11. A method of manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object on a graphics display, comprising: selecting the at least one object; displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional compass including three perpendicular axis segments to cause translational movement of the at least one object, and three arcs to cause rotational movement of the at least one object, each arc extending from one of the perpendicular axis segments to another of the perpendicular axis segments, each arc extending between a different pair of the perpendicular axis segments; receiving in tandem, via an interface of the graphics display, a two-dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select part of the three-dimensional compass for operation; and rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the part of the three-dimensional compass, the following motion: if an axis segment is the part of the three-dimensional compass selected for operation by the selection signal, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected axis segment, and if an arc is the part of the three-dimensional compass selected for operation by the selection signal, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis parallel to an axis segment not intersected by the selected arc.
11. A method of manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object on a graphics display, comprising: selecting the at least one object; displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional compass including three perpendicular axis segments to cause translational movement of the at least one object, and three arcs to cause rotational movement of the at least one object, each arc extending from one of the perpendicular axis segments to another of the perpendicular axis segments, each arc extending between a different pair of the perpendicular axis segments; receiving in tandem, via an interface of the graphics display, a two-dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select part of the three-dimensional compass for operation; and rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the part of the three-dimensional compass, the following motion: if an axis segment is the part of the three-dimensional compass selected for operation by the selection signal, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected axis segment, and if an arc is the part of the three-dimensional compass selected for operation by the selection signal, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis parallel to an axis segment not intersected by the selected arc. 12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: if one of three planar areas is the part of the three-dimensional compass designated for operation by the selection signal, rendering, on the graphics display, motion of the at least one object exclusively along a scene plane parallel to the selected one of three planar areas based on the two-dimensional movement signal, each of the three planar areas being formed between two of the axis segments of the three-dimensional compass.