How to Make a Move in Blender

To make a move in Blender, typically referring to moving an object, you can use keyboard shortcuts or the visual Move Gizmo.

Making a move (or translating an object) in Blender involves changing its location in the 3D space. The most common methods are using the 'G' key for Grab/Move or utilizing the interactive Move Gizmo tool.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts: The 'G' Key

Blender's keyboard shortcuts offer a fast and efficient way to move objects. The primary key for movement is G.

Here's how it works:

Select the object(s) you want to move.
Press the G key. The selected object will now follow your mouse cursor.
To constrain the movement to a specific axis, press one of the axis keys X, Y, or Z after pressing G.
- For instance, pressing G followed by Z will restrict the movement solely along the global Z-axis.
Move the mouse to position the object.
Click the Left Mouse Button or press Enter to confirm the new position.
Press the Right Mouse Button or Esc to cancel the move and return the object to its original location.

Pro Tip: After pressing G and an axis key, you can type a number to move the object precisely by that distance along the chosen axis. For example, G then X then 5 will move the object 5 units along the X-axis.

Using the Move Gizmo (Visual Tool)

Blender also provides a visual manipulator called the Move Gizmo, which allows you to drag objects along axes or planes directly in the 3D Viewport.

To use the Move Gizmo:

Select the object(s) you want to move.
Go to the Toolbar (usually on the left side of the 3D Viewport) and click the Move tool icon (it looks like four arrows pointing away from a center).
A gizmo will appear on the selected object, consisting of colored arrows (for axis movement) and colored squares (for plane movement).
Drag the colored arrows to move the object along a single axis:
- Red arrow: X-axis
- Green arrow: Y-axis
- Blue arrow: Z-axis
Drag the colored squares to move the object along a plane (two axes simultaneously):
- Blue square: Moves along the XY plane (as seen in the reference).
- Red square: Moves along the YZ plane.
- Green square: Moves along the XZ plane.

According to the reference provided, clicking the blue square on the Move Gizmo to move an object along the Z-axis is the same as pressing G then Z. Both methods achieve the same restricted movement along the Z-axis.

Summary Table: Common Move Actions

Action	Keyboard Shortcut	Move Gizmo	Description
Free Move	`G`	Drag the white circle (or centre if visible)	Move freely based on view
Move along X-axis	`G` then `X`	Drag the red arrow	Restrict movement to the X-axis
Move along Y-axis	`G` then `Y`	Drag the green arrow	Restrict movement to the Y-axis
Move along Z-axis	`G` then `Z`	Drag the blue arrow or blue square	Restrict movement to the Z-axis or XY plane
Move along XY plane	`G` then `Shift+Z`	Drag the blue square	Restrict movement to the plane of X and Y
Move along YZ plane	`G` then `Shift+X`	Drag the red square	Restrict movement to the plane of Y and Z
Move along XZ plane	`G` then `Shift+Y`	Drag the green square	Restrict movement to the plane of X and Z

Whether you prefer the speed of keyboard shortcuts or the visual feedback of the Move Gizmo, Blender offers flexible ways to accurately position your objects in the 3D environment.