Cloning over Time

Another useful way to create multiple copies of an object is to have them appear at different times in an animation. This cloning over time is accomplished with the Snapshot feature.

Using the Snapshot command

The Snapshot command creates copies, instances, references, or even meshes of a selected object as it follows an animation path. For example, you could create a series of footprints that magically appear by positioning the first footprint at frame 1 and the last footprint at frame 100, and then choose Tools Snapshot and enter the number of steps to appear between these two in the Snapshot dialog box. As the animation plays, new footprints will appear along the animation path at regular intervals. Be aware that the Snapshot command works only with objects that have an animation path defined.

You can open the Snapshot dialog box by choosing Tools Snapshot or by clicking the Snapshot button (under the Array flyout on the Extras toolbar). Snapshot is the second button in the flyout. In the Snapshot dialog box, shown in Figure 9.7, you can choose to produce a single clone or a range of clones over a given number of frames. Selecting Single creates a single clone at the current frame.

Figure 9.7: The Snapshot dialog box lets you clone a Copy, Instance, Reference, or Mesh.

Note 

When you enter the number of Copies in the Snapshot dialog box, a copy is placed at both the beginning and end of the specified range, so if your animation path is a closed path, two objects are stacked on top of each other. For example, if you have a square animation path and you want to place a copy at each comer, you need to enter a value of 5.

Tip 

The Snapshot tool can also be used with particle systems.

Tutorial: Create a path through a maze

The Snapshot tool can be used to create objects as a model is moved along an animated path. In this example, we create a series of footsteps through a maze.

To create a set of footprints through a maze with the Snapshot tool, follow these steps:

1. Open the Path through a  maze.max file from the Chap 09 directory on the DVD. This file includes a set of animated footprints that travel to the exit of a maze.

2. Select both footprint objects at the entrance to the maze.

3. Choose the Tools Snapshot menu to open the Snapshot dialog box. Select the Range option, set the number of Copies to 50, and select the Instance option. Then click the OK button.

Figure 9.8 shows the path of footsteps leading the way through the maze, which are easier to follow than breadcrumbs.

Figure 9.8: The Snapshot tool helps to build a set of footprints through a maze.