An object origin is the zero point of an object’s local coordinate system; it can sit inside, outside or at the edge of its geometry.
The centre you see may not be the origin
A vase may look centred on screen while its origin sits far below it. The visible surface and the reference point are separate. This explains a common surprise: setting an object’s position to zero does not necessarily centre its visible geometry. It places the origin at zero in the relevant parent frame.
A practical choice for different artworks
A standing sculpture is often easier to place when its origin is near the base. A rotating medallion may be easier to animate around a central origin. Neither choice is universally correct. The useful choice depends on what the object needs to do. Moving geometry relative to its origin changes this relationship; merely moving the whole object through the scene does not.
Before exporting to an AR project
Check the origin in the source model before exporting a GLB for Painta, especially if the asset seems to orbit an invisible point or arrives with an awkward offset. An editor’s temporary pivot setting is a separate control and may not be exported. Keep a copy of the original asset when changing its origin, since existing animation and child relationships may depend on it.