Copy and Clone
Copy creates independent geometry; Clone creates a linked instance that updates when the source changes.
Copy and Clone both produce a duplicate of the selected object, but they behave differently once placed.
Copy Selected
Copy produces an independent duplicate. The new object has its own geometry. Editing the original has no effect on the copy, and editing the copy has no effect on the original. Use Copy when you need two separate objects that happen to start from the same shape.
Keyboard shortcut: Press C to copy the selected objects. Press V to paste at the focus pointer location, or enter drag placement mode to position the copy before committing.
Clone Selected
Clone produces a linked instance. The clone shares its geometry with the source object. When you edit the source — changing dimensions, adding features, adjusting parameters — every clone of that source updates automatically.
Use Clone when you are repeating the same part across a model and want changes to propagate everywhere at once. A screw, a bracket, a repeated detail — if it appears more than once and you expect to refine it, clone it rather than copy it.
Choosing between them
| Copy | Clone | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent geometry | Yes | No |
| Updates with source | No | Yes |
| Use when | You need two separate parts | You need the same part in multiple places |
If you start with a clone and later decide you need independence, use Freeze to Mesh to detach it from the source.