Pivot Point Object Axis

This article will explain the Pivot Point Object Axis in the Pivot point settings.

Here we will explore the Pivot Point Object Axis and Dynamic Pivot settings and how they affect the rotating object depending on the pivot and settings.

Prerequisites

• KeyShot Pro

Procedure

When creating an animation like a Rotation Animation, there is an option to chose a Pivot Point, select whether to use its centre or origin and use the Pivot Point Dynamic Axis and/or the Dynamic Pivot Point.

Let's break it down:

Pivot Point
A pivot point is the point around which a part/model will rotate. It is set to “Self” by default, but a different object or a specific helper object (objects that are created and added only to act as a pivot and are not supposed to be visible to the camera) can be picked.

Centre and Origin
By default, the pivot point is always at the centre of the model, which is the centre of the object surface. The origin specified in the 3D modelling software can be used instead.

Pivot Point Object Axis
Enabling this setting will use the local axis of the pivot object as the local axis for the rotating object.
In other words it will use the local coordinate system of the pivot instead of the local coordinates of the rotating object.
Please note that if the rotation of the pivot is animated, the Dynamic Pivot Point settings needs to be enabled as well.

Here are some examples of seeing it in action.
Below, the red arrows just depict the local coordinates. The left most arrows match the global coordinates.
The blue sphere is the pivot point
The green cone rotates around the x-axis using the blue sphere as its pivot point.

1. Pivot is static and aligned with global axis
   1. Pivot Point Object Axis have no effect, as the pivot's local axis match the global 
   2. Dynamic Pivot Point has no effect, as the pivot is static
2. Pivot is animated and rotates 90° around the y-axis and has translation
   1. Pivot Point Object Axis is off
   2. Dynamic Pivot Point is on
3. Pivot is animated and rotates 90° around the y-axis and has translation
   1. Pivot Point Object Axis is on
   2. Dynamic Pivot Point is on
4. Pivot is animated and rotates 90° around the y-axis
   1. Pivot Point Object Axis is on
   2. Dynamic Pivot Point is on
      1. even though the pivot object is not moving, it needs to be on in order for the animated object axis to have an effect
5. Pivot is static and rotated by 90° around the y-axis
   1. Pivot Point Object Axis is on
   2. Dynamic Pivot Point has no effect, as the pivot is static

Additional Resources

• https://manuals.keyshot.com/keyshot2024/manual/part-animations.html