Transform 3D Node

Transform 3D is a lightweight node that takes a 3D scene as input and applies transformations to all of its content. It differs from Merge 3D (which combines several scenes and can also apply transforms): Transform 3D does only the transformation, nothing else. More concise and readable in the graph.

Chaining several Transform 3D nodes builds a parenting hierarchy: each Transform applies its values on top of the previous one.

• Effects Library: Tools > 3D > Transform 3D
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > 3D > Transform 3D

• SceneInput (orange) - required. Accepts any 3D node or 3D scene to transform.

Shape 3D → Transform 3D → Merge 3D → Renderer 3D

Useful when you want to offset/animate an object without touching the source node (which may be shared with other branches of the graph).

Translation

X, Y, Z Offset (in Fusion units, default: 0)

Moves the 3D element in space.

Rotation

Rotation Order

Order in which rotations are applied on the three axes: XYZ (default), YXZ, ZXY, etc. Each order gives visually different results, especially beyond 90°.

X, Y, Z Rotation (in degrees)

Rotation around the Pivot. The behavior depends on Use Target mode:

• Use Target off → rotation around the scene's global axes.
• Use Target on → rotation relative to the target.

Pivot

X, Y, Z Pivot (default: 0, 0, 0)

Offset of the rotation point relative to the object's center. Essential to rotate around a corner, an external axis (wheel) or a precise point.

Scale

X, Y, Z Scale (default: 1.0)

When locked (Lock X/Y/Z), a single slider drives uniform scale. Unchecked → three independent sliders for non-uniform scaling (stretched or flattened object).

One of the most useful features of Transform 3D. When Use Target is checked, a set of Target X/Y/Z sliders appears. The object automatically orients itself to face that target, wherever it is.

• The Rotation X/Y/Z values become relative to the orientation toward the target (rotation around the "facing the target" axis).
• The target can be connected dynamically to the position of another object through Connect To - the object follows it automatically.

Typical case: a camera that must always look at a character, or a projector that follows an object. Connect the target position to the object's position, and the Transform orients itself automatically.

Transform 3D supports direct editing in the 3D viewer with familiar shortcuts (inspired by Maya):

• Q - Translation tool. A 3-arrow gizmo (X/Y/Z) to move directly with the mouse.
• W - Rotation tool. A 3-ring gizmo to rotate around each axis.
• E - Scale tool. A gizmo with 3 cube handles to scale.

Much faster than typing numbers for rough positioning. For precision, switch to the Inspector sliders afterward.

Chaining several Transform 3D nodes creates a transform hierarchy. Each Transform applies on top of the previous one, in order.

Shape 3D (hand)
   ↓
Transform 3D "local"   (rotation around the wrist)
   ↓
Transform 3D "arm"     (rotation around the shoulder)
   ↓
Transform 3D "body"    (translation of the whole body)
   ↓
Merge 3D

Animating the rotation of the "arm" Transform rotates the whole arm around the shoulder, and the hand follows. Classic parent-child logic in 3D animation.

Merge 3D has its own Transform tab. When should you use a dedicated Transform 3D?

Merge 3D Transform tab

Built-in transforms, fewer nodes in the graph. Enough for a simple offset on a group. Be careful: if you want to animate the transform, you animate directly in the Merge, which is also the hub of the scene → it can get confusing.

Dedicated Transform 3D

More readable: the node represents only a transformation. Ideal for animation (one node = one responsibility), for parenting (chaining several Transforms), and for reusing a group in several branches with different transforms.

Rule: Merge Transform for a simple static offset, a dedicated Transform 3D for animation or parenting.

• Animating an object - Shape 3D → Transform 3D (animated position + rotation) → Merge 3D. The source node stays "frozen", only the Transform is animated.
• Articulated rig - chaining Transform 3D nodes to emulate a bone hierarchy (see the Parenting section).
• Look-At camera - Camera 3D → Transform 3D with Use Target checked and Target connected to an object's position. The camera follows the object automatically.
• Reusing an asset - the same asset Merge 3D sent into two branches, each with a different Transform 3D → two placements of the same object.
• Custom pivot for rotation - to rotate a cube around one of its corners rather than its center, move the Pivot to the corner's location.
• Importing external tracking - a track solved in Maya/SynthEyes/3DEqualizer can be imported through Transform 3D (.lws, .ase, .ma, .xsi formats).

• Rotation Order changes the result - for combined rotations > 90°, changing the order visibly changes the object. YXZ is often more predictable for FPS-style cameras.
• Animate X/Y/Z Rotation rather than Rotation Order - the order changes results abruptly; only change it once, at the start of the project.
• Use Q/W/E in the viewer for rough positioning, then fine-tune in the Inspector.
• Name your Transforms in a hierarchy: xf_body, xf_arm, xf_hand. Otherwise the graph becomes unreadable with Transform3D1, Transform3D2…
• Use Target + Connect To = smart cameras that follow without manual keyframes. Very powerful.
• For clean animations, keep one Transform 3D per responsibility (translation on one, rotation on another) rather than stacking everything into a single one.