Translation moves an object by an offset without, by itself, changing its orientation or shape.
Every point moves by the same amount
Sliding a sculpture twenty centimetres to the right is a translation. Its top, base and details all receive the same displacement. This is different from rotating it around a remote pivot, where different points follow curved paths. It is also different from changing the camera position, even when the screenshot looks similar.
Choose the direction you mean
A translation needs a reference frame. “To the right” could mean screen right, world X or the object’s own right-hand direction. Once an object has been rotated, those directions may no longer agree. A move gizmo can make the choice visible, while numeric fields allow a precise offset when the units and reference frame are known.
Making room around an artwork
For a Painta composition, translation can separate a digital element from the artwork surface or move a caption away from a focal detail. A small depth offset may be visually significant at close range. Check the result from more than one viewing angle: a layer that looks clear from the front may cross another object when the visitor moves sideways.