-----Scaling
Overview
Scaling provides the easiest way to deform primitives and copied objects to create new shapes.
It is most powerfully used with the keyboard "restrict to axis" commands and the "Global Local" commands.
It is also very useful in conjunction with edit-points when editing selections of points.
Scaling along Local/Global axes is important when your objects are not all nicely aligned to the global axes.
Technique instuctions
Menu:Don't bother
Keyboard:
's' to start scaling mode
SPACE to end scaling mode
Important Keys:
'x' 'y' and 'z' toggle scaling along those axes
'X' 'Y' and 'Z' make the object scale only along the specified axis
'l' toggles Local/Global mode. This is a very important key. In Local mode the object scales around it's own axis. In Global mode the object scales around the world's axis.
Example
Follow these instructions:
Object/New/Primitive/Sphere
OK,OK
F1 (to pick highlighted object)
r
y
[rotate it 45 degrees clockwise by scrolling the mouse]
SPACE
s
z (toggle z scaling off)
[move the mouse around to see z scaling is off]
Z (scale in Z only)
[move the mouse around to see z scaling in Global axes]
l (toggle local/global)
[move the mouse around to see z scaling in Local axes]

Templar ConstructionTechnique Reference
Main Pagesketch tutorial