2
$\begingroup$

So, I'm working on a project where I have to create a front panel of an LED light. The front layer is made up of little diamond shaped surface, the light passes through this, and these tiny diamond shaped front panel helps illuminate and spread light evenly across. Anyway, the problem I'm having is that I tried the easiest way i know to create this panel, which is to make it using a plane mesh, and duplicating it. However for the size I needed, I ended up with over 9000, yes over 9000 (9435) separate duplicates put together. It has the look I want, but its impossible to edit or render it out because there is obviously too many of them and blender keeps freezing. So I'm stuck. How can I fix this without blowing up my PC. If anyone knows an alternate way to create this, please help me! :> I would really appreciate it.

enter image description here

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
8
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ You just need to do a single diamond and use array modifiers. The beauty of modifiers is that you can switch then on and off to edit. $\endgroup$
    – user1853
    May 8, 2016 at 21:10
  • $\begingroup$ How can i do array modifier? $\endgroup$
    – TheRageMachine
    May 8, 2016 at 21:15
  • $\begingroup$ blender.org/manual/modeling/modifiers/generate/… $\endgroup$
    – user1853
    May 8, 2016 at 21:17
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Using instances also speeds up the viewport and rendering, as well as lowering memory usage and sync time. $\endgroup$
    – Italic_
    May 8, 2016 at 21:24
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ 45000 (9000*5) verts isn't unrealistically massive for a single object. Try joining all your objects together with Ctrl J, or using an array modifier $\endgroup$
    – gandalf3 ♦
    May 8, 2016 at 21:50

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4
$\begingroup$

Every time yo find yourself doing the same action over and over, think that there has to be a better way, either by instancing, using arrays or scripts to save you from tedious tasks.

In this case creating a large number of copies of the same object can be done with the Array Modifier

Create your base object.

Add an Array Modifier.

That will duplicate the object however many times you want it. The default is on the X axis (but you can modify that).

Then add a second array to duplicate however many times you need in the Y axis (or any other axis you need)

enter image description here

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ For other alternatives to deal with very large number of instances see this: blender.stackexchange.com/questions/9206/… $\endgroup$
    – user1853
    May 8, 2016 at 21:55
  • $\begingroup$ Thankyou so much! I will do this. Would it be better to to make instance of the mesh object first and then use array modifier to speed up render and viewport or the other way around? Or does it not matter ? $\endgroup$
    – TheRageMachine
    May 8, 2016 at 22:06
  • $\begingroup$ read the link on my comment. Instancing will use less resources. $\endgroup$
    – user1853
    May 8, 2016 at 22:08

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .