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MeshInstance3D

Inherits: GeometryInstance3D < VisualInstance3D < Node3D < Node < Object

Inherited By: SoftBody3D

Node that instances meshes into a scenario.

Description

MeshInstance3D is a node that takes a Mesh resource and adds it to the current scenario by creating an instance of it. This is the class most often used render 3D geometry and can be used to instance a single Mesh in many places. This allows reusing geometry, which can save on resources. When a Mesh has to be instantiated more than thousands of times at close proximity, consider using a MultiMesh in a MultiMeshInstance3D instead.

Tutorials

Properties

Mesh

mesh

NodePath

skeleton

NodePath("..")

Skin

skin

Methods

ArrayMesh

bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix(existing: ArrayMesh = null)

void

create_convex_collision(clean: bool = true, simplify: bool = false)

void

create_debug_tangents()

void

create_multiple_convex_collisions(settings: MeshConvexDecompositionSettings = null)

void

create_trimesh_collision()

int

find_blend_shape_by_name(name: StringName)

Material

get_active_material(surface: int) const

int

get_blend_shape_count() const

float

get_blend_shape_value(blend_shape_idx: int) const

SkinReference

get_skin_reference() const

Material

get_surface_override_material(surface: int) const

int

get_surface_override_material_count() const

void

set_blend_shape_value(blend_shape_idx: int, value: float)

void

set_surface_override_material(surface: int, material: Material)


Property Descriptions

Mesh mesh 🔗

  • void set_mesh(value: Mesh)

  • Mesh get_mesh()

The Mesh resource for the instance.


NodePath skeleton = NodePath("..") 🔗

NodePath to the Skeleton3D associated with the instance.


Skin skin 🔗

  • void set_skin(value: Skin)

  • Skin get_skin()

The Skin to be used by this instance.


Method Descriptions

ArrayMesh bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix(existing: ArrayMesh = null) 🔗

Takes a snapshot from the current ArrayMesh with all blend shapes applied according to their current weights and bakes it to the provided existing mesh. If no existing mesh is provided a new ArrayMesh is created, baked and returned. Mesh surface materials are not copied.

Performance: Mesh data needs to be received from the GPU, stalling the RenderingServer in the process.


void create_convex_collision(clean: bool = true, simplify: bool = false) 🔗

This helper creates a StaticBody3D child node with a ConvexPolygonShape3D collision shape calculated from the mesh geometry. It's mainly used for testing.

If clean is true (default), duplicate and interior vertices are removed automatically. You can set it to false to make the process faster if not needed.

If simplify is true, the geometry can be further simplified to reduce the number of vertices. Disabled by default.


void create_debug_tangents() 🔗

This helper creates a MeshInstance3D child node with gizmos at every vertex calculated from the mesh geometry. It's mainly used for testing.


void create_multiple_convex_collisions(settings: MeshConvexDecompositionSettings = null) 🔗

This helper creates a StaticBody3D child node with multiple ConvexPolygonShape3D collision shapes calculated from the mesh geometry via convex decomposition. The convex decomposition operation can be controlled with parameters from the optional settings.


void create_trimesh_collision() 🔗

This helper creates a StaticBody3D child node with a ConcavePolygonShape3D collision shape calculated from the mesh geometry. It's mainly used for testing.


int find_blend_shape_by_name(name: StringName) 🔗

Returns the index of the blend shape with the given name. Returns -1 if no blend shape with this name exists, including when mesh is null.


Material get_active_material(surface: int) const 🔗

Returns the Material that will be used by the Mesh when drawing. This can return the GeometryInstance3D.material_override, the surface override Material defined in this MeshInstance3D, or the surface Material defined in the mesh. For example, if GeometryInstance3D.material_override is used, all surfaces will return the override material.

Returns null if no material is active, including when mesh is null.


int get_blend_shape_count() const 🔗

Returns the number of blend shapes available. Produces an error if mesh is null.


float get_blend_shape_value(blend_shape_idx: int) const 🔗

Returns the value of the blend shape at the given blend_shape_idx. Returns 0.0 and produces an error if mesh is null or doesn't have a blend shape at that index.


SkinReference get_skin_reference() const 🔗

Returns the internal SkinReference containing the skeleton's RID attached to this RID. See also Resource.get_rid, SkinReference.get_skeleton, and RenderingServer.instance_attach_skeleton.


Material get_surface_override_material(surface: int) const 🔗

Returns the override Material for the specified surface of the Mesh resource. See also get_surface_override_material_count.

Note: This returns the Material associated to the MeshInstance3D's Surface Material Override properties, not the material within the Mesh resource. To get the material within the Mesh resource, use Mesh.surface_get_material instead.


int get_surface_override_material_count() const 🔗

Returns the number of surface override materials. This is equivalent to Mesh.get_surface_count. See also get_surface_override_material.


void set_blend_shape_value(blend_shape_idx: int, value: float) 🔗

Sets the value of the blend shape at blend_shape_idx to value. Produces an error if mesh is null or doesn't have a blend shape at that index.


void set_surface_override_material(surface: int, material: Material) 🔗

Sets the override material for the specified surface of the Mesh resource. This material is associated with this MeshInstance3D rather than with mesh.

Note: This assigns the Material associated to the MeshInstance3D's Surface Material Override properties, not the material within the Mesh resource. To set the material within the Mesh resource, use Mesh.surface_get_material instead.