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Clone or duplicate group node objects within a scene in Autodesk VRED Professional.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Transcript
00:03
Autodesk VRED Professional includes tools to clone or duplicate objects.
00:09
The Clone command copies the geometry and creates a connection, or a reference point,
00:14
between the original object and the clone object.
00:18
While the Duplicate command acts the same as Clone,
00:22
it creates independent, rather than referenced, copies of the relevant geometry, and is therefore, less memory-efficient.
00:30
This example focuses on clone functionality.
00:34
Begin by creating a clone of this existing car geometry, which you see here in VRED.
00:40
From the Quick Access bar, click Graph.
00:45
The Scenegraph opens.
00:48
Now, select a group node to clone.
00:52
If you clone a non-group node object, like a primitive with no parent, it cannot be transformed separately from the original.
01:00
Since both objects occupy the same space, one obscures the other, even when transformed.
01:07
In this case, right-click the ETRAXX group node, and select Edit > Clone.
01:16
Notice that you can also create a clone mirrored in X, Y, or Z, and the Duplicate command is located here, as well.
01:26
Again, since Duplicate creates independent objects and a clone is just a pointer to the original,
01:32
a clone requires less memory than a duplicate.
01:37
Back in the Scenegraph, the icon next to the original has changed,
01:41
indicating the creation of a clone, and the child node names are underlined with a dotted line to designate clone nodes.
01:49
The clone object includes all the selected geometry and, in this case, is named ETRAXX1.
01:57
Next, move the clone group node.
02:01
With ETRAXX1 selected, click in the render view.
02:05
If needed, press SHIFT+W to display the Transform manipulator.
02:11
Now, press and hold SHIFT as you drag the green arrow to move the cloned object along the Y-axis.
02:19
Because a connection was created between the original and the cloned object, modifications to the original will automatically affect the clone.
02:28
To better illustrate this, back in the Scenegraph, select the Exterior child node of ETRAXX.
02:35
Again, click in the render view and press SHIFT+W to access the Transform manipulator.
02:42
Now, hold SHIFT as you drag the blue arrow on the original car upwards.
02:48
As you can see, changes to the original object automatically transfer to the cloned object, but the reverse is not true.
02:57
Modifications to the cloned object do not affect the original geometry.
03:03
Next, create a new material to apply to the geometry.
03:08
In the Quick Access Bar, select Materials.
03:12
Then, in the Material Editor, right-click within the Group Preview and select Create Material > Plastic.
03:21
Under Plastic Material, change the color of the material to a color that differs from the existing paint of the vehicle.
03:29
Next to Diffuse Color, click the color swatch to open the Color Picker dialog.
03:35
Here, choose a color, and then click Accept.
03:40
Now, from the Material Editor, drag and drop the newly created material onto the geometry in the render view.
03:47
It does not matter which object you apply it to, as the material assignment will affect both the original and the referenced cloned object.
03:57
Close the Material Editor.
03:59
To break up the connection between the reference and original object,
04:03
select the cloned object in the Scenegraph,
04:07
then right-click and select Edit > Unshare.
04:11
Here, you see three options:
04:14
Unshare and Keep Inner Clone Structure,
04:18
Unshare Implicit Clones,
04:21
and Unshare All.
04:24
In this case, select Unshare All.
04:28
The referenced object reverts to a normal object and no longer has any connection with the original.
04:35
Notice the change in the icons and the text of the child nodes.
04:40
Now, you can clone a group node within a scene and make transformations to the original that also affect the clone.
Video transcript
00:03
Autodesk VRED Professional includes tools to clone or duplicate objects.
00:09
The Clone command copies the geometry and creates a connection, or a reference point,
00:14
between the original object and the clone object.
00:18
While the Duplicate command acts the same as Clone,
00:22
it creates independent, rather than referenced, copies of the relevant geometry, and is therefore, less memory-efficient.
00:30
This example focuses on clone functionality.
00:34
Begin by creating a clone of this existing car geometry, which you see here in VRED.
00:40
From the Quick Access bar, click Graph.
00:45
The Scenegraph opens.
00:48
Now, select a group node to clone.
00:52
If you clone a non-group node object, like a primitive with no parent, it cannot be transformed separately from the original.
01:00
Since both objects occupy the same space, one obscures the other, even when transformed.
01:07
In this case, right-click the ETRAXX group node, and select Edit > Clone.
01:16
Notice that you can also create a clone mirrored in X, Y, or Z, and the Duplicate command is located here, as well.
01:26
Again, since Duplicate creates independent objects and a clone is just a pointer to the original,
01:32
a clone requires less memory than a duplicate.
01:37
Back in the Scenegraph, the icon next to the original has changed,
01:41
indicating the creation of a clone, and the child node names are underlined with a dotted line to designate clone nodes.
01:49
The clone object includes all the selected geometry and, in this case, is named ETRAXX1.
01:57
Next, move the clone group node.
02:01
With ETRAXX1 selected, click in the render view.
02:05
If needed, press SHIFT+W to display the Transform manipulator.
02:11
Now, press and hold SHIFT as you drag the green arrow to move the cloned object along the Y-axis.
02:19
Because a connection was created between the original and the cloned object, modifications to the original will automatically affect the clone.
02:28
To better illustrate this, back in the Scenegraph, select the Exterior child node of ETRAXX.
02:35
Again, click in the render view and press SHIFT+W to access the Transform manipulator.
02:42
Now, hold SHIFT as you drag the blue arrow on the original car upwards.
02:48
As you can see, changes to the original object automatically transfer to the cloned object, but the reverse is not true.
02:57
Modifications to the cloned object do not affect the original geometry.
03:03
Next, create a new material to apply to the geometry.
03:08
In the Quick Access Bar, select Materials.
03:12
Then, in the Material Editor, right-click within the Group Preview and select Create Material > Plastic.
03:21
Under Plastic Material, change the color of the material to a color that differs from the existing paint of the vehicle.
03:29
Next to Diffuse Color, click the color swatch to open the Color Picker dialog.
03:35
Here, choose a color, and then click Accept.
03:40
Now, from the Material Editor, drag and drop the newly created material onto the geometry in the render view.
03:47
It does not matter which object you apply it to, as the material assignment will affect both the original and the referenced cloned object.
03:57
Close the Material Editor.
03:59
To break up the connection between the reference and original object,
04:03
select the cloned object in the Scenegraph,
04:07
then right-click and select Edit > Unshare.
04:11
Here, you see three options:
04:14
Unshare and Keep Inner Clone Structure,
04:18
Unshare Implicit Clones,
04:21
and Unshare All.
04:24
In this case, select Unshare All.
04:28
The referenced object reverts to a normal object and no longer has any connection with the original.
04:35
Notice the change in the icons and the text of the child nodes.
04:40
Now, you can clone a group node within a scene and make transformations to the original that also affect the clone.
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