There are several ways to move parts in Studio. Rotating and hinging parts allows you to adjust LEGO® bricks in precise directions, exactly like you can in real life.
- If you're using Studio Version 2.24.4_1 to 2.24.6_2 (released from May to July 2024), the rotation gizmo is active whenever a part is selected with no option to toggle it off. Please update to Version 2.24.9_1 or later to use Select and Rotate.
- If you’re using Studio Version 2.24.2_4 or earlier (prior to May 2024), please see the dedicated section below about using the older versions of these functions. To learn about moving parts, please see Move tool.
Rotating parts
A new Selection mode called Select and Rotate has been introduced in Studio Version 2.24.9_1 that keeps the rotation gizmo on at all times.
By default, parts will revolve around a shared connection point. To rotate parts, follow the steps below.
- Check your Selection mode. In Default Select mode, you can use the default keyboard shortcut R to activate the rotation gizmo to rotate a single part. In Select and Rotate mode, the rotation gizmo will be active whenever you select a part.
- When the selected parts can rotate, up to three rotation arrows (red, blue, and green) will appear.
- The arrows show the possible ways you can turn the parts around each axis.
- Clicking the yellow cube allows you to switch between the absolute and relative axis.
- This is referred to as the rotation gizmo.
- You can grab and drag an arrow or a center dot to rotate the selected parts.
- When using the arrow keys (← → ↑ ↓), parts will rotate by 90°.
- Hold Shift while using the arrow keys (← → ↑ ↓) to rotate parts by 45°.
- Parts can also be rotated by 45° if you hold Shift while clicking one of the rotation arrows.
- Use the default keyboard shortcut R to activate the rotation gizmo for one-time use when in Default Select mode. If this keyboard shortcut doesn't work, you will need to reset your shortcuts to default in Preferences.
Hinging parts
- A single hinge arrow appears when a hinge connection is detected. When the system detects multiple hinge points, axis icons appear to let you select a hinge point.
- If the selection can hinge around more than one center, two rotation icons will appear. Click on the one you want to hinge.
- If nothing appears after you select parts, it’s because the selected parts are connected in a way that prevents turning them.
- A hinge selection will affect all the parts that are connected and they will turn around the selected hinge point.
Precise rotation and hinging
For more precise rotations, you can use the rotation circle.
- To activate the rotation circle, click on any of the center dots. Alternatively, you can drag one of the arrows in the desired direction of the axis to cause the rotation circle to appear.
- Grab the red line and drag it around to turn the parts.
- You can use the arrow keys (← → ↑ ↓) to turn selected parts by 45°. You can also enter a precise angle in the input field next to the center of the rotation circle.
- When you release the mouse button, the rotation dial will disappear, but the tool will remain active for the selected parts.
- Click outside of the circle to close the tool for the selected parts.
- When using the arrow keys (← → or ↑ ↓), parts will rotate by 45°.
- Hold Shift and you can rotate parts by 5°.
- Hold Ctrl (on Windows) or Cmd (on Mac) and you can rotate parts by 1°.
- The mouse pointer is more precise when it's further from the center of the rotation dial.
- 90° when inside the central circle
- 5° when inside the dial
- 1° or less if on or outside the outer circle
- It’s easier to control the rotation if you face the dial full-on. Turning with the mouse respects collision detection when it’s activated. Turning using the arrow keys doesn’t respect collision detection.
- The angle in the input field is absolute which means the angle doesn’t depend on other parts in the build. For example, the angle of one arm doesn’t depend on the position of the other arm in a two-armed hinge.
- If there are too many possible hinge points and Studio doesn’t offer you the one you want, you’ll need to try selecting more parts.
- Any parts you’ve hidden aren't included in the complete selection. They're invisible to the tool and not considered as part of the available hinge and rotate options.
Studio Version 2.24.2_4 and earlier
The Rotation and Hinge tools were updated in May 2024. Please see below for help with the older versions.
The Hinge and Rotation tool let you rotate parts more precisely. By default, parts will revolve around a shared connection point.
Accessing the tool
There are two modes:
- One-time: when you want to work only on the current selection
- Repeat: when nothing is selected yet or when you want to use the tool more than once
To use the tool one-time, select parts and press R on your keyboard or:
- Select parts
- Hover over the Minifigure hand icon
- Click on the rotation icon to activate the tool. Hinge icons will appear when multiple hinge points exist.
To use the tool multiple times:
- Click on the Hinge icon in the toolbar, or press H on your keyboard.
- The hinge icon will appear next to the mouse pointer
- If no parts were selected, you can do so now. If parts were selected, the tool is ready.
- If the selection can hinge around more than one center, two rotation icons will appear. Clicking on the one you want to use to start the tool.
- If nothing appears after you select parts, it’s because the selected parts are connected in a way that prevents turning them.
- After activating the Hinge tool, a selection will affect all the parts that are connected and will turn around the selected hinge.
How to use the Hinge tool
- When the selected parts can turn, up to three blue rotation arrows appear:
- The arrows show the possible ways you can turn the selection.
- The yellow cube marks the center of rotation. - You can grab and drag an arrow to rotate. The tool will close as soon as you release the mouse button
Or,
- You can click an arrow to have more options
- Once you've chosen an arrow, the rotation circle appears.
- Grab the red line and drag it around to turn the parts.
- You can use the arrow keys (← → ↑ ↓) to turn selected parts by 45° as long as only one blue arrow appears. Or, you can enter a precise angle in degrees in the input field next to the center.
- If you grabbed and dragged a blue arrow in step 2 above, you’re directly here and can’t use the arrow keys or enter an angle in the input field.
- When you release the mouse button, the rotation dial will disappear, and the tool will close for the current selection.
- Click outside of the circle to close the tool for a current selection
- If you used the one-time mode, the mouse will be back in the selection mode. If you used the repeat mode, the mouse will still be in hinge mode and you can select parts to directly open the tool for them.
- When using the arrow keys (← → or ↑ ↓), parts will turn by 45°. Hold Shift and you can turn them by 5°. Hold Ctrl and you can turn them by 1°.
- The mouse pointer is more precise when it's further from the center of the dial:
- 90° when inside the central circle
- 5° when inside the dial
- 1° or less if on or outside the outer circle
- It’s easier to control the rotation if you face the dial full-on. Turning with the mouse respects Collision detection when it’s on. Turning using the arrow keys doesn’t respect collision detection.
- The angle in the input field is absolute which means the angle doesn’t depend on other parts in the build. For example, the angle of one arm doesn’t depend on the position of the other arm in a two-armed hinge.
- If there are too many possible hinge points and Studio doesn’t offer you the one you want, you’ll need to try selecting more parts.
- Any parts you’ve hidden aren't included in the complete selection. They're invisible and not considered.