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Groups | Substance 3D Modeler

Groups

Scene objects can be grouped to make them easier to move and organize. Groups can hold layers and other groups - so it's possible to have groups of groups of groups.

Group and ungroup objects

To create a group:

  1. Select one or more scene objects
  2. Open the action menu and select the Group option.
    1. 💻Use shortcut ctrl + g to group selected objects.

Ungrouping objects is just as easy:

  1. Select a group
  2. Open the action menu and select the Ungroup option.

Duplicate a group

There are two types of duplication:

  • Standard duplication will create a copy of an existing group. Editing the copy or any of its children will not impact the original group.
  • Instancing creates an instance of an existing group. Changes that you make to the instance or its children will affect the original group and vice versa.

To duplicate a group:

  1. Scope out of the group.
  2. Switch to the Select tool.
  3. Select the group.
  4. Open the Action menu
    1. Use Make Link to turn on instancing.
    2. Use Unlink to turn off instancing.
  5. Duplicate the group:
    1. 💻Use ctrl + d.
    2. 🥽While moving a layer with TT, pull ST to duplicate the layer.

If instancing is turned on, the new group will be an instance of the old group. Otherwise, the new group will be completely independent from the old group.

Note:

Note that when you instance a group, it's possible to move and scale the instance as a whole without impacting other instances. However, the transforms of an instanced group's children are linked with other instances. So, if you instance a group, you can move the instanced group freely, but if you move the contents of the group, the contents of linked groups will also be adjusted.

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