Align planes meet 2 prims

How can I align planes when two prims come together. Here is picture: http://lebinca.com/align_planes.PNG

Easy. Assuming that the frame (the red outer prim) is where you want it, select it and open the Edit >> Object window. Take note of the horizontal position parameter (X or Y) that defines where the prim sits along the axis you want to align. Then select the other prim (the inner one in your photo) and set its position parameter to the same numerical value. Bingo.

EDIT: I am assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that the two prims to be aligned are the same thickness. My advice works in that case because a prim's position is defined by its center. If the two prims have different thicknesses, you'll have to do a tiny bit of math to achieve the same outcome.

Another tip: Use round positions. Instead of 231.978 use 232 or 232.250 ...with quaters is much easier, very helpful to align the horizontal and vertical prim in the Z axis.

I don't use it much, but this is one of the things that Prim Docker excels at.

Use the reference ruler. First, make sure Use Grid is turned on in the editor. Then select the prim to which you want to align all the others, and press shift-G (with chat closed) to reference it. The grid units will change to become increments of the size of the referenced prim, with 0,0,0 being the prim's center. Also, the grid's orientation will rotate to match the rotation of the referenced prim. Now you can grab other prims, and easily snap them to the on-screen rulers, so everything is perfectly aligned. You'll find this procedure to be really fast and really easy.

By the way, it's important to develop the the habit of switching constantly between all three ruler modes as you build. All three exist for good reason, and all are vitally useful at various times throughout the building process, no matter what you're making.




Also, I notice you've got the on-screen camera controls showing in your screenshot. I'd encourage you to forget all about those. They're very clunky, slow, imprecise, and awkward. The alt-mouse controls are what you should be using. Compared to the on-screen controls, alt-mouse is infinitely faster, smoother, easier, and more precise.

Just hold alt, and wherever you click becomes the camera's focal point. Use the keys/motions outlined below to move the camera fluidly, with total control. It might take a little getting used to if you've never done it before, but after a day or so, it becomes second nature.

I don't think this answers the OP's question. It is also something I have wondered about. If you have two boxes of different thicknesses, how can you align the front edges to be in the same plane?

Using your method, I can get one to align its center to the face plane of the other, but I cannot get the two faces of the boxes to be in the same plane. I can do it with math, and as stated with Prim Docker, but I would prefer to use the standard tools if possible.

What am I missing?

From the picture, it looked like the prims in question were the same thickness, but still a good question. For prims of different thicknesses, here's the way I always do it:

1. Select the first prim, and refernce it. (shift-G)

2. Snap the second prim's center to the first prim's edge.

3. Switch the ruler to Local mode, and move the second prim over by half its own thickness. This will put the second prim's edge where its center used to be, causing the two prims now to be perfectly flush.

You can repeat the process to line up as many prims as you want, to be flush along whatever edge(s) you want.

I just had one of those "Duh" moments. Why did I not know how to do that? It worked perfectly.

Thx Chosen