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Modeling > Instancing and duplicating objects
Instancing and duplicating objects
There are two ways to create copies of an object: duplicating and instancing.
Duplication makes a copy of the original object. It creates an entirely new object, copying geometry, materials and textures (not relations, animation, or interactions).
Instancing clones the original object, and the instance remains faithful to it. Any changes to an instance's geometry, material, or texture will immediately be reflected on all instances and the original. Manipulations (translation, rotation and scaling) are independent. For example, you could use instancing to create seats in a theater, where one can be instanced into many copies. When you change the shape of one seat, all the others are also updated.
Instancing also makes the AXEL project file much lighter, since it only has to load one object's geometry and give it many positions. This reduces download time but it does not improve the display speed, since the computer has to calculate the display for all objects on screen.
You can differentiate duplicates and instances by their icons in the World Explorer. Duplicates have the same icon as other objects, while instances have a double cone icon.
To duplicate an object:
Select the object, then choose Edit > Duplicate or press Ctrl+D.
A duplicate appears in the World Explorer and in the viewports, where it is slightly offset from the original.
To create an instance of an object:
Select the object, then choose Edit > Instance or press Ctrl+I.
An instance appears in the World Explorer and in the viewports, where it is slightly offset from the original. In the World Explorer, expand the instance. Notice it uses the geometry of the first object. When you modify a geometry parameter for either object, they both change. Similarly, if you switch to Point mode and move points on either object, the other one also changes. Notice that you can translate, rotate, or scale either object without affecting the other one.
Note: Selected points appear in orange on original objects and in red on instances.
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