In the poser manual, it says that you can alter a model's origin point for rotation, so that it is not centered to the object. To do this it says, make the origins visible, and then on the object, use the dials to move the origin point. I tried this, but all that happens is that the model moves, along with the origin crosshairs, so that the model still rotates on it's center axis. I tries moving the origin point, and then the model too, but again, the origin seems to move with it, keeping itself centerd to the object. I am trying to build a vehcle with movable/rotateable handles, which I want to make movable, but from the end of the handle, not the center. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

heyas; when you turn the origin on, look for the origin trans dials to appear at the top of the prop dial list. use those to move the origin. SOMEtimes when you move the origin, the prop tries to run away from it. i'm not sure why this occurs... but with patience, you can finally get the origin to catch up to the obj and be placed where you want. you cannot move the origin by grabbing it, as you can a joint center.

Interesting that you should post this today... are you using my swing from the freebies section? If so, I'm having the same problem with it. As is it suits my need, but I'd like to be able to animate the swing motion. To do that, I need to move the origin to the top of the swing. I'm having exactly the same problem - when I move the origin, the whole prop moves with it. The prop was done in 3DS and I went back and changed the piviot point in the original without any change in the origin point in poser. I guess that means that the "origin" is not something inherent in a 3DS file. Anyway, if any of the more experienced prop builders can help, I will learn something which is apparently not covered in the manual! Thanks! Chris

Here's what's going on. As you can see from the original picture. The red endpoint axis is not in the correct place. However, I think that this is a bug with Poser since there isn't much you can do about it. Even if you move the endpoint axis to where it should be. The prop will still move when you try to move the green origin axis. I exported the swing as an .obj. Then imported it back into Poser. Then resaved it to the props library. (See bottom picture). To my shock. I ended up with a working set of axis's. Located in the proper locations. And when I move the green origin axis. The prop does NOT move. Here's why it worked (I think): I'm using the PPP. Could someone who doesn't have the PPP try this same thing? I think this is a bug with Poser4. And the PPP must have fixed that. But I need someone to confirm it for me. ScottA

Scott, I just tried export/import with P4, PC, latest patch, and it worked for me, too. I think it is because of the Z rotation of the original. It is 90 with chanson's original. I set it to 0 and the origin moved with the dial. I then set the Z rotation back to 90 and the origin stayed where I put it, and the swing swung correctly.

OK. Thanks wyrwulf. After you did this. Does the prop move around when you move the green axis? Or does the prop stay put now? ScottA

Sure, ask me the one thing I didn't try. With the original, moving the origin moves the prop, both before and after I reset the Z rotation. With exporting and importing, moving the origin does not move the prop.

Bingo! Thanks for getting back to me wyrwulf. Now the next question is: Why does exporting as an .obj then re-importing fix that origin->prop shifting problem? You reading all of this Bloodsong? I know it's one of your pet peeves. ;-) Does it really matter if we find out why? Or are you folks content with just knowing how to fix it. ScottA

heyas; ummm... hmm. what i don't get is where you're getting a red endpoint from. i never have any on MY props. just a green origin. or are you playing with the jp window when you get that? well, poser must be confused if you rotate the prop, then try to move the origin. but you'd think that it'd switch axes, not make the prop run away. once you export it and import it 'upright,' poser is no longer confused. i dunno, i really don't have any time to devote to this right now, scott. :/

Thanks to everyone for the ideas and the work on helping me understand this... I'm going to play with it for a while tonight and I'm sure that I'll understand it better then. I will try reorienting the original 3DS file to see if importing it "upright" helps solves the problem. Thanks! chris

Thanks for the lesson, everyone! I reoriented the prop in 3DS, reimported it, and as proposed here moving the origin works! BTW, I posted an updated version of the prop (back to the original place, so if you want it, just redownload it from freestuff). This version will swing on the loops at the top. Thanks again! Chris

I'm glad we all got it figured out. It looks like we all learned a little bit from this.

Yeah. Group lab sessions are always fun wyrwulf. ;-) ScottA

Sorry, away for the holiday - exporting it as an OBJ and reimporting it fixes the problem. Thanks everyone for your input.