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Adjusting distance between vertices in geometry nodes in Blender

In this tutorial, we are going to address an issue with the current method to make multiple instances. As we increase the number of vertices, the distance between the instance objects decreases. We are going to see why this problem occurs and what is the solution. Blender version 2.93 is used.

In this tutorial, we are going to address an issue with the current method to make multiple instances. As we increase the number of vertices, the distance between the instance objects decreases. We are going to see why this problem occurs and what is the solution. Blender version 2.93 is used.

In the previous tutorial we Combined nodes into a group. And before that, we changed the instance origin using Geometry nodes.

Change in Distance between Instance Objects after Changing Vertices

As it can be compared from the following images, the distance decreases, as the number of instance objects increase.

If we take a look at the geometry nodes, when we increase the number of vertices or instance objects, the size of the grid also increases but not by the amount it should. In an ideal case, the distance between two instance object should always remain same.

The problem is due to a simple reason, when we increase the number of instance objects, basically, we do it by increasing the number of vertices, so the distance between two vertices along the same axis should remain the same. But as a new vertex is added, the size of grid is increased, thus making room for a new set of vertices, but the distance between two vertices is decreased.

Relating Vertices with faces

When there are 2 set of vertices, there is 1 face. 3 set of vertices divide the mesh into 2 faces and so on. In the current situation, the distance between size of the grid on a particular axis should be divided by the number of faces, and the resultant is Length between two vertices.

Set of VerticesRegions or Faces
21
32
43

Length between two vertices

The correct formula becomes:

Length between two vertices = Size of the grid * Number of faces

To get the distance between two vertices, we have been multiplying the size of grid with the number of vertices, instead, we should multiply it with the number of faces.

Solution

The number of faces is one less than the number of vertices
The solution is very simple, we just need to subtract 1 from the number of vertices node that determines size of grid.

Adding a Math Subtract Node

To do that add a Math node before the Math Multiply node by clicking Add > Utilities > Math. Change the Operation to Subtract and change the second value to 1. Make sure this is done in this exact order. Do this for both X and Y axis.

This is the final setup node.

As we can see from the video below, the distance between Instance Objects remains constant.

https://usamababar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/multiple_instances_-4.mp4

The previous parts of the tutorial series :

  1. Instance objects using a grid in this tutorial.
  2. Add a Distance parameter to set the distance between instance objects.
  3. Change the instance origin using Geometry nodes.
  4. Combine nodes into a group.

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