Array

Array creates multiple copies of an object arranged in a pattern. Select a mode from the buttons at the top — Linear, Radial, or Transform — to switch between pattern types.

How to Use

1. Select an object
2. Apply the Array operation from the Duplication menu
3. Choose a mode (Linear, Radial, or Transform)
4. Adjust the parameters for the chosen mode

Mode: Linear

Linear mode places copies along a direction with optional rotation and scale progression.

Count — Number of copies (integer or expression). The source object is the first copy; additional copies are offset from it.

Offset Method — How spacing is calculated:

• Relative — Offset is multiplied by the object’s bounding box size. A Relative Offset of (1, 0, 0) spaces copies exactly one object-width apart along X.
• Offset — Fixed world-space distance in mm per copy.
• Endpoint — Set the position of the last copy; spacing is divided evenly between copies.

Relative Offset / Offset / Endpoint — The spacing vector, depending on the selected Offset Method.

Rotation Mode — How rotation accumulates across copies:

• Local — Each copy rotates in place at its own center; the offset direction stays in world axes.
• Compounding — Rotation accumulates and steers the offset, producing spirals, fans, and helices.

Rotation — Per-copy rotation in degrees on each axis.

Scale — Per-copy cumulative scale on each axis. Values less than 1 shrink copies; values greater than 1 grow them.

Scale Affects Offset — When on, the spacing between copies also scales with each step. Use this for tightening spirals and geometric progressions (nautilus shells, stacked nail-shell curves).

Mode: Radial

Radial mode distributes copies evenly around a central axis at a fixed radius.

Count Method — How the number of copies is determined:

• Count — Explicit number of copies.
• Distance — Angular gap between copies in degrees; count is calculated to fill the sweep.

Count / Angular Distance — Number of copies (Count mode) or angular spacing in degrees (Distance mode). Supports expressions.

Central Axis — The axis to rotate around (default: Z).

Circle Segment — Whether copies span a full 360° circle (Full) or a partial arc (Arc).

Radius — Distance from the central axis to each copy.

Sweep Angle — Degrees of arc to fill (shown when Circle Segment is Arc). Supports expressions.

Align Rotation — Rotate each copy so its forward axis points outward from the center.

Forward Axis — Which axis of the copy is treated as “forward” for alignment (shown when Align Rotation is on).

Mode: Transform

Transform mode steps copies using a manual transform or by following another object’s transform.

Count — Number of copies (integer or expression).

Transform Reference — Where the per-step transform comes from:

• Input — You specify translation, rotation, and scale directly.
• Object — The transform is read from a named sibling object.

Translation — Per-step world-space offset in mm (shown when Reference is Input).

Rotation — Per-step rotation in degrees per axis (shown when Reference is Input).

Scale / Scale Axes — Uniform and per-axis scale applied at each step (shown when Reference is Input).

Transform Name — Name of the sibling object whose transform is used as the per-step increment (shown when Reference is Object).

Relative Space — When on, each copy’s transform compounds in the local frame of the previous copy; when off, each step is applied in world space (shown when Reference is Object).

Randomize

Enable Randomize to add variation to all copies.

• Random Offset — Maximum random position offset per axis in mm.
• Random Rotation — Maximum random rotation per axis in degrees.
• Random Scale Axes — Maximum random scale variation per axis.
• Exclude First — Keep the first copy at its exact computed position (default: on).
• Exclude Last — Keep the last copy at its exact computed position.
• Random Seed — Change this to get a different random arrangement. Supports expressions.

Merge

• Create Single Mesh — Combine all copies into one merged mesh object.
• Merge Vertices — Weld vertices within the merge distance threshold (shown when Create Single Mesh is on).
• Distance — Merge threshold in mm (shown when Merge Vertices is on).

Tips

• Use expressions for Count, Rotation, or Endpoint to create parametric patterns
• For circular patterns, use Radial mode — set Radius to control the circle size and enable Align Rotation if copies should face outward
• Compounding rotation in Linear mode creates spirals and fans without manually calculating angle offsets
• Scale Affects Offset creates nautilus-shell and geometric-progression layouts naturally
• Combine Array with Select Child to create patterns where each copy shows a different variant

Related

• Align - Position objects relative to each other
• Select Child - Pick a specific copy from an array by index or name