Setup

The Duplicate->Setup command is available in all modules except Tools. It allows you to specify which object attributes are copied to, or shared with, a duplicate object, including the animation of the attributes.

The settings are automatically applied to the Duplicate->Immediate, Duplicate->Repetition, and Duplicate->From Animation commands. An exception is the Copy Animation setting, which cannot be applied to the Duplicate->From Animation or the Duplicate->Instance From Animation command.

The only settings in the Duplicate Setup dialogue box which affect instances are those in Hierarchy controls and the setting for Transformation Animation. Note, however, that Instances duplicated from animation have no animation associated with them, whatever the setting of Transformation Animation.

Procedure

1. Select the object to be duplicated.
2. Choose the Duplicate->Setup command.
   
   The Duplicate Setup dialogue box is displayed.
   
3. Select the attributes which are to be copied or shared.
4. Select the Animation option if the animation of an attribute is to be copied.
5. Select the desired Hierarchy Control option.
6. Select the desired Geometry option.
7. If you are duplicating adjacent polygons (those which share an edge) in POL mode, choose whether to duplicate these polygons with a single coordinate system or separately. Use the Merge Adjacent option to indicate your choice.
8. Click OK to confirm the settings and exit the dialogue box.

Parameters

Attributes

Lists the attributes of the original object which can be duplicated or shared with the duplicate object. The animation of these attributes can also be copied to the duplicate object if desired. The attribute list includes:

• Transformations (scaling, rotation, translation)
• Shape
• Clusters
• Lattice
• Deformations
• Materials
• Texture 2D local
• Texture 3D local
• Texture 2D global
• Texture 3D global
• DKit user data

Type of Copy

Duplicate

An exact duplicate of the original object's attribute is copied to the duplicate object. By default, the Duplicate option is activated for all attributes.

Share

Only material and 3D textures can be shared between the original and duplicate objects.

None

No duplicate of a particular attribute is created.

Animation

Specifies whether the animation of a particular attribute is copied to the duplicate object. Local 2D and 3D texture attributes cannot be selected.

Hierarchy Control

Create Null Hierarchy

If more than one duplicate object is created, the duplicated objects are parented to a null. By default, this option is activated.

Connect to Immediate Parent

Links the duplicated object to the immediate parent of the original object. If there is no parent, you can also create a null parent by selecting the Create Null Hierarchy option.

No Hierarchy

Leaves duplicated objects unparented.

Geometry

The Geometry options can be applied to the shapes, clusters, lattices, and deformation attributes.

Current

An object duplicated at a specific frame takes the current shape of the original object (that is, its shape at the time it is duplicated). By default, the Current option is activated.

Original

The duplicate object takes the shape of the original object when it was first created, even if the original object has been shape-animated.

Polygon Duplication

In POL manipulation mode, you can duplicate selected polygons of objects using either the Duplicate->Immediate or Duplicate->Repetition command.

Merge Adjacent

By default, selected adjacent polygons are transformed according to their shared coordinate system.

• If this option is selected, it duplicates selected adjacent polygons; edges that were shared before duplication are still shared after duplication.
• If this option is deselected, it duplicates polygons by creating distinct edges for each shared edge so that new polygons have their own individual coordinate systems. If you wish to transform duplicated adjacent polygons independently, deselect the Merge Adjacent option.

For a detailed explanation of polygon modelling and a tutorial example, see the Modelling Selected Polygons section of the Modelling User's Guide.

None

Automatically selects the None Type of Copy option for all attributes. Check boxes in the Animation column are automatically deselected.

Reset

Automatically selects the Duplicate Type of Copy option for all attributes. Check boxes in the Animation column are automatically deselected.

Ok

Confirms the current settings and exits the dialogue box.

Last updated 02-apr-1998