Array Multiple Objects in blender (Use only one array modifier)

In this tutorial we show you how to duplicate multiple objects in blender using one array modifier. Instead of using many modifiers to array each mesh objects you can now use ONE array modifier to duplicate all the meshes as a group or a collection.
This tutorial shows you how to create and use instances in the object properties settings to group all your meshes by making the a child to the parent mesh so that it can be duplicated as a group.
We also discuss some of the bugs you might run into when instancing is not working properly when trying to array multiple objects.
We then show you how to take it to the next level so that you can use the array feature beyond the bounds of a straight line by incorporating the array modifier with the curve modifier. We use the array modifier on the instance so that it duplicates the instance and not the original mesh.

[@tobyhallam4750]

Wow, they really made this simple task very convoluted.

[@FunwithBlender]

haha thats blender for you i guess

[@thorn-]

Any other 3D application: select parent of group of objects, apply array modifier.
Blender: 7 minute tutorial.

[@t34cup]

You fixed all the problems I was having, THANK YOU!

[@keaackerman]

amazing! the step i was having issues with was the wonkiness after adding a path. thank you so much

[@RobertLeachman]

The classic example where my question is answered in the first few minutes but so much for later, I hope I can find it again haha. Great job :) thanks!

[@TruthSurge]

3:50 ! YES, we DO really want that because to make a circle of snowmen, just make that first parent object a CIRCLE path with however many vertices you want snowmen. That's if you know ahead of time how many you wanted, you could make a really blocky circle and done. But if this parenting works, I wish there was a way you could just tell Blender to apply the array modifier AFTER any parenting (wouldn't that be the logical way to do array modifier?). I have 3.5.1 and if you parent one object to another and array the parent, it won't work but it COULD if the Blender people put parenting as a higher priority function BEFORE processing the array modifier. I don't understand why that doesn't work that way and you have to basically trick Blender by using some other method which is still parenting but thanks for the vid. I was shocked that the array modifier couldn't handle parenting by default. ? it's 2023. Array mod should take into account parenting and even collections but... I will try your method. I had same situation. Mult objects I wanted to array but NOPE. Not even simple intuitive idea I had of parenting worked. And who wants to JOIN or create a static mesh out of discreet objects? thx!!!

[@FunwithBlender]

the modifier stack is applied in the order from top to bottom always so you can control the order :)

[@TruthSurge]

@@FunwithBlender ok, if you can parent object A to object B then apply an array modifier to object A and get an array of BOTH objects just using one array modifier, please let me know. I've tried it like that and doing it that way will not work. You have to trick Blender by using other methods.

[@insainbassist]

I love how the untextured snowman looks like some kind of eldritch horror beyond comprehension

[@nigellill3222]

Cool. Didn't know you could mix curves with instance objects. 😀

[@FunwithBlender]

I also did not know lol

[@nigellill3222]

@@FunwithBlender We both learned something then 🤣

[@digitalbase9396]

Well Explained, Thank you

[@daimacku]

Clever but.. how can we hide the instancer without hide the copies?

[@FunwithBlender]

many ways one way could be to move it out of camera view or instead apply and separate loos parts :)

[@thorn-]

Uncheck Show Instancer Viewport/Render in the object instancing properties.

[@phylleedrianalagos1728]

thanks.

[@FunwithBlender]

You're welcome

[@RainSoxx]

This seems great, except the first plane instance has two copies of the instanced objects overlapped, causing a lot of glitches. You can't even just hide the visibility of the children, because then they don't show up in the instances.

[@FunwithBlender]

you can just move it out of the scene and then only see the instances

[@RainSoxx]

@@FunwithBlender do you mean to actually unlink it from the scene itself? So the children technically belong to no scene?

[@FunwithBlender]

no mean you can just move it out of the camera viewport and reset it position to not effect anything else this way its not visible in your scene at all, i don't have blender open i ma sure there is an easier way but that's just a quick solution off the top of the dome@@RainSoxx

[@RainSoxx]

@@FunwithBlender oh right, yea I know about that, but it’s clunky and unintuitive. Be great to see an option to just hide the original children in the instancing settings in the future. Thanks for the help though!

[@gauressi3579]

Hello

[@FunwithBlender]

hi :)

[@gauressi3579]

Man! You really deserve more subscribers , watching your videos as well!

[@FunwithBlender]

@@gauressi3579 thank you best of luck with your channel as well :)