godot-docs/classes/class_meshinstance3d.rst

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D:

MeshInstance3D
==============

**Inherits:** :ref:`GeometryInstance3D<class_GeometryInstance3D>` **<** :ref:`VisualInstance3D<class_VisualInstance3D>` **<** :ref:`Node3D<class_Node3D>` **<** :ref:`Node<class_Node>` **<** :ref:`Object<class_Object>`

**Inherited By:** :ref:`SoftBody3D<class_SoftBody3D>`

Node that instances meshes into a scenario.

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Description
-----------

MeshInstance3D is a node that takes a :ref:`Mesh<class_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 :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` in many places. This allows reusing geometry, which can save on resources. When a :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` has to be instantiated more than thousands of times at close proximity, consider using a :ref:`MultiMesh<class_MultiMesh>` in a :ref:`MultiMeshInstance3D<class_MultiMeshInstance3D>` instead.

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Tutorials
---------

- `3D Material Testers Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/2742>`__

- `3D Kinematic Character Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/2739>`__

- `3D Platformer Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/2748>`__

- `Third Person Shooter (TPS) Demo <https://godotengine.org/asset-library/asset/2710>`__

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Properties
----------

.. table::
   :widths: auto

   +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+--------------------+
   | :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>`         | :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>`         |                    |
   +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+--------------------+
   | :ref:`NodePath<class_NodePath>` | :ref:`skeleton<class_MeshInstance3D_property_skeleton>` | ``NodePath("..")`` |
   +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+--------------------+
   | :ref:`Skin<class_Skin>`         | :ref:`skin<class_MeshInstance3D_property_skin>`         |                    |
   +---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+--------------------+

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Methods
-------

.. table::
   :widths: auto

   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`ArrayMesh<class_ArrayMesh>`         | :ref:`bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix<class_MeshInstance3D_method_bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix>`\ (\ existing\: :ref:`ArrayMesh<class_ArrayMesh>` = null\ )                                   |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`create_convex_collision<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_convex_collision>`\ (\ clean\: :ref:`bool<class_bool>` = true, simplify\: :ref:`bool<class_bool>` = false\ )                                  |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`create_debug_tangents<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_debug_tangents>`\ (\ )                                                                                                                          |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`create_multiple_convex_collisions<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_multiple_convex_collisions>`\ (\ settings\: :ref:`MeshConvexDecompositionSettings<class_MeshConvexDecompositionSettings>` = null\ ) |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`create_trimesh_collision<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_trimesh_collision>`\ (\ )                                                                                                                    |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`int<class_int>`                     | :ref:`find_blend_shape_by_name<class_MeshInstance3D_method_find_blend_shape_by_name>`\ (\ name\: :ref:`StringName<class_StringName>`\ )                                                                        |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Material<class_Material>`           | :ref:`get_active_material<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_active_material>`\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const|                                                                                     |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`int<class_int>`                     | :ref:`get_blend_shape_count<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_count>`\ (\ ) |const|                                                                                                                  |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`float<class_float>`                 | :ref:`get_blend_shape_value<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_value>`\ (\ blend_shape_idx\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const|                                                                         |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`SkinReference<class_SkinReference>` | :ref:`get_skin_reference<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_skin_reference>`\ (\ ) |const|                                                                                                                        |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`Material<class_Material>`           | :ref:`get_surface_override_material<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material>`\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const|                                                                 |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | :ref:`int<class_int>`                     | :ref:`get_surface_override_material_count<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material_count>`\ (\ ) |const|                                                                                      |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`set_blend_shape_value<class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_blend_shape_value>`\ (\ blend_shape_idx\: :ref:`int<class_int>`, value\: :ref:`float<class_float>`\ )                                              |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   | |void|                                    | :ref:`set_surface_override_material<class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_surface_override_material>`\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`, material\: :ref:`Material<class_Material>`\ )                             |
   +-------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Property Descriptions
---------------------

.. _class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh:

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:ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` **mesh** :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>`

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- |void| **set_mesh**\ (\ value\: :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>`\ )
- :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` **get_mesh**\ (\ )

The :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource for the instance.

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----

.. _class_MeshInstance3D_property_skeleton:

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:ref:`NodePath<class_NodePath>` **skeleton** = ``NodePath("..")`` :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_property_skeleton>`

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- |void| **set_skeleton_path**\ (\ value\: :ref:`NodePath<class_NodePath>`\ )
- :ref:`NodePath<class_NodePath>` **get_skeleton_path**\ (\ )

:ref:`NodePath<class_NodePath>` to the :ref:`Skeleton3D<class_Skeleton3D>` associated with the instance.

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----

.. _class_MeshInstance3D_property_skin:

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:ref:`Skin<class_Skin>` **skin** :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_property_skin>`

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- |void| **set_skin**\ (\ value\: :ref:`Skin<class_Skin>`\ )
- :ref:`Skin<class_Skin>` **get_skin**\ (\ )

The :ref:`Skin<class_Skin>` to be used by this instance.

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Method Descriptions
-------------------

.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix:

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:ref:`ArrayMesh<class_ArrayMesh>` **bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix**\ (\ existing\: :ref:`ArrayMesh<class_ArrayMesh>` = null\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_bake_mesh_from_current_blend_shape_mix>`

Takes a snapshot from the current :ref:`ArrayMesh<class_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 :ref:`ArrayMesh<class_ArrayMesh>` is created, baked and returned. Mesh surface materials are not copied.

\ **Performance:** :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` data needs to be received from the GPU, stalling the :ref:`RenderingServer<class_RenderingServer>` in the process.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_convex_collision:

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|void| **create_convex_collision**\ (\ clean\: :ref:`bool<class_bool>` = true, simplify\: :ref:`bool<class_bool>` = false\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_convex_collision>`

This helper creates a :ref:`StaticBody3D<class_StaticBody3D>` child node with a :ref:`ConvexPolygonShape3D<class_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.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_debug_tangents:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

|void| **create_debug_tangents**\ (\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_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.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_multiple_convex_collisions:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

|void| **create_multiple_convex_collisions**\ (\ settings\: :ref:`MeshConvexDecompositionSettings<class_MeshConvexDecompositionSettings>` = null\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_multiple_convex_collisions>`

This helper creates a :ref:`StaticBody3D<class_StaticBody3D>` child node with multiple :ref:`ConvexPolygonShape3D<class_ConvexPolygonShape3D>` collision shapes calculated from the mesh geometry via convex decomposition. The convex decomposition operation can be controlled with parameters from the optional ``settings``.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_trimesh_collision:

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|void| **create_trimesh_collision**\ (\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_create_trimesh_collision>`

This helper creates a :ref:`StaticBody3D<class_StaticBody3D>` child node with a :ref:`ConcavePolygonShape3D<class_ConcavePolygonShape3D>` collision shape calculated from the mesh geometry. It's mainly used for testing.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_find_blend_shape_by_name:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`int<class_int>` **find_blend_shape_by_name**\ (\ name\: :ref:`StringName<class_StringName>`\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_find_blend_shape_by_name>`

Returns the index of the blend shape with the given ``name``. Returns ``-1`` if no blend shape with this name exists, including when :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>` is ``null``.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_active_material:

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:ref:`Material<class_Material>` **get_active_material**\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_active_material>`

Returns the :ref:`Material<class_Material>` that will be used by the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` when drawing. This can return the :ref:`GeometryInstance3D.material_override<class_GeometryInstance3D_property_material_override>`, the surface override :ref:`Material<class_Material>` defined in this **MeshInstance3D**, or the surface :ref:`Material<class_Material>` defined in the :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>`. For example, if :ref:`GeometryInstance3D.material_override<class_GeometryInstance3D_property_material_override>` is used, all surfaces will return the override material.

Returns ``null`` if no material is active, including when :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>` is ``null``.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_count:

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:ref:`int<class_int>` **get_blend_shape_count**\ (\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_count>`

Returns the number of blend shapes available. Produces an error if :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>` is ``null``.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_value:

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:ref:`float<class_float>` **get_blend_shape_value**\ (\ blend_shape_idx\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_blend_shape_value>`

Returns the value of the blend shape at the given ``blend_shape_idx``. Returns ``0.0`` and produces an error if :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>` is ``null`` or doesn't have a blend shape at that index.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_skin_reference:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`SkinReference<class_SkinReference>` **get_skin_reference**\ (\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_skin_reference>`

Returns the internal :ref:`SkinReference<class_SkinReference>` containing the skeleton's :ref:`RID<class_RID>` attached to this RID. See also :ref:`Resource.get_rid<class_Resource_method_get_rid>`, :ref:`SkinReference.get_skeleton<class_SkinReference_method_get_skeleton>`, and :ref:`RenderingServer.instance_attach_skeleton<class_RenderingServer_method_instance_attach_skeleton>`.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`Material<class_Material>` **get_surface_override_material**\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material>`

Returns the override :ref:`Material<class_Material>` for the specified ``surface`` of the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource. See also :ref:`get_surface_override_material_count<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material_count>`.

\ **Note:** This returns the :ref:`Material<class_Material>` associated to the **MeshInstance3D**'s Surface Material Override properties, not the material within the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource. To get the material within the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource, use :ref:`Mesh.surface_get_material<class_Mesh_method_surface_get_material>` instead.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material_count:

.. rst-class:: classref-method

:ref:`int<class_int>` **get_surface_override_material_count**\ (\ ) |const| :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material_count>`

Returns the number of surface override materials. This is equivalent to :ref:`Mesh.get_surface_count<class_Mesh_method_get_surface_count>`. See also :ref:`get_surface_override_material<class_MeshInstance3D_method_get_surface_override_material>`.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_blend_shape_value:

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|void| **set_blend_shape_value**\ (\ blend_shape_idx\: :ref:`int<class_int>`, value\: :ref:`float<class_float>`\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_blend_shape_value>`

Sets the value of the blend shape at ``blend_shape_idx`` to ``value``. Produces an error if :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>` is ``null`` or doesn't have a blend shape at that index.

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.. _class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_surface_override_material:

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|void| **set_surface_override_material**\ (\ surface\: :ref:`int<class_int>`, material\: :ref:`Material<class_Material>`\ ) :ref:`🔗<class_MeshInstance3D_method_set_surface_override_material>`

Sets the override ``material`` for the specified ``surface`` of the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource. This material is associated with this **MeshInstance3D** rather than with :ref:`mesh<class_MeshInstance3D_property_mesh>`.

\ **Note:** This assigns the :ref:`Material<class_Material>` associated to the **MeshInstance3D**'s Surface Material Override properties, not the material within the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource. To set the material within the :ref:`Mesh<class_Mesh>` resource, use :ref:`Mesh.surface_get_material<class_Mesh_method_surface_get_material>` instead.

.. |virtual| replace:: :abbr:`virtual (This method should typically be overridden by the user to have any effect.)`
.. |const| replace:: :abbr:`const (This method has no side effects. It doesn't modify any of the instance's member variables.)`
.. |vararg| replace:: :abbr:`vararg (This method accepts any number of arguments after the ones described here.)`
.. |constructor| replace:: :abbr:`constructor (This method is used to construct a type.)`
.. |static| replace:: :abbr:`static (This method doesn't need an instance to be called, so it can be called directly using the class name.)`
.. |operator| replace:: :abbr:`operator (This method describes a valid operator to use with this type as left-hand operand.)`
.. |bitfield| replace:: :abbr:`BitField (This value is an integer composed as a bitmask of the following flags.)`
.. |void| replace:: :abbr:`void (No return value.)`