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I would like to be able to create arrays and instances from within studio, here's why.

I am a product designer and I only have access to Inventor (similar to solid works) and Autocad. So all my material assignments, cameras, etc. have to be done through studio. (I was originally told there would be an Autocad plugin, but hey, that's ancient history now, got to work with what's left).

If I want many copies of an object/assembly I have to create them in my app, export them as 3ds stl or dxf and import them into studio. And I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. From there assigning materials and UVs on the entire imported array is an absolute pain. Plus the fact that without access to instances, you very quickly start to run short of memory. Not to mention the export and import nightmares (time taken, flipped triangles, etc) of fifty copies of the same thing. It could all so easily be avoided.

I know maxwell isn't intended to be a modeller, but creating an array (with instances, please) isn't really any different than creating multiple clones and would really sweeten the experience for those of us who use studio.

Nice!

+1

You can create instances with Studio.
Arrays of instances would be a nice improvement though.

KurtS wrote:You can create instances with Studio.
Arrays of instances would be a nice improvement though.

Well bugger me sideways, so you can. But you have to agree it's pretty limited. Unless I'm missing something major (like my brain; which is entirely plausible) you create each instance one at a time by moving the source object to where you want the instance, create instance, move the source object, create instance, etc. And in this way creating a large number of instances, could very well take you into retirement. Not really practical, is it. I can only see it being of use if you wanted to instance a very high poly model because you were running out of memory.

Anyway, there I go getting up on my box again, blah, blah,
blah. Somebody tell him to shut up!

Please can we have arrays though.

Hugh wrote:you create each instance one at a time by moving the source object to where you want the instance, create instance, move the source object, create instance, etc. And in this way creating a large number of instances, could very well take you into retirement. Not really practical, is it.

It works great. You can create a forest in less than 400 hours.

KurtS wrote:It works great. You can create a forest in less than 400 hours.

And then render it in only twice that.

will we get group instancing eventually ?

KurtS wrote:

Hugh wrote:you create each instance one at a time by moving the source object to where you want the instance, create instance, move the source object, create instance, etc. And in this way creating a large number of instances, could very well take you into retirement. Not really practical, is it.

It works great. You can create a forest in less than 400 hours.

If you want to see the perfect solution you can check Kerkythea's Instances brush... Something like Vue's ecosystem brush and 3dsMax's crowd but with total control (brush, eraser, brush size, object scaling and rotation etc) and they are instances, not just arrays.
An example (the grass blades)


My opinion is that it is better than displacement which creates completely straight grass blades, there are no straight grass blades.
Kerkythea shows instances as boxes too so you don't have problems with your PC

A brush like in Vue or Kerkythea is absolutely the best solution.

Now, in my opinion, we spent to much time by placing instances piece by piece.

+1000 Superb suggestion

JTB wrote:If you want to see the perfect solution you can check Kerkythea's Instances brush... Something like Vue's ecosystem brush and 3dsMax's crowd but with total control (brush, eraser, brush size, object scaling and rotation etc) and they are instances, not just arrays.

My opinion is that it is better than displacement which creates completely straight grass blades, there are no straight grass blades.
Kerkythea displaces instances as boxes too so you don't have problems with your PC

Sound almost to good to be true!

Juan, what do you think?

Btw, you can make instances of groups in Kerkythea with Instances brush.