Moho Forum

Is there an easy/automated way to mirror a shape across an axis? For example I am working on a left ear and would like to automatically mirror the ear to become the right ear on a symmetrical face.

Thanks

Copy and paste the shape and then either use the flip points button or scale it -1.

Yeah, but those just basically flip it in place.

I was wondering about mirroring so in addition to flipping, it would reposition the new shape a set distance from a central axis. This way a central point could be defined and then a series of shapes could be mirrored across it.

There's a trick for this I use. Not perfect but it helps.

Copy and paste the points to flip.

Without deselecting and using the Standard AS translation tool (not fazek's if you have his tools installed) change the value in the x translation box so it is the opposite of what ever is there.

If the pasted points x position is say -1.346 remove the minus sign and the points will "flip" to the other side on the axis which would be the center of the layer.

This flipping is of course based on the origin point of the layer. Changing the origin point has no effect on point translations. It is always based on the "actual" center point of the document.

What I do when developing a character that is symmetrical I start out keeping everything centered. This makes it easier to flip shapes and points using the technique above. Later when finished you can move things around.

p.s. I was working on a "mirror" tool that moves mirrored points based on a central axis. I never quite finished it. There is a custom magnet tool from Fazek (I think) that will mirror point translation based on user defined axis. I think if you turn the magnet setting way down it works almost like a mirror translation tool.

-vern

fazec's magnet tool has the option of use a custom mirror axis. Try it.
-G