This workflow allows you to move the referenced object anywhere in the scene without having the texture swim on the original object.
If the 3D texture node is grouped within an object's hierarchy
- Select the top node of your object's hierarchy.
- Create the referenced object. See To create a Texture Reference Object .
- Run the Optimize Scene Size tool.
- Move the original 3D texture node from the original object's hierarchy into the referenced object's hierarchy.