📝 Description

The MGH Advanced Array Tool is a highly customizable Geometry Nodes-based modifier for Blender that lets you distribute and manipulate objects using five powerful modes: Linear, Radial, Curve, Surface, and Volume. Designed for artists and technical users alike, this tool brings procedural control with a clean, intuitive interface.

Whether you're scattering objects on a surface, duplicating elements along a curve, or arranging meshes in linear or radial patterns, this tool is a one-stop solution with deep customization and randomization capabilities.

⚙️ UI & Feature Breakdown

🧮 Count & Type

• Count: Number of duplicated elements (works across all types: Linear, Radial, Curve).

• Type: Select distribution type: Linear, Radial, Curve, Surface, or Volume.

• As Instances: Toggle for using instances (saves memory and improves performance).

🎲 Randomization

• Random Seed: Controls variation randomness.

• Random Translate (XYZ): Random position offsets.

• Random Rotation (XYZ): Random angle variations.

• Random Scale (XYZ or Uniform): Random size changes.

📏 Linear

• X/Y/Z Offset: Distance between elements along each axis.

• X/Y/Z Scale Offset: Gradual scale change per copy.

• X/Y/Z Rotation: Rotation applied incrementally to each instance.

🔁 Radial

• Radius: Defines the circular layout.

• Local Scale (XYZ): Control size of each instance.

• Circle Trim Factor: Trim circle for partial arcs.

• Local Rotation (XYZ): Rotation per instance around the circle.

🌀 Curve

• Pick Curve: Choose a custom curve object.

• Align Normals: Aligns instance orientation with curve direction.

• Translation / Rotation / Scale: Transforms applied along the curve.

• Translate/Rotation/Scale Curve Factor: Controls how changes are distributed along the curve's length.

🌐 Surface

• Surface: Pick a target mesh surface.

• Align Surface Normal: Toggle to orient instances to surface normals.

• Distribution Seed: Varies the scattering pattern.

• Density Max: Controls the number of instances.

• Translation / Rotation / Scale: Transform each placed instance.

🧊 Volume

• Volume: Choose a bounding volume (or use default).

• Space: Distance between grid instances.

• Rotation / Scale: Per-instance transformation.

🧩 Management Section

• Can be used for exposing or hiding advanced internal parameters (future expandability).

💡 Use Cases

• Architectural instancing (tiles, railings, structural elements)

• Motion graphics arrays

• Organic scattering (rocks, grass, particles)

• 3D pattern generation

• Curve-based animation objects (chains, ropes)

📦 Included

• Ready-to-use .blend file

• Fully organized Geometry Nodes modifier

• User-friendly interface with exposed parameters

• Example scene using Suzanne mesh for demonstration

To append a Geometry Nodes tree in Blender, go to File > Append, select the Blender file containing the node setup, navigate to the NodeTree folder, choose the desired Geometry Nodes tree, and click Append. Then, select your object, add a Geometry Nodes modifier in the Modifiers tab, and assign the appended node tree from the dropdown menu.