Cloning with Shift+Move

Cloning objects while moving them is quick and easy. It produces a linear array of two or more objects.

Shift+Move creates a clone in a different location.

Note: When Maya mode is active, you can't use Shift+drag to clone an object. In Maya mode, Shift+left-click selects or deselects objects, instead.

To clone with Shift+Move:

Note: You can find more video content in this topic online. See http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-docs

About Arrays Created with Shift+Move

Multiple clones produced by Shift+Move form an equally spaced linear array with these characteristics:

• The line of the array runs from the center of the original through the centers of the clones.
• The distance between each neighboring pair of copies is the same as the distance between the original and the first clone.

By using snaps as you move the selection, you can make precise arrays.

An example of the Shift+Move array is a picket fence. From a single picket, you can generate long runs of fencing. You can array the fence along a major axis of the home grid, then group the pickets, rotate them to a particular angle, and move them into position.

You can also make three-dimensional arrays with Shift+Move. The main choice is the combination of axes to allow movement off the construction plane. For example, to build a stairway, you can create a box that forms the top step, then use Shift+Move to copy it diagonally downward, using an array to create a downward flight.