Random Cloner
Updated: 31 Jan 2025
Generates Clones with random transformations.
Random Cloner
Method #
This node generates clones with random transformations within a specified area.
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 arent 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 Num Clones Number of copies of the input object created by the node.
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.
Clone Scale Scale the size of all the clones uniformally.
Scale Randomness Adds randomness to the scale of each clone.
Spread X How much the clone positions are spread across X axis.
Spread Y How much the clone positions are spread across Y axis.
Spread Z How much the clone positions are spread across Z axis.
Spread Heading How much the clone rotations vary around the X axis.
Spread Pitch How much the clone rotations vary around the Y axis.
Spread Bank How much the clone rotations vary around the Z axis.
Rotate Clones Allow the cloner to rotate clones at generation.
Scale Clones Allow the cloner to scale clones at generation.
Seed Select a random seed for the cloner generation.
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 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Num Clones | Number of copies of the input object created by the node. |
| Node Spawn Mode | Change the order in which the cloned objects are assigned to clone instances.
|
| Clone Scale | Scale the size of all the clones uniformally. |
| Scale Randomness | Adds randomness to the scale of each clone. |
| Spread X | How much the clone positions are spread across X axis. |
| Spread Y | How much the clone positions are spread across Y axis. |
| Spread Z | How much the clone positions are spread across Z axis. |
| Spread Heading | How much the clone rotations vary around the X axis. |
| Spread Pitch | How much the clone rotations vary around the Y axis. |
| Spread Bank | How much the clone rotations vary around the Z axis. |
| Rotate Clones | Allow the cloner to rotate clones at generation. |
| Scale Clones | Allow the cloner to scale clones at generation. |
| Seed | Select a random seed for the cloner generation. |
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 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Effector | 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 |
