Abstract: A movement reference frame is provided on the display device relative to a displayed object. The movement reference frame has at least one object handle set visually provided on the display device. An image of the object is displaced from an original location along a displacement direction to a displaced location by dragging a handle of the object handle set in accordance with actuation of a user input device. The user input device can be utilized to obtain both (1) a number of copies of the displaced object which are to be generated, and (2) one of a distance and angle by which the number of copies of the displaced object are to be separated along the direction of displacement. In addition, the activation of the user input device can link the copy of the displaced object to the displayed object at the original location so that whatever action is taken with respect to either the copy or the original is also taken with respect to the other.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for rotating a displayed object, the displayed object appearing on a screen of a display device of a three dimensional computer graphics system. When displayed object object appears on the display screen, a user input device (e.g., mouse) prompts the additional display of an object movement reference frame on the display screen. The object movement reference frame preferably takes the form of a spherical contour line and various "handles" which provide a user-friendly three dimensional spherical depiction. The object movement reference frame is preferably superimposed with respect to the displayed object. The "handles" of the object movement reference frame include a plurality of object image handles which are generally classified as planar handles and knob handles. A "handle set" is comprised of paired or connected object image handles, such as a knob handle connected by a radial connector to a planar handle.