UNLIMITED Object Copies in Blender? How to Use Collection Instances

In this video, learn how to use collection instances to create nearly unlimited copies of objects in Blender without negatively affecting performance!

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Introduction
0:17 - Model statistics and performance
0:39 - How duplicating objects affects performance
1:21 - Creating an object collection in Blender
1:39 - How to add a collection instance to your model in Blender
1:57 - How collection instances affect (or don't affect) model statistics
3:01 - Making an instance a real object for editing
3:10 - How changing one instance changes other copies of the instance
4:00 - More Blender tutorials

[TheCGEssentials]

Hi everyone! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! :)

[MishimaZaibatsuCorp]

To be able to move the source mesh around without affecting the location of the instanced objects :- First select the instanced object and then from the top menu under go to Objects > Apply > Make instances real - and click on it.
The result: You now can move the original object around and have it not affect the instanced versions of it. This can be very useful if, like me, you have already placed the instanced how you want and now want to move the original mesh out of the way!

[captaincrispy]

Thank you very much for this, Justin.
There was one big piece of information missing for me, and it caused me a lot of headache trying to apply this technique:

The instanced models will be generated at a certain offset from the generated empty; this offset is determined by the offset of the original collection from the World Origin. (= global coordinates) In the case of this video, it coincidentally works like a simple duplication because the original collection is located at the World Origin, which is why there is no extra offset to consider.
If that isn't the case, and the Collection is, for example, located at 0, 0, 5, the Instanced models will be offset by 0, 0, 5 from the empty that is generated when creating an instanced collection.
This appears to be intended by design (although I have no idea how that would fit in any workflow).

To "fix" it and basically cancel out this offset, you will have to set the standard offset of the collection to the global position of the original collection:

Place your 3D-Cursor in the middle of the collection. I suggest to select the central element, Shift + S > Cursor to Selected.
Select an object from the collection > Object Properties > Collection - Select the Dropdown arrow and select "Set Offset from Cursor"

I hope this helps.

[Rarsjckfnebelcofuwbsjxkfkriric]

You saved my day, lot of work and my PC's performance! THANK YOU! :)

[studiophotik]

This is life saving for creating urban/city renders. Thanks a ton!

[meetoloveu]

Thank you. That was very helpful for my project. As a beginner, I didn't know how to solve this issue because I have multiple copies for my case show, and that made my file heavy.

[kyuandzo]

Thank you for tut ^^ If you wanna make any of those objects as single object. Select the object > Go to Object > Relations > Make Single User > Object & Data. If you choose Object & Data & Materials, its gonna seperate that object's material as a new one. I usually don't prefer that :) Good luck everyone

[eitantal]

What is the difference between that, and Alt+D? The latter also does not inflate the number in the statistics

[RBWesterfield]

Thank you very much for your online instructions on how to do blender we appreciate you so much you're definitely one of my favorites

[artabramov]

Hi, Justin! Thank you a lot for your videos! I don't know how you do this but you have answers for every single problem I get stuck on in my Blender learning journey!

[stefanakin]

i always watch your tuts, you are a real timesaver my friend. Thank you for all the nice vids :)

[hugoantunesartwithblender]

Great tip. Btw, for having the origin of the collection instance in the perfect location is using scenes for each collection we want to instance, because instances are dependent of the location of the original collection

[NOCTURNUSFILM]

I don't get it. When you create the "Bonnie" collection, it doesn't show up anywhere. And you haven't added the bonnie model to it. When I create the collection instance it does appear, but there's nothing in it.

[ahmedshosha]

Thank you very much. I searched a lot for this matter. May God reward you with good

[paulfischer]

How can I make an instance unique (like in sketchup, with the composants) ? for example, what if I'd like to make only one Bonnie with a different tail, or one Bonnie with a different colour ?

[virxest]

Does the instances carry over to unreal engine and game development? Should I also be using instances, even if I'm modeling single non-complex objects at a time? Can instances reduce the performance needs of the game later, or I'm completely misunderstanding the purpose of the instance? An instance was used in one of the tutorial videos and now I use it everywhere, not only do I copy the whole chair as an instance but I also make the legs out of it? Is it necessary?

[damien.digital]

Thanks for the video! I have a question: How do you put the statistics in the corner?

[Sanzhar__]

Thank you. Now I can work on twin heads: one of them in posed statue, another looking straight somewhere next to the statue, and work on both

[BirdeeGarden]

Brilliant !
thanks for the tip. It is very practical to lighten the scenes!

[mohsyn]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, this is small tip but really