Notch Reference Manual

Cloner

Method

This node clones 3D objects in a regular pattern in one of several ways depending on the Mode parameter. In Iterative Cloning mode, the Cloner node’s transform is applied iteratively so each clone is offset from the one before it. In Radial mode, clones are arranged in a radial pattern, linearly distributed around a ring in an angle segment defined by the Radial Start Angle and Radial End Angle parameters. In Grid mode, clones are generated in a 3D grid pattern that may additionally be constrained to a sphere or cylinder shape. The number of cells in the grid is defined by the Grid Count parameters and the area over which the clones are distributed is defined by the Grid Size parameters.

In Iterative Cloning mode, the Transform parameters define the transform that is applied as a delta between the location of the last clone and the next. In Radial and Grid mode the Transform parameters transform the location of the ring or grid. In Iterative Cloning mode, it is possible to control the effect of transform rotations or scales on the individual clones. The Rotation Affects Position and Scale Affects Position parameters determine whether the rotation and scale of the Transform affect the positions of the clones. The Rotation Affects Clone Rotation and the Scale Affects Clone Scale parameters determine whether the transform’s rotation and scale cause clones to be rotated and scaled. For example, a ring shape of unrotated clones can be created by applying rotation in the Transform, enabling Rotation Affects Position and disabling Rotation Affects Clone Rotation.

It is also possible to iteratively modify certain Material properties of the rendered objects for each clone, using the UV Clone Deltas parameters. These allow the UV Scale and Offset and the UV Crop material parameters to be offset for each clone so that for example each clone reads a different part of its material texture.

Example
This image is taken from the “cloner_imageplanes.dfx” sample project.
Example Nodegraph
There is much more to creating this effect, shown here is a section that is specifically relevant to this node.

Transform

Name Description
Position X Changes the x position of all clones from the previous clone.
Position Y Changes the y position of all clones from the previous clone.
Position Z Changes the z position of all clones from the previous clone.
Rotation Heading Changes the x rotation of all clones from the previous clone.
Rotation Pitch Changes the y rotation of all clones from the previous clone.
Rotation Bank Changes the rotation of all clones from the previous clone.
Scale X Changes the x scale of all clones from the previous clone.
Scale Y Changes the y scale of all clones from the previous clone.
Scale Z Changes the z scale of all clones from the previous clone.

Inherit Transform Channels

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited. By default, all are on.

Attributes

Name Description
Mode Change how the clones are arranged after being spawned.
  • Iterative Cloning, The Cloner node’s transform is applied sequentially, so each clone is translated, scaled and rotated from the previous using the Transform values.
  • 3D Grid, the clones are generated in a 3D Grid.
  • Radial, The clones are generated in a radial pattern.
Node Spawn Mode Change the order in which the cloned objects are assigned to individual clone instances.
  • All, All of the connected objects are rendered for every clone.
  • Iterate, The objects are rendered sequentially by clone. For example, the first clone renders the first object, the second clone renders the second object and so on.
  • Random, The objects are rendered randomly by clone, and are generated at random points from the clone system.
Num Clones Number of copies of the input object created by the node.
First Clone Chooses which clone is the first clone generated.
Rotation Affects Position The rotation of the child object affects the position of the clones.
Scale Affects Position The scale of the child object affects the position of the clones.
Rotation Affects Clone Rotation The rotation of the clones increases with each clone added.
Scale Affects Clone Scale The scale of the new clone increases with each clone added.
Ease Clones In/Out Enable easing so new clones don’t immediately appear.

Grid

Only functions if “3D Grid” is selected in the “Mode” attribute.

Name Description
Grid Count X Number of sections in the grid in the X axis.
Grid Count Y Number of sections in the grid in the Y axis.
Grid Count Z Number of sections in the grid in the Z axis.
Grid Size X The size of the grid in the X axis. The clones are distributed evenly within this size limit.
Grid Size Y The size of the grid in the Y axis. The clones are distributed evenly within this size limit.
Grid Size Z The size of the grid in the Z axis. The clones are distributed evenly within this size limit.
Grid Stagger X Offset alternating clones along the X axis.
Grid Stagger Y Offset alternating clones along the Y axis.
Grid Stagger Z Offset alternating clones along the Z axis.
Grid Fill How much of the grid is filled in, in its centre.
Grid Type Which type of grid is generated.
  • Cubic, The clones are arranged in a regular grid inside a cube.
  • Spherical, The clones are arranged in a regular grid inside a sphere.
  • Cylindrical, The clones are arranged in a regular grid inside a cylinder.
Grid Size Mode Changes how the Grid Size X/Y/Z affect the clones.
  • Total Size, Controls the whole size of the grid.
  • Size Per Clone, Controls the distance between clones on the grid.

Radial

Only functions if “Radial” is selected in the “Mode” attribute.

Name Description
Radius The radius of the ring shape.
Radial Start Angle The angular location of the first clone around the ring.
Radial End Angle The angular location of the last clone around the ring.
Radial Plane The planar axis in which the ring is positioned.

UV Clone Deltas

These parameters apply offsets to the UV Offset / UV Scale / Crop parameters of the materials of each rendered clone.

Name Description
UV Scale X/Y Delta Relative change to the uv scale of the clone’s material.
UV Offset X/Y Delta Relative change to the uv offset of the clone’s material.
Crop Left/Right/Top/Bottom Delta Relative change to the crop on each side of the clone’s material.

Inputs

Name Description Typical Node Input
Effectors Manipulates the clones after they are spawned. Plain Effector
Transform Modifier Links all transform properties to the input node. Null
Target Node Always faces the x-axis towards the inputs anchor point. Null
Local Transform Override Override the transformation values of the node, relative to its parent. Null

Outputs

Nodes that are to be cloned by a Cloner should be connected to the output of this node. 3D Objects, 3D Shapes, and Image Planes may be connected, as well as other Cloners.