Using the Figure Circle Control
Dragging over a figure in the Document Window highlights the various body parts, but if you move the mouse cursor towards the edges of the figure, a large circle appears that surrounds the figure, as shown in Figure 3-1. This circle is the Figure Circle control and it enables the entire figure to be translated. If the Figure Circle control isn’t visible, select the Display, Figure Circle menu command to make it visible. Clicking and dragging on this control lets you edit the entire figure using the various Editing tools, including translating, rotating, and scaling the entire figure. A complete description of the various Editing tools appears later in this chapter.

You can also make the Figure Circle control appear by selecting the Body option in the Actor list.

Changing Figure Parameters
In addition to the Figure Circle control and the Editing tools, you can also change a figure’s position and orientation using the Parameter values found in the Parameters palette. You change these parameter values by dragging on the dial controls or by entering a new value. Doing so updates the figure in the Document Window.

Dropping a Figure to the Floor
As figures are moved, you can position them above or below the ground plane, which can make it look like they are walking on air or in the ground. The figure shadow is a good indication if the figure is above the ground plane, but there is a feature that can return the figure to the ground plane. The Figure, Drop to Floor (Ctrl/Command+D) menu command moves the selected figure downward or upward until it contacts the ground plane. The Drop to Floor command also works if part of the figure is positioned below the ground plane.

The Drop to Floor command simply moves the figure until the lowest body part is touching the floor. This could be a finger or a toe; the command doesn’t compensate for body weight.

Locking Figures
Once you have a figure positioned exactly where you want it, you can lock it so it won’t be moved by accident. To lock the selected figure, select Figure, Lock Figure. Body parts of a locked figure also cannot be moved. A check mark appears in the Figure menu next to the Lock Figure menu when it is enabled. To unlock a figure, simply select Figure, Lock Figure again.

The Figure menu also includes a command to Lock Hands Parts. Locking the hands is helpful. Because the hands include so many different parts, it is easy to select the wrong part accidentally.

Memorizing and Restoring a Figure
If you make a mistake while positioning a figure, you can use Edit, Undo to undo the previous edits or you can restore the figure to its last saved, loaded, or memorized position using the Edit, Restore, Figure (Ctrl+Shift+F) (or Command+Shift+F on the Mac) menu command. To memorize a figure's current position so you can restore it, use Edit, Memorize, Figure (Alt+Ctrl+F) (Mac: Option+Command+F).

In addition to figures, you can also use the Memorize and Restore commands on Elements, Lights, Cameras, and All items.