# Transformations

*Transformations* apply individual changes to each scattered instance, so that compositions look more realistic, as nothing is perfectly aligned in nature.

## Random scale

**Random scale** randomly scales items in the specified range from `Min` to `Max`. Values are percentages.<br>

By default, the **aspect Ratio** is locked so that items are scaled uniformly on the three axes. But you can click the <img src="https://777932824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJXK0YXrcDUpbe_Du_o%2F-MkM06tlmQh9bebMFao9%2F-MkM48Ed85aGxCdENcyP%2Frandom_scale_lock.png?alt=media&#x26;token=eb9bf18a-ad24-4a26-931b-f0d13d7f0d97" alt="" data-size="original"> icon to unlock the ratio to get different scaling on each axis.

## Random translation

**Random translation** translates scattered items away from their original insertion points. The distance is randomly defined within the specified range, from `Min` to `Max`.

## Random rotation

**Random rotation** lets you randomly rotate scattered items in the specified range from `Min` to `Max` along each axis. The rotation is counter-clockwise and the values are in degrees.

## 90/180/270° rotation

**90/180/270° Rotation** randomly rotates items either 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°. This is very useful for randomizing tiles.

![](https://777932824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJXK0YXrcDUpbe_Du_o%2F-MkM06tlmQh9bebMFao9%2F-MkM1nKameODMDenE43B%2F90-180-270.png?alt=media\&token=9bdecfda-7d10-45d7-95f2-93de7eff9a62)

## Horizontal and vertical mirroring

**Horizontal Mirroring** will randomly flip items along the X or Y axes, or both.

**Vertical Mirroring** will randomly flip items along the Z axis.

## Look at

Make all your instances point to a target position. It's also possible to aim at the sun's position as defined by SketchUp, which can come in very handy for plants.

![In this crowd, each character is an instance. They are configured to look towards the speaker on the stage.](https://777932824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJXK0YXrcDUpbe_Du_o%2F-MgoMDTLxPQmsK9t71q5%2F-MgoQz1_yoVlTqylKlCo%2Flook_at.jpg?alt=media\&token=6b6bf8fb-7df4-4902-984e-ec05b1dfb1d4)

Enable *Look-at*, then click on the *Pick Point* button and click on a position in the SketchUp viewport.

![](https://777932824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJXK0YXrcDUpbe_Du_o%2F-MkM06tlmQh9bebMFao9%2F-MkM7JngaxASRdg_Z7rF%2Flook_at.gif?alt=media\&token=82908dff-2025-4900-8343-0affd449955e)

| Parameter       | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Target          | <p>Target that all the instances will be directed towards.</p><p></p><p>In <code>Point</code> mode, instances looks at a user-defined point.</p><p>In <code>Sun</code> mode, instances looks in the direction of <a href="https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/casting-real-world-shadows">SketchUp's sun</a> (useful for flower fields).</p> |
| Look axis       | Local axis of the scattered instances that points to the target                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Keep horizontal | Instances will only rotate laterally, not up and down.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

## Pointing

The `Pointing` slider defines in which direction the Z axis of the scattered item is pointing. You can set the slider anywhere you want between pointing *Up* (actually, the projection axis) and pointing along the *Normal*.

![](https://777932824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJXK0YXrcDUpbe_Du_o%2F-MkM06tlmQh9bebMFao9%2F-MkMHSPkUajulRRUJWUQ%2Fpointing_direction.gif?alt=media\&token=eeb826a6-07f4-4e83-bec3-1458b8258a62)