Axes Settings¶
Open the Axes Settings dialog with View → Axes Settings (Ctrl+Shift+A).
The coordinate axes are displayed as an overlay in the 3D viewport showing the current orientation of the coordinate system.
Cartesian vs Fractional Axes¶
Toggle between coordinate systems with Crystallography → Switch to Fractional Axes (Shift+A):
| Mode | Axes Shown | Labels |
|---|---|---|
| Cartesian | X, Y, Z | x, y, z (or custom) |
| Fractional | a, b, c | a, b, c (or custom) |
Fractional mode requires lattice parameters to be set so the a/b/c vectors can be computed.
Rendering Style¶
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Line | Simple flat lines |
| Arrow | Lines with 2D arrowheads |
| Cylinder | 3D cylinders with cone tips |
Default colours are: X/a = red, Y/b = green, Z/c = blue.
Settings¶
| Setting | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.0–10.0 | Line or cylinder pixel width |
| Length Multiplier | 0.1–10.0× | Scale the axis length |
| Show Labels | On/Off | Display axis name labels |
| Label Colour | RGB | Custom label colour, or match axis colour |
| Origin X/Y/Z | −10.0–10.0 | Reposition the axes origin in world space |
Live Preview¶
Click Apply in the dialog to preview changes without closing. Changes take effect immediately in the viewport.
Axis Alignment¶
Use these keyboard shortcuts to instantly align the camera view along an axis:
| Key | View Direction |
|---|---|
X |
Along the X (or a) axis |
Y |
Along the Y (or b) axis |
Z |
Along the Z (or c) axis |
These shortcuts work whether axes are shown or hidden.