Use the Duplication tool to create copies of the current object. You can: ¨ Create multiple copies of the current object.
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q Creating multiple copies
Click on this icon if you want to create multiple copies of the current object with a copy shift and rotation.
¨ Single copy
1. Duplicating part of an object.
Use one of the selection utilities (Lasso or Bullseye) if you want to duplicate part of an object. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Assistant Palette/Selection Utilities.)
2. Selecting the Duplication tool.
Click on the icon depicting the Duplication tool in the Tools Palette.
The Hand cursor is displayed.
3. Selecting the element to duplicate.
Click on the element you want to duplicate.
A bounding box containing the copy appears where you clicked.
If you do not click directly on an object, Amapi 3D will select the object nearest to the point you indicated.
4. Setting the position of the copy.
Þ Drag the cursor and click when you reached the desired location.
Or
Þ Press the Tab key and enter precise numerical coordinates. Press the Return key to validate the entry.
5. Applying a constraint to the cursor movement (optional).
You can apply a vertical or horizontal constraint to the cursor movements to position the copy precisely. Use the spacebar to do so. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Assistant Palette/Cursor movement and positioning constraints/Movement constraint along one axis.)
6. You can create additional copies of other elements by going back to step 2.
7. Ending the tool action.
Validate or put the tool aside to end the tool action (depending on the interface). See chapter User Manual/Tools/Generic use of a tool/How do you end a tool action?
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Practical exercises:
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¨ Multiple copies with a copy offset and rotation
1. Selecting the element to duplicate.
Click with the Wand on the object to duplicate. It becomes the current object.
2. Selecting the Duplication tool.
Click on the icon depicting the Duplication tool in the Tools Palette.
3. Specifying the number of copies.
Þ Press the Tab key to enter the data window.
Þ Enter the number of copies.
If you enter a number N, you will get N times the original object (not the original object + N copies).
Þ Press the Return key to validate the entry.
4. Specifying the copy offset.
Amapi 3D will ask you to specify the copy offset.
Þ Enter an offset value for each axis (X, Y, Z). Press the Tab key to go to each window (X, Y, Z) in order.
Þ Press the Return key to validate the entry.
5. Specifying an angle of rotation (optional).
Set an angle of rotation to apply to each copy relative to the previous copy.
Þ Enter the angle value.
Þ Press the Return key to validate.
The copies automatically appear positioned at the indicated position.
6. Ending the tool action.
Validate or put the tool aside to end the tool action. (depending on the interface). See chapter User Manual/Tools/Generic use of a tool/How do you end a tool action?
Copies are generated as a group of objects. Use the Ungroup tool in the Control Panel if you want to ungroup them. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Control Panel/Group, Ungroup.)
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Practical exercises:
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q Multiple copies along a path or on the facets of an object
Click on this icon to duplicate the current object along a path or on the facets of a surface or a volume.
¨ Multiple copies along a path
1. Creating the path used for the duplication.
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To create a curve, see chapter User Manual/ Tools/Construction. |
Example: Reference curve |
The number of copies will be equal to the number of points defining the reference curve.
2. Creating the object to duplicated (if it does not already exist). Make sure that it is the current object.
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We will use a pyramid for this example. |
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3. Selecting the Duplication tool.
Click on the icon depicting the Duplication tool in the Tools Palette.
4. Changing the reference point (optional).
The reference point here designates the point on the copy that will be positioned on the points of the reference curve.
The center of gravity of the original object can be designated as the reference point.
A small cross symbolizes the reference point. There are two ways to reassign the reference point:
§ 1st method: Click on the icon depicting the tool (cross) in the Assistant Palette.
§ 2nd method:
Þ On PC: Click the right mouse button.
Or
Þ On Mac: Press the Option key and simultaneously click the mouse button.
The cursor takes the shape of a cross, allowing you to set the reference point to the desired location on the original object.
5. Selecting the reference curve to launch the duplication.
Click on the reference curve. The duplicated elements are displayed, while the original object disappears.
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Example of repetition along a reference curve |
6. Modifying the orientation of the copies (optional).
By default, the copies have the same orientation as the original.
Press the spacebar to change the orientation of the copies.
¨ 1st press: Copies are oriented along the X axis.
¨ 2nd press: Copies are oriented along the Y axis.
¨ 3rd press: Copies are oriented along the Z axis.
¨ 4th press: the copies’ facets are laid on the points of the curve. |
Example of repetition along a reference curve |
7. Optional progressive scaling of the copies.
You can optionally apply a progressive scale to the copies. |
Progressive scaling of the copies. |
The first copy is considered to have a scale of 1.
You can specify the scale of the last copy various ways:
Þ The “+” and “-” keys of the numeric keypad.
Þ The “+” or “-” buttons of the Assistant Palette.
Þ Pressing the Tab key and entering a precise scale.
Amapi 3D will interpolate the size of the intermediate copies.
8. Ending the tool action.
Validate or put the tool aside to end the tool action (depending on the interface). See chapter User Manual/Tools/Generic use of a tool/How do you end a tool action?
The reference curve and the original model are transferred to the hidden scene. If you want them to reappear in the main scene, use the Unhide tool of the Control Panel. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Control Panel/Hide, Unhide.)
¨ Multiple copies on the facets of an object (surface or volume)
1. Creating the target object.
Create a volume or a surface onto whose facets the copies will be laid.
Example of a target surface |
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The number of copies equal the number of facets in the target object.
2. Creating the element to be duplicated (if it does not already exist).
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Here, we decided to
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3. Selecting the Duplication tool.
Click on the icon depicting the Duplication tool in the Tools Palette.
Make sure that the current object is the one you want to duplicate.
4. Optional modification of the reference point.
The reference point designates the point on the copy that will be positioned on the center of geometry of the facets of the target object.
The center of gravity of the original object can be designated as the reference point.
A small cross symbolizes the reference point. There are two ways to redefine the reference point:
§ 1st method: Click on the icon depicting the tool (cross) in the Assistant Palette.
§ 2nd method:
Þ On PC: Click the right mouse button.
Or
Þ On Mac: Press the Option key and simultaneously click the mouse button.
The cursor takes the shape of a cross, allowing you to set the reference point at the desired location on the original object.
5. Selecting the target object and starting the duplication.
Click on the target object.
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6. Modifying the orientation of the copies (optional).
By default, the copies have the same orientation as the original element.
Press the spacebar to change the orientation of the copies.
· 1st press: Copies are oriented along the X axis.
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7. Modifying the size of the copies (optional).
You can increase or decrease the size of the duplicated elements. The modification is performed through:
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8. Assigning a scale factor to the size of each copy.
Each copy/facet pair defines a scale factor based on their relative sizes. You can choose to assign one of those scale factors to all the other copy/facet pairs. Click on the icon in the Mode area of the Assistant Palette (or use the hotkey:
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Then designate the copy/facet pair that presents the scale ratio you want to assign to all the other copy/facet couples: click on the target facet of interest to designate this scale ratio and have it automatically assigned to all the other copy/facet pairs.
9. Ending the tool action.
Validate or put the tool aside to end the tool action (depending on the interface). See chapter User Manual/Tools/Generic use of a tool/How do you end a tool action?
The target object and the original object are sent in the hidden scene once the duplication is done. Use the Hide/Unhide tool to bring them back in the main scene if you need to. (See chapter User Manual/Tools/Control Panel/Hide, Unhide.)
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Practical exercises:
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