8

440 Chapter 6: Transforms: Moving, Rotating, and Scaling Objects
Reference—
Clones references (page 3–1096) of
the selected object. Not available with particle
systems.
Mesh—Usethistocreatemeshgeometryoutof
particle system. Works with all k inds of par ticles.
Sp acing Tool
Extras toolbar > Spacing Tool (on Ar ray flyout)
Tools menu > Spacing Tool
TheSpacingtoolletsyoudistributeobjectsbased
onthecurrentselectionalongapathdefinedbya
spline or a pair of points.
The distributed objects c an be copies,
instances
(page 3–1051)
,or references (page 3–1096) of
the current selected object. You define a path by
picking a spline or two points and by setting a
number of parameters. You can also specify how
the spacing between objects is determ ined and
whether the pivot points of the objec t s align to the
tangent of the spline.
The Spacing tool distributes the vases along the sides of the
curved street. The vases a re all the same distance from each
other; fewer appear on the shorter side.
Tip: You can use compound shapes containing
multiplesplinesasthesplinepathfordistributing
objects. Before creating shapes , turn off Start
New Shape on the Create panel. Then create your
shapes. The software adds each spline to the
current shape until you click the Start New Shape
button so that it’s tur n ed on. When you select t he
compound shape so that the Spacing tool can use
it as a path, objects are distributed along all of
the splines of the compound shape. For example,
you mig ht find this technique useful in spacing
light standards along a path defined by separated
splines.
Procedure
To distribute objects along a path:
1.
Select the objects to distribute.
2. Click Spacing Tool, or choose Tools menu
>SpacingTool.
Note: The Spacing tool is also available on
rollouts for various components of the
Railing
object (page 1–212)
.
3. On the Spacing Tool dialog, click Pick Path or
Pick Points to specify a pa th.
If you click Pick Path, select a spline from your
scene to use as the p ath.
If you click Pick Points, pick a start and an end
to define a spline as the path. When you’re
finished with the Spacing tool, the software
deletesthisspline.
4. Choose a spacing option from the Parameters
list.
The parameters available for Count, Spacing,
Start Offset, and End Offset are dep endent on
the spacing option you choose.
5. Specif y the number of objects to distribute by
setting the value of C ount.
6. Depending on the spacing option you choose,
adjust the spacing and offsets.