Particle Cloner
Updated: 7 Aug 2025
Generates Clones from an input Particle system
Particle Cloner
Method #
This node creates clones at positions defined by a particle system. A Particle Root Node or a Particle Emitter must be connected to the Particle Node input for this node to be operational. If a Particle Emitter is connected, then only particles emitted from this emitter are used to generate clones. If a Particle Root Node is connected, all particles under that root node may be used to generate clones.
In order to make the effect visually consistent, clones are attached to individual active particles and flow its transforms until the particle dies.
Nodes that are to be cloned should be connected to the output of this node. Any geometry node including 3D Objects, Lights, and Other Cloners. Clone Effectors may be connected, these nodes aren’t cloned but will act offset and transform all the clones within their area of effect.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X
The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position
Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation
Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale
Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only
Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time
Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Node Spawn Mode
Change the order in which the cloned objects are assigned to clone instances.
- All : All of the connected objects are generate at every clone position.
- Iterate : The objects are generated sequentially per clone position, based on their heriarchy. For example, the first clone renders the first object, the second clone renders the second object and so on.
- Random : The objects are randomly selected to generate at clone positions.
Num Clones
Number of copies of the input object created by the node.
Rotation Affects Clones
The rotation of the source particles affects the cloned objects.
Scale Affects Clones
The scale of the source particles affects the cloned objects.
Colour Clones
The colour of the source particles is copied to the cloned objects.
Clone Scale
Scale the size of all the clones uniformally.
Size Randomness
Add randomness to the size of the objects.
Use Particle Alpha As Clone Scale
Scale clones based on the value of the particle’s alpha channel.
Scale Stiffness
How much the clones resist scaling.
Luminance Randomness
Randomises the luminance values of the clones based on the particle colours. Only functions when “Colour Clones” is enabled.
Rotation Stiffness
How much clones resist rotating.
Rotation Mode
Change how the clones are rotated based on their source particles.
- Face Motion Direction : Rotates to always face the motion direction of the source particle.
- Spin : Clones spin endlessly on creation
Rotation Rate
How quickly the clones rotate in spin mode
Rotation Rate Randomness
Randomness applied on top of the rotation rate per clone.
Particle Min Age
Minimum age a particle must have to generate a clone.
Particle Max Age
Maximum age a particle must have to generate a clone.
Scale Affects Clones Blend X
Scale clones on the X axis when spawning and dying.
Scale Affects Clones Blend Y
Scale clones on the Y axis when spawning and dying.
Scale Affects Clones Blend Z
Scale clones on the Z axis when spawning and dying.
These properties apply iterative offsets to the UV Offset, UV Scale, and Crop parameters of the materials for each rendered clone. Typically used with a tile sheet so that each clone picks up a different texture.
Parameter Details UV Mode
Change how the cloned objects UV chanel and material inputs are affected by the cloner.
- Linear (Using Clone Index) : Each clone keeps unique UV’s.
- Use Texture Page (Using Clone Index) : Spreads the UV’s over a number of clones defined by the Texture Num Frames Attribute, and repeats it along the clone index.
- Use Texture Page (Using Random Index) : Randomises the UV’s over the range of clones in the Texture Num Frames Property, and repeats it.
Texture Num Frames X
How many columns to split the UV by.
Texture Num Frames Y
How many rows to split the UV by.
UV Scale X Delta
Relative change to the uv scale along the x of the clone’s material, per clone.
UV Scale Y Delta
Relative change to the uv scale along the y of the clone’s material, per clone.
UV Offset X Delta
Relative change to the uv offset along the x axis of the clone’s material, per clone.
UV Offset Y Delta
Relative change to the uv offset along the y axis of the clone’s material, per clone.
Crop Left Delta
Relative change to the crop on the left of the clone’s uvs, per clone.
Crop Right Delta
Relative change to the crop on the right of the clone’s uvs, per clone.
Crop Top Delta
Relative change to the crop on the top of the clone’s uvs, per clone.
Crop Bottom Delta
Relative change to the crop on the bottom of the clone’s uvs, per clone.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Node Spawn Mode |
Change the order in which the cloned objects are assigned to clone instances.
|
| Num Clones | Number of copies of the input object created by the node. |
| Rotation Affects Clones | The rotation of the source particles affects the cloned objects. |
| Scale Affects Clones | The scale of the source particles affects the cloned objects. |
| Colour Clones | The colour of the source particles is copied to the cloned objects. |
| Clone Scale | Scale the size of all the clones uniformally. |
| Size Randomness | Add randomness to the size of the objects. |
| Use Particle Alpha As Clone Scale | Scale clones based on the value of the particle’s alpha channel. |
| Scale Stiffness | How much the clones resist scaling. |
| Luminance Randomness | Randomises the luminance values of the clones based on the particle colours. Only functions when “Colour Clones” is enabled. |
| Rotation Stiffness | How much clones resist rotating. |
| Rotation Mode |
Change how the clones are rotated based on their source particles.
|
| Rotation Rate | How quickly the clones rotate in spin mode |
| Rotation Rate Randomness | Randomness applied on top of the rotation rate per clone. |
| Particle Min Age | Minimum age a particle must have to generate a clone. |
| Particle Max Age | Maximum age a particle must have to generate a clone. |
| Scale Affects Clones Blend X | Scale clones on the X axis when spawning and dying. |
| Scale Affects Clones Blend Y | Scale clones on the Y axis when spawning and dying. |
| Scale Affects Clones Blend Z | Scale clones on the Z axis when spawning and dying. |
These properties apply iterative offsets to the UV Offset, UV Scale, and Crop parameters of the materials for each rendered clone. Typically used with a tile sheet so that each clone picks up a different texture.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| UV Mode |
Change how the cloned objects UV chanel and material inputs are affected by the cloner.
|
| Texture Num Frames X | How many columns to split the UV by. |
| Texture Num Frames Y | How many rows to split the UV by. |
| UV Scale X Delta | Relative change to the uv scale along the x of the clone’s material, per clone. |
| UV Scale Y Delta | Relative change to the uv scale along the y of the clone’s material, per clone. |
| UV Offset X Delta | Relative change to the uv offset along the x axis of the clone’s material, per clone. |
| UV Offset Y Delta | Relative change to the uv offset along the y axis of the clone’s material, per clone. |
| Crop Left Delta | Relative change to the crop on the left of the clone’s uvs, per clone. |
| Crop Right Delta | Relative change to the crop on the right of the clone’s uvs, per clone. |
| Crop Top Delta | Relative change to the crop on the top of the clone’s uvs, per clone. |
| Crop Bottom Delta | Relative change to the crop on the bottom of the clone’s uvs, per clone. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Particle Node | Source particles to generate clones from. A particle must be connected for the cloner to generate clones. | Particle Root |
| Effectors | Control how the clones behave once spawned. See Effectors. | Plain Effector |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |
