also create a grid at the location defined by vertices or axes you select by clicking <span class="ph uicontrol" id="cps-t-ActorsPlaceAlign-Grid__Grid_Custom">Create Grid</span> <img class="image" src="../Icons3DVIA/I_CPSGridCustom.png"/>. In this case, the resulting grid is not associated with any actor.</p>
</p>
      </p></li>

      <li class="stepexpand"><p class="li step">
        
          Resize or position the grid as needed.
        
        
<table border="1" frame="hsides" rules="rows" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" class="simpletable choicetable choicetableborder">
<thead><tr><th valign="bottom" align="left" id="d217424e63-option">To...</th>
<th valign="bottom" align="left" id="d217424e63-desc">Do this...</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="strow chrow"><td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-option" id="d217424e71" class="stentry choption"><strong>Resize the grid</strong></td>
	<td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-desc d217424e71" class="stentry chdesc">Drag a corner anchor 
<img class="image" src="../CpsUserImages/ArrowAnchorsTip.png"/>. Press 
<span class="ph uicontrol">Ctrl</span> for symmetric changes, 
<span class="ph uicontrol">Shift</span> to maintain the aspect ratio, or 
<span class="ph uicontrol">Ctrl</span> and 
<span class="ph uicontrol">Shift</span> for both.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="strow chrow"><td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-option" id="d217424e91" class="stentry choption"><strong>Move the grid</strong></td>
	<td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-desc d217424e91" class="stentry chdesc">Drag its origin anchor 
<img class="image" src="../CpsUserImages/ArrowAnchorsTip.png"/>.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="strow chrow"><td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-option" id="d217424e99" class="stentry choption"><strong>Rotate your scene to make the grid parallel to your screen</strong></td>
	<td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-desc d217424e99" class="stentry chdesc">Double-click the grid. Double-clicking again flips the scene.
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="strow chrow"><td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-option" id="d217424e105" class="stentry choption"><strong>Make actors snap to grid lines</strong></td>
	<td valign="top" headers="d217424e63-desc d217424e105" class="stentry chdesc">Click 
<span class="ph uicontrol">Grid Mode</span> 
<img class="image" src="../Icons3DVIA/I_CPSGridMode.png"/> in the lower-right corner of the Composer window.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>

      </p></li>

      
      
      
    </ol>

    
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