[Figure 3-16] Editing tools 

Rotate (R)
Twist (W)
Translate/Pull (T)
Translate In/Out (Z)
Scale (S)
Taper (P)
Chain Break (L)
Color (C)
Grouping Tool
View Magnifier
Morphing Tool
Direct Manipulation

USE THE BASIC EDITING TOOLS
In order to pose figures, you need to learn how to move, rotate, twist, and scale the different figure elements. The Editing tools in Figure 3-16 can help you accomplish these tasks. You can open this set of tools using Window, Editing Tools. You can select only one editing tool at a time, with the current tool being highlighted in yellow.

The tools covered below are those available in the Pose room. Other tools are available in other rooms and these will be covered in the later chapters.You can use all the Editing tools also on figures and props in addition to body parts.

[Figure 3-17] Translated arms

Moving Figure Elements
One of the first places to start when posing a figure is to move the various elements. A good example of this is dragging the upper arm to raise or lower the entire arm. There are a couple of Editing tools you can use to move figure elements, including the Translate/Pull tool and the Translate In/Out tool.

When translating body parts, the body part highlighted in white moves when you drag in the Document Window. The red highlighted object is the current selection.

The Translate/Pull tool (T) is the one tool that is selected when Poser is first started. It allows you to move figure elements within the XY plane. The Translate In/Out tool (Z) moves the selected element in and out of the Z plane, which is towards or away from the current camera view. Figure 3-17 shows a simple pose accomplished by translating the upper arms using these two tools.

[Figure 3-18] Rotated forearms and twisted waist

Rotating and Twisting Elements
You use the Rotate tool (R) to rotate elements about their joints. For example, if you drag on the selected forearm object with the Rotate tool, it will rotate about the elbow joint. Dragging an element with the Twist tool (W) causes it to rotate about its joint axis. For example, dragging the abdomen element with the Twist tool makes a figure twist about its waist. Figure 3-18 shows a figure whose forearms have been rotated with the Rotate tool and whose waist has been twisted with the Twist tool.