# Duplicating and Instances

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Duplication of elements is a time saving essential function for all 3D applications. The use of Instances can also streamline a workflow when the inevitable changes become necessary where the replacement of one item will proliferate to the instanced clones. In this video Rich covers modo's Duplication and Instancing functions and explains when and where you'll use it. Then he goes over a variety of the cloning tools and demonstrates their use.

Users can jump ahead to a specific section by using the Chapter selection widget on the right side of the player or by directly clicking any of the Chapter Title links below.

Tab | Time | Chapter | Description
1 | 00:11 | Overview | Detailed walkthrough of the Duplication and Instancing function as it relates to rigging.
2 | 12:57 | Duplication Tools | Overview of the various duplication tools and how they work for rigging applications.
| 25:25 | Total Video Time |

Frequently Asked Questions--

Q.) Is there any other way to tell which master item is connected to an instance (besides making a modeling change)?

> A.) Yes, actually. While in items mode, you can right mouse button click directly over any of the instanced items in the 3D viewport and then select the 'Select Source of Instance' command from the context menu.

Q.) Why do instances save memory?

> A.) Because modo can store the shape once in memory and then draw it over and over again in different places. Try this: Make a sphere and duplicate it 50 times, save that file. Then take that same sphere in a different scene and make 50 instances of it, save that file. Now look at the two files on disk and compare their file sizes... which one is smaller? :)

Q.) He mentions Item Effectors being part of a stack, is there a history stack in modo?

> A.) No there isn't. modo has what it calls the 'Tool Pipe' which allows you to stack in tools and other controllers into a single operation. Once you drop the tool the "Tool Pipe" is no longer active and no history is saved. To learn more about the tool pipe check out the section in the documentation.

Resources--

Links to the modo in-line help system
Docs: Instancing
Docs: Display Options
Docs: Surface Generator
Docs: Tool Pipe
Docs: Painting Tools

Links to other pages in this training
Training: Parenting and Hierarchies
Training: Locator Mesh Display
Training: Curves

Files--

Links to the modo scenes used in the video
(click to open in modo)
File: DupeInst_01.lxo

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