Page 283 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 8: Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays

FIGURE 8.6
A perfectly symmetrical robot, compliments of the Mirror tool

Cloning over Time

Another useful way to create multiple copies of an object is to have an object be created based on its posi-
tion during a specific frame of an animation. This cloning at specific times is accomplished with the
Snapshot feature.

Using the Snapshot command
The Snapshot command creates static copies, instances, references, or even meshes of a selected object as it
moves along an animation path. For example, you could create a series of footprints by animating a set of
footprints moving across the screen from frame 1 to frame 100, and then choose Tools ➪ Snapshot and
enter the number of steps to appear over this range of frames in the Snapshot dialog box. The designated
number of steps is created at regular intervals for the animation range. Be aware that the Snapshot com-
mand works only with objects that have an animation path defined.
You can open the Snapshot dialog box by choosing Tools ➪ Snapshot or by clicking the Snapshot button
(under the Array flyout on the Extras toolbar). Snapshot is the second button in the flyout. In the Snapshot
dialog box, shown in Figure 8.7, you can choose to produce a single clone or a range of clones over a given
number of frames. Selecting Single creates a single clone at the current frame.

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