How to Change Scale Without Changing Dimension in Blender?
In Blender, you can change the visual size of certain objects, like Empties, without altering their actual dimension or scale values by using the dedicated Size property instead of the standard scaling transformation. This allows you to adjust how large the object appears in the 3D viewport for organizational or visualization purposes without impacting its scale properties or the scale of objects parented to it.
It's important to distinguish between:
- Scale (or Dimensions): These are the actual numerical values representing how much an object has been scaled relative to its original size. Applying transformations (like scaling with 'S' key) changes these values and affects the object's size and potentially the size of linked or parented objects.
- Visual Size (for specific objects like Empties): This refers to how large the object's representation appears in the 3D viewport. For certain utility objects like Empties, this can be adjusted independently of their scale properties.
Using the Size Property
According to the provided reference, for objects like Empties, you can use the Size property to control their visual representation. This method allows you to make the empty "smaller or bigger without affecting the cube" (implying objects parented to or controlled by the empty, and importantly, without changing the empty's actual scale values).
Where to Find the Size Setting
You can find the Size setting in Blender in the following location:
- Select the object you want to resize visually (e.g., an Empty).
- Go to the Object Data Properties tab in the Properties Editor (it looks like a green inverted triangle or a simple box, depending on the object type).
- Look for the Size property within this tab.
Adjusting this Size value will change how large the Empty appears in the viewport, making it easier to select or see, without applying any scale transformation that would modify its scale values or the dimensions of parented objects.
Example: Resizing an Empty
- Add an Empty object (Shift + A > Empty > choose a type).
- Select the Empty.
- Open the Object Data Properties tab (the green inverted triangle icon).
- Find the Size property.
- Increase or decrease the value to change the Empty's visual size in the viewport.
- Notice that the Scale values in the N panel (Item tab) remain [1.0, 1.0, 1.0].
This technique is primarily applicable to objects like Empties, lights, cameras, and other non-mesh objects whose visual representation is distinct from their physical dimensions or scale.
