I've watched like 3 dozens array/curve/instancing videos last 3 weeks, and yours is the most comprehensive, complete with Blender-specific best practice tips. Wish I saw this video earlier, would've saved me days of research and hair-tearing dupliface vs dupliverts vs Bezier vs Poly vs Automatic vs Vector experiments. Now let me go test my crazy stairs with Free Handle bit.
Awesome video. You explain, demonstrate, show problems, repeat the demonstration slightly differently, reactivating all the same neurons again to reinforce the learning, and extend the concept a little further. Really excellent teaching style. And the use of multiple modifiers, array + curve, and solving weird deform problems with instancing, that's a really valuable, reusable pattern there. I admit, I paused and absorbed it in two sessions! :) Keep up the great work!
6:10 is not a bug. Instancing is designed to take that one mesh and re-use it on multiple objects. While this may be slightly redundant here, it can seriously affect performance with large numbers of objects (especially complex objects). The down side is that these objects are linked, so editing one object affects the shape of the others. If you want to keep these as separate objects, you can also use Object > Relations > Make Single User.
Really good video. Gets straight to the point and doesn't waste any time. I've watched a bunch of these Blender instructional videos the past few weeks (the official documentation leaves a lot to be desired) and this was by far the most informative and in depth. I was starting to get tired of so many videos assuming this was your first time using Blender, so thanks for skipping all the redundant stuff and making this very useful insight into the vast creative potential of this incredible tool. I think this is the first Blender channel I've actually subscribed to, I'm definitely going to check out some of your other videos. Thanks!
Deep dive in one of the thoughest Blender's annoying problematics, bravo ! I learnt so much with your less than one hour video about a recuring source of headaches : this bloody curved array... To instance the meshes along arrayed vertices, what a trick ! Thank you so much !
I think you're the best blender tutorial I've ever seen on the internet. Offering it for free really doubles the value of what you're doing. You definitely deserve to be subscribed and get more likes. Your emphasis, your way of expression and the design awareness you give are incredibly beautiful. Thank you very much!!
Excellent tutorial series, and especially this one. I skimmed the earlier ones quickly based on prior Blender experience, but this in-depth blending (pun intended! ) of these topics is a leap forward in knowledge for me. Knowing how to use each modifier is one thing, but you've shown ways to synergize them that I had not previously encountered. Subscribed.
This is a really good tutorial. I have tried a few of the things in this video, and you point out many of the quirks of Blender. Matching origin points!! Good job! I am considering if a better story can be a good thing. Now your story is to teach about arrays. But what if the story is to build a city. Just prepare a simple villa and instance that. Or a bathroom mat. And put some colour on your mesh. Lightens things up. Or not. You deserve a bigger audience.
Hello, you are really nice to explain all of this !! I am currently doing a model of a printable 1930 car that will be 36 cm in length! and I used this technique to do the upholstery of the doors as well as nthe engine exhaust made in bézier curves.... and it's amazing the precision that Blender gives to my 3D printer !!!!!!!!!!! ((ps, I put some videos on the progress of my project)
will the curve modifier part work on trains? As what i understand, trains are make from cubes and animating the trains to follow the curves seems to be of the trail.
Hey Jonathan, was wondering if it's possible to use this curve method for multiple types of objects for example different types of bricks or tiles along the same path.
Hei thanks a lot, you can also do some cool surface explosion effect just by bending the plane wher's the cubes derive from. Or make everythings collapse into a blackhole if you wont to. so damn cool.
Great tutorial, man! I was wondering if you could share how to apply instances to specific faces? For example, if I have spikes and I want them to be a specific number and placed only on the faces that I want on an object, how do I do that?
I applied scale for the cone and it worked. The thing is that, Jonathan scaled the cone in edit mode only, whilst you probably (as me) scaled it firstly in object mode than in edit.
Want to see instancing used to make a perforated panel. Like a mesh on an old microphone. This would keep the vertex count really low. Also...instancing lights would be really useful. All without using empties.
I wonder how to create complex array system (maybe using Geometry nodes), where I can make a racing track for example where in certain modular pieces in specific areas. The track for example could have tunnels or a different type of environment pieces. Is it possible to do so currently in blender, with out manually setting everything up? Maybe in a more procedural way? I am having a really hard time finding any info online.
Hi, Thanks for another great video. Im sorry Im getting a different result which means Im making a mistake. In the cube with Bezier circa 8:58. Lining up the bezier, fine, turn vis, snapping to vertex, tool affect origins. Select cube, alt c g space o is where I get a different result. The g is normal when press space it shows the last action move and returns to normal. The F part to move to face does nothing, presumably because I messed up the previous step. I am still very much a beginner which is why, its me making a mistake. Please would someone give me some pointers. I tried google but do not really know what to search for. Thank you.
This is a brilliant tutorial, it’s a very complex subject and I admire the way you built it up step by step and brought it all together at the end. I’ve been trying to figure out how to model a bicycle style chain which wraps around various cogs and I think this has solved it. One question, I can’t find a way to convert the array of cones into separate objects or even to select them for editing. So I can’t texture one differently or modify them so they aren’t identical. Is there a way around it?
I'm so glad I've been able to help. Well if it's part of an array you will only be able to edit one thing. However if you make the spokes lets say 3 arrays then you will be able to edit 3 arrays. I hope that makes sense. If it does not ask this question in discord and i'm more than happy to help.
Hello @Maker Tales, When I perform the join that you have shown at about 6:25, it also creates a duplicate of the cube array off in a random offset. Looking into it I am told that the fix is to apply the object modifiers to my objects before I perform the join, but I don't see you doing this? On top of this issue, I was told that the fix is the shortcut alt+c, which we have manually set as our cad transforms correct? do you have a suggestion for me here? I am confused.
Hey CMDR Kradenguard, Hmmm not quite sure how things could be going wrong... I have a feeling blender might has changed in 3.0. Your best bet is to just move on to the next section of the video if you are learning blender and getting in touch through the discord server in the helping hand section where i'm sure I'll explore this a put up a mini video explaining it.
Hello! Very good video, I learned a lot, but I still have a question and maybe you can - or someone else to answer: I want to make a plant, big leaves at the bottom, they are getting smaller and smaller in a spiral towards the top. So far this is going well, but I would like the smaller leaves to turn more and more towards the axis of rotation (z axis) than in the case of cabbage or pine cone. If I take the levels of each leaves separately, I can do it, but I still have to use a new Object per level and manually adjust the rotation angle, and I want it to be continuous. Thanks for your help!
Regarding instancing, with the cubes, its not a bug.... even if you made the cube instances real they are still linked. You then need to make them single user.
curve modifier is so incredibly bugged, idk if you read this, maybe you got a solution for this; when i set everything up like you did, and pick the bezier curve for the box, both origins go back to world center and it looks wrong :f i always apply all transforms to both the bezier and the box
ok, not a single thing works with the curve, the "Deformation Arraying Along A Curve" Example, it's not showing the cubes on the Z Axis with the constant offset. Blender Curves are trash, holy sh..
I use arrays and curves, I make an object generate all along a curve. I then go into edit mode and duplicate the vertices of the curve and separate them into two paths but one "object", why doesn't the object also generate along this new path? what do i have to do to make it work?
HELP! Can I array an object vertical to a curve. id like to have an array of cylinders create a wave motion whilst staying locked to the Z axis. NOT following perpendicular to a curve? if that makes sense.
Whenever someone looks up blender curves or arrays this video should come up first.
Yep I agree 👍
A round of applause for this tutor. Even better. An array of applause for him.
I've watched like 3 dozens array/curve/instancing videos last 3 weeks, and yours is the most comprehensive, complete with Blender-specific best practice tips. Wish I saw this video earlier, would've saved me days of research and hair-tearing dupliface vs dupliverts vs Bezier vs Poly vs Automatic vs Vector experiments. Now let me go test my crazy stairs with Free Handle bit.
I'm so happy i've been able to help you out!
Awesome video. You explain, demonstrate, show problems, repeat the demonstration slightly differently, reactivating all the same neurons again to reinforce the learning, and extend the concept a little further. Really excellent teaching style. And the use of multiple modifiers, array + curve, and solving weird deform problems with instancing, that's a really valuable, reusable pattern there. I admit, I paused and absorbed it in two sessions! :) Keep up the great work!
6:10 is not a bug. Instancing is designed to take that one mesh and re-use it on multiple objects. While this may be slightly redundant here, it can seriously affect performance with large numbers of objects (especially complex objects). The down side is that these objects are linked, so editing one object affects the shape of the others.
If you want to keep these as separate objects, you can also use Object > Relations > Make Single User.
Really good video. Gets straight to the point and doesn't waste any time. I've watched a bunch of these Blender instructional videos the past few weeks (the official documentation leaves a lot to be desired) and this was by far the most informative and in depth. I was starting to get tired of so many videos assuming this was your first time using Blender, so thanks for skipping all the redundant stuff and making this very useful insight into the vast creative potential of this incredible tool. I think this is the first Blender channel I've actually subscribed to, I'm definitely going to check out some of your other videos. Thanks!
Found the problem I was having with the normals in the curve. Would have never thought a curve had normals also! Thanks for the great tutorial!
best Blender teacher on TH-cam.
I'm so glad you think so Atlantean Wizard, thanks! 😃
This was one hell of a tutorial! I learned so much, but I need to revisit it, because it's too much information to take in one sitting. Great job!
I have the same opinion. For me it is also very complicated to decode it into my own mother tongue , that is not english :-)
Deep dive in one of the thoughest Blender's annoying problematics, bravo ! I learnt so much with your less than one hour video about a recuring source of headaches : this bloody curved array... To instance the meshes along arrayed vertices, what a trick ! Thank you so much !
I think you're the best blender tutorial I've ever seen on the internet. Offering it for free really doubles the value of what you're doing. You definitely deserve to be subscribed and get more likes. Your emphasis, your way of expression and the design awareness you give are incredibly beautiful. Thank you very much!!
Wow! A masterpiece tutorial. Has anyone seen Jonathan's shortcuts? Neat and Precise true to form! Bless you Jonathan.
I'm so glad you find it useful Maggie!
This tutorial is gold standard for Great tutorial.
23:10 pretty neat trick. 👌
Every tutorial is best than previous one. Congratulations!!!
Glad you think so!
Thank you very much. Instancing with a vertex was exactly what I was looking for. I was this close to just placing my instances by hand!
wait this tutorial is actually INSANE really appreciate it; so much I never knew about curves
Thanks for providing this excellent series of Blender.
Nice content, you even explain what could go wrong :). That's something that 90% of the channels don't do
Excellent tutorial series, and especially this one. I skimmed the earlier ones quickly based on prior Blender experience, but this in-depth blending (pun intended! ) of these topics is a leap forward in knowledge for me. Knowing how to use each modifier is one thing, but you've shown ways to synergize them that I had not previously encountered. Subscribed.
great to hear scott!
Amazing! This is exactly what I needed to convert some SVG to 3D but using specific shapes instead of solids
u 're talented great teacher
As always great tutorial Jonathan, thanks for sharing
My pleasure!
This is exactly what I needed, Thank you!
Underrated video! I'm so glad I found this tutorial
So much power! Thanks for your hard work!
Extremely helpful tutorial! Many thanks as well as future success wishes!!
One word. Amazing!!!
Amazing teaching! Hard to believe how premium quality in-depth tutorials you're putting out there for free. Thank you so much!
Thank you.
Your explanatory video was most helpful.
Super informative! Thank you very much 👍🏻
excellent exploration of arrays & instancing. great stuff!
Thank you for the tutorial!
Maaan that add on was exactly what I needed...a week ago. But still, amazing tutorial, I watched a bunch of them an nobody explained it this well
Wish I watched this video a few months ago, would have saved me a lot of head-ache on one of my projects!
You sir have earned a subscriber
😊😊Many Thanks, my Good Brother!!
Nice one Jonathan !
Glad you enjoyed it MR HOLLYWOOD!
You're the best dude. Thanks!
This is a really good tutorial. I have tried a few of the things in this video, and you point out many of the quirks of Blender. Matching origin points!! Good job! I am considering if a better story can be a good thing. Now your story is to teach about arrays. But what if the story is to build a city. Just prepare a simple villa and instance that. Or a bathroom mat. And put some colour on your mesh. Lightens things up. Or not. You deserve a bigger audience.
Amazing tutorial
Thank you for the array along vertices trick, this is exactly what I was looking for!
This is one of your best! Love the way you cover the super details like origin positions.
Hello, you are really nice to explain all of this !! I am currently doing a model of a printable 1930 car that will be 36 cm in length! and I used this technique to do the upholstery of the doors as well as nthe engine exhaust made in bézier curves.... and it's amazing the precision that Blender gives to my 3D printer !!!!!!!!!!! ((ps, I put some videos on the progress of my project)
Sounds great!
Thank you so much for this. Love how inspiring Blender Tutorial are. :)
Thank you so much for this video 🙂
Congrats Man! Really good tutorial!
that tilt thing is so intresting
Man this is so great 👌 cleared up many confusions
Gem dropping channel
Wow very nice tutorial, thank you.
Huge tutorial! Thanks!
this is amazing tutorial thank you for sharing this video 👍
I went crazy finding answers about curve normals , thank you so much for this video, it is exactly what I was looking for!
insane tutorial, thank you so much!
VERY helpful, thank you! I've been looking for how to make irregularly patterned arrays for a while, instancing does the trick great!
Great video, thanks
This is great. Thanks.
Gracias!
Incredible tutorial! Thanks man :)
Happy to help!
at about 100 hours into blender, this is incomprehensible
you are help use to avoid a lot of pain
thanku Sir..
8:45 Transfering the origin point
Omg thank-you so much
Been loving the series! It does appear that your link to Perpendicular Curve Addon is broken!
Thanks John-Michael glad you enjoyed the video.
As for the link i've given it a check and it seem to be fine on my end. Is it still broken for you?
6:12 that's not a bug, it is just creating "instances", meaning the objects are just using the same mesh.
Awesome!
Is there a way to uniformly scale an item that is instanced on an array along a curve at different parts of the curve though?
Learnt so much in this tutorial, 43 mins of my life made better.
Thanks man...
Great in-depth tutorial! One thing I can't seam to do is to rotate the curve in Edit Mode. Any help?
will the curve modifier part work on trains? As what i understand, trains are make from cubes and animating the trains to follow the curves seems to be of the trail.
love it!
thanks mate
Your very welcome Mast Quiz!
Hey Jonathan, was wondering if it's possible to use this curve method for multiple types of objects for example different types of bricks or tiles along the same path.
@6:22 I click [CTRL + J] and I get a dublicate 10x10 instance/mesh of the cubes from the origin of the middle/primary cube. I am stuck.
Hei thanks a lot, you can also do some cool surface explosion effect just by bending the plane wher's the cubes derive from. Or make everythings collapse into a blackhole if you wont to. so damn cool.
Hi. I'm trying to wrap a model I have to make it seem like it's made out of a pattern of knit thread. Can I use this techinque to make that work?
Great tutorial, man! I was wondering if you could share how to apply instances to specific faces? For example, if I have spikes and I want them to be a specific number and placed only on the faces that I want on an object, how do I do that?
How to adjust radius with instansing, 27:30
Does the Shape/resolution 3d print that smooth or is it just for rendering?
Thanks
My fit to Curve is not going along the whole length of the curve. Any idea why it would be doing that? Thank you for your time.
I applied scale for the cone and it worked. The thing is that, Jonathan scaled the cone in edit mode only, whilst you probably (as me) scaled it firstly in object mode than in edit.
Want to see instancing used to make a perforated panel. Like a mesh on an old microphone. This would keep the vertex count really low. Also...instancing lights would be really useful. All without using empties.
I'll keep that in mind. Instancing is awesome. You can even instance collections of objects
now this is too much power
i want to model a Industrial Steam Boiler with inside fire Tubes those are connected inside with Boiler body and all are total 20 so how i can do it ?
I wonder how to create complex array system (maybe using Geometry nodes), where I can make a racing track for example where in certain modular pieces in specific areas. The track for example could have tunnels or a different type of environment pieces. Is it possible to do so currently in blender, with out manually setting everything up? Maybe in a more procedural way? I am having a really hard time finding any info online.
What is difference between soft12 and soft20??
Legend
Hi, Thanks for another great video. Im sorry Im getting a different result which means Im making a mistake. In the cube with Bezier circa 8:58.
Lining up the bezier, fine, turn vis, snapping to vertex, tool affect origins.
Select cube, alt c g space o is where I get a different result. The g is normal when press space it shows the last action move and returns to normal. The F part to move to face does nothing, presumably because I messed up the previous step. I am still very much a beginner which is why, its me making a mistake. Please would someone give me some pointers. I tried google but do not really know what to search for.
Thank you.
This is a brilliant tutorial, it’s a very complex subject and I admire the way you built it up step by step and brought it all together at the end.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to model a bicycle style chain which wraps around various cogs and I think this has solved it.
One question, I can’t find a way to convert the array of cones into separate objects or even to select them for editing. So I can’t texture one differently or modify them so they aren’t identical. Is there a way around it?
I'm so glad I've been able to help. Well if it's part of an array you will only be able to edit one thing. However if you make the spokes lets say 3 arrays then you will be able to edit 3 arrays. I hope that makes sense. If it does not ask this question in discord and i'm more than happy to help.
Can anyone help me out? In the Instancing Arrays section, when I get to clicking the Faces button option, the cube doesn't multiply for me.
Hello @Maker Tales, When I perform the join that you have shown at about 6:25, it also creates a duplicate of the cube array off in a random offset. Looking into it I am told that the fix is to apply the object modifiers to my objects before I perform the join, but I don't see you doing this? On top of this issue, I was told that the fix is the shortcut alt+c, which we have manually set as our cad transforms correct? do you have a suggestion for me here? I am confused.
Hey CMDR Kradenguard, Hmmm not quite sure how things could be going wrong... I have a feeling blender might has changed in 3.0. Your best bet is to just move on to the next section of the video if you are learning blender and getting in touch through the discord server in the helping hand section where i'm sure I'll explore this a put up a mini video explaining it.
@@Keep-Making Thank you very much for the quick reply, and thank you for the videos!
I had no idea you can stack arrays like 1:30 ,feel so dumb now !
Hello! Very good video, I learned a lot, but I still have a question and maybe you can - or someone else to answer: I want to make a plant, big leaves at the bottom, they are getting smaller and smaller in a spiral towards the top. So far this is going well, but I would like the smaller leaves to turn more and more towards the axis of rotation (z axis) than in the case of cabbage or pine cone. If I take the levels of each leaves separately, I can do it, but I still have to use a new Object per level and manually adjust the rotation angle, and I want it to be continuous. Thanks for your help!
Regarding instancing, with the cubes, its not a bug.... even if you made the cube instances real they are still linked. You then need to make them single user.
you can go on file > defaults > save start up file
so you don't need to delete everithing again
curve modifier is so incredibly bugged, idk if you read this, maybe you got a solution for this; when i set everything up like you did, and pick the bezier curve for the box, both origins go back to world center and it looks wrong :f i always apply all transforms to both the bezier and the box
ok, not a single thing works with the curve, the "Deformation Arraying Along A Curve" Example, it's not showing the cubes on the Z Axis with the constant offset. Blender Curves are trash, holy sh..
I use arrays and curves, I make an object generate all along a curve. I then go into edit mode and duplicate the vertices of the curve and separate them into two paths but one "object", why doesn't the object also generate along this new path? what do i have to do to make it work?
aside from the useful tutorial, this be a really handsome man.
HELP!
Can I array an object vertical to a curve. id like to have an array of cylinders create a wave motion whilst staying locked to the Z axis. NOT following perpendicular to a curve? if that makes sense.
Be sure you watch the video all the way through that is called instancing