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480 Chapter 7: Creating Copies and Arrays
a major axis of the home grid, then group the
pickets, rotate them to a particular angle, and
move them into position.
You can also make three-dim ensional arrays with
Shi f t +Move.Themainchoiceisthecombination
of axes to a llow movement off the construction
plane. For example, to build a stairway, you can
create a box that forms the top step, then use
Shi f t +Move to copy it diagonally downward,
using an array to create a downward flight.
Cloning with Shift +Rotate
Cloningobjectswhilerotatingthemproducesa
variety of effects, depending on how you set up
the transformation.
Shift +Rotate creates a clone w ith a different orientation.
To clone with Shift +Rotate:
1.
Click the Rotate button on the main
toolbar .
2. Choose a coordinate system, transformation
center, and axis constraint.
3. Make the selection you want to clone.
4. Hold down the Shi f t k ey and drag to rotate
the s election.
5. Choose the number of copies you w a nt to make
on the Clone Options dialog, and whether you
want them to be copies, instances, or references.
Ef fect s of Transfor m S ettings
Where you locate the tr ansform center determines
how 3ds Max positions clones when using
Shi f t +Rotate.
• For all settings, the direction of rotation is
constrained by the act ive axis or axes of the
viewport’s coordinate system.
• Each clone is rotated from the previous one
bythesameamountasthefirstclonefromthe
original.
Local Pivot at Center
An object’s default pivot point is often located at
itscenteroritsbase.Whenyouuse
Shif t +Rotate
around a n object’s default pivot point, the clones
overlap evenly as each one is rotated the same
amount. Thisistrueformultipleobjectswitha
local-pivot setting, since each object uses its own
local center.
Clones of a circular object, like a sphere or
cylinder, can be overlaid exactly on the original.
You might need to move them away from the
original to see them.
With angle snap (page 2–12) set to divide a circle
evenly, you can produce complex symmetrical
objects fro m simple ones. For example, you can
clone a tetrahedron around one axis, then clone
the new set about another axis to produce a faceted
star.
Local Pivot at a Distance
When you separate the local pivot from the
original, clones create a wheel-like arr angement.
Long shapes like petals or blades, cloned with
the center nea r one end, can create flowers or
propellers. See Adjust Pivot Rollout (page 2–488).