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DupliFrames
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DupliFrames is a tool to duplicate objects at frames distributed along a path.
This is a useful tool to quickly arrange objects.


Examples
========

.. figure:: /images/modeling-dupliframes-example01.png
   :width: 300px

   Settings for the curve.


:kbd:`Shift-A` to add a *Bézier Circle* and scale it up.
In the *Curve* menu under *Path Animation* enable *Follow*
and set *Frames* to something more reasonable than 100 (say 16).

.. figure:: /images/modeling-dupliframes-example02.png
   :width: 300px

   Settings for the object.


Add a *Monkey*. In the *Object* menu under *Duplication* enable *Frames* and disable *Speed*.

.. note:: Speed

   The *Speed* option is used when the parent-child relationship is set to *Follow Path* (see below).
   In this example, the monkey will then travel along the circle over 16 frames.

.. figure:: /images/modeling-dupliframes-example03.png
   :width: 300px

   Parenting.


To parent the monkey to the Bézier circle, first select the monkey then the curve
(so that the curve is the active object) and :kbd:`Ctrl-P`.
Select the monkey and :kbd:`Alt-O` to reset its origin.

.. figure:: /images/modeling-dupliframes-example04.png
   :width: 300px

   Orientation tweaks.


You can now change the orientation of the monkey by either rotating it
(either in *Edit Mode* or *Object Mode*) or by changing the *Tracking Axes*
under *Relations Extras* (with the monkey selected).
The arrangement of monkeys can, of course, be further enhanced by editing the curve.

To transform all monkeys into real objects, first :kbd:`Ctrl-Shift-A`
to *Make Duplicates Real*. All monkeys are now real objects, but still linked copies.
To change this, :menuselection:`Object --> Make Single User --> Object & Data --> All`.

.. note::

   There are many alternatives to Dupliframes. Which tool to use depends on context:

   - To use a small curve as a profile and a larger curve as a path,
     simply use the former as a *Bevel Object* to the latter.
   - To arrange objects along a curve, combining an *Array Modifier* and a *Curve Modifier* is often useful.
   - Dupliverts can be used to arrange objects, for example, along a circle or across a subdivided plane.

.. seealso::

   `Blender Artists: Dupliframes in 2.5 <http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?181911-Dupliframes-in-2-5>`__