Can i scale my faces, edges by there normals?

[kjaft]

If i extrude a face for example, i get my scale,move tool on the face, i can move it in its normal direction. is there a way i can do this just stand alone? like if it could work on edges also , that would be amazing. exp, i just select a face, then i can move it by its normals, if i can do this im sure there is a scale for it as wel? im hoping there is a way to do this. tahnks for any help everyone.

[doms]

open up the option box for the move tool (modify>transformation tools>move) and set to "normal" then when you move faces... yup they move up or down their normals (easy when you know how)

[kjaft]

hmmm, i can only move vertices. i dont see any faces or edges moving? am i doing something wrong? can i scale or anything with a tool anyone know, by its normals i mean?

[warpcat]

I don't have Maya in front of me, but if you go to (I think) Edit Polygons->Move Component tool.... or something like that... it's at the bottom of the menu. That will let you translate, rotate, and scale components about their normals, etc. For some reason, not too many folk I talk to know about it... and I don't know why it's not listed with the other transformation tools.

[kjaft]

i belive that only works for like vertices. i used it before, i would guess there is a plugin somewhere.

[warpcat]

Edit Polygons -> Move Component. And it works on Faces, Edges, and Vertices, FYI.

[kjaft]

thanks warcraft. i always thought it worked just on vertices, causewhen i select a face noting happend i guess i have to be in object mode, then select? thanks again.

[warpcat]

Your problem might stem from workflow. You need to be in component mode to access the "Move Component" tool. I use the hotkeys: F9 for vertices, F10 for edges, F11 for faces, and F12 for UV's. This automatically puts you in component mode, and the tool works fine. It will NOT work if you RMB-marking menu->"face" select, because that leaves you in "object" mode, but selecting components.

[kjaft]

ahh! thats just perfect, thats all i needed to know that really is extremly helpful thanks warpcat.