1. A computer-readable storage medium storing thereon processor-executable instructions, comprising: a direct manipulation user interface having processor-executable instructions, that when executed on a processor, enables a user to interact with a 3D graphics object through a control point that is automatically positioned onto the 3D graphics object by the direct manipulation user interface, each control point associated with a transformation that is made to the 3D graphics object through interaction with the control point, each control point associated with a constraint that specifies a measurement limit to the transformation, detects a user interacting with a control point to initiate a transformation, tracks operations applied to a design surface as a result of the initiated transformation, and initiates rendering the design surface onto a display.