Doc talk:2.6/Manual/3D interaction/Transformations/Basics/Rotate

Rotating through the manipulator widget

The rotation manipulator widget looks like this <insert a rotation widget screenshot here> the axis colors are: Red = X
Green = Yellow
Blue = Z

-gif of different manipulator modes (global, view, gimbal, normal, local) and how they affect rotation on the x axis. There are different types of object rotations: Global : rotates on the global X, Y, and Z axis
//insert GIF demonstrating rotation on X axis global
Local : rotates on the object's local X, Y, and Z axis
//insert GIF demonstrating rotation on X axis local
Normal : rotates on the object's Normal X, Y, and Z axis
//insert GIF demonstrating monkey rotation on X axis local
View : rotates on the 3dview X, Y, and Z axis
//insert GIF demonstrating rotation on X axis 3d view
Gimbal : rotates on the gimbal default? X, Y, and Z axis
//insert GIF demonstrating rotation on X axis gimbal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal <placeholder>
to use this, select the rotation widget from the manipulator menu <placeholder manipulator menu>
1. RMB the object 2.LMB click on the the axis of your choice
3. let go of the mouse button to accept changes, pressEscto cancel changes or Ctrl+Z.

Rotating through the properties menu

This is the properties menu.
<placeholder properties menu>

On the top,  options include translation, rotation, and scale. The values are easily seen at all times. 

to

Rotating through a python script

Drag down your window (show GIF) copy the rotation paste in a text file. run script make a small iteration of creating objects and rotating them

Options

R (Trackball)

Pressing R while already rotating toggles the rotation mode between a single axis rotation (either aligned to the screen or around a certain axis) and a two axis, “trackball” rotation. In “Trackball” mode, the rotation of the object is controlled by both the X and Y location of the mouse pointer, similar to the trackball view rotation mode. This can be a quick way to rotate an object into place without changing the view.

See the rest of the Manipulation in 3D space section for additional options available within the transformation modes.

Rotate around different centers

This button <placeholder> opens a menu to change rotation around the different centers Useful for: <example placeholder>

Rotate only centers button

This button only rotates object centers. GIF showing usage