Instance on Points Node

The Instance on Points node adds a reference to a geometry to each of the points present in the input geometry. Instances are a fast way to add the same geometry to a scene many times without duplicating the underlying data. The node works on any geometry type with a Point domain, including meshes, point clouds, and curve control points.

Any attributes on the points from the Geometry input will be available on the instance domain of the generated instances.

Tip

The Make Instances Real operator can be used to create objects from instances generated with this node.

Note

To instance object types that do not contain geometry, like a light object, the Object Info Node can be used. Other objects like Metaball objects are not supported for instancing.

Inputs

Points

Standard geometry input. The position of the points of this geometry affect the transforms of each instance output.

Note

If the input geometry contains instances, the node will create more instances on the points inside the instances, creating nested instancing. In this case, each new instance will have the transform created by the node from the Rotation and Scale inputs, but it will also be transformed based on the parent instances.

Selection

Whether to instance on each point. True values mean an instance will be generated on the point, false values mean the point will be skipped.

Instance

The geometry to instance on each selected point. This can contain real geometry, or multiple instances, which can be useful when combined with the Pick Instance option.

Pick Instances

If enabled, instead of adding the entire geometry from the Instance input on every point, choose an instance from the instance list of the geometry based on the Instance Index input. This option is intended to be used with the Collection Info Node.

Instance Index

The selection of index for every selected point, only used when Pick Instances is true. By default the point ID is used, or the index if that doesn’t exist. Negative values or values that are too large are wrapped around to the other end of the instance list.

Rotation

The Euler rotation for every instance. This can use the rotation output of nodes like Distribute Points on Faces and Curve to Points. An Euler rotation can also be created from a direction vector like the normal with the Align Rotation to Vector Node.

Scale

The size of each generated instance.

Properties

This node has no properties.

Outputs

Instances

Standard geometry output. If the id attribute exists on the input geometry, it will be copied to the result instances.