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Need to copy objects from one layer to another in the same scene, but sometimes also one scene to another.

I use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V for this a lot, but problem is now there are 5 copies of around 20 materials.

EG: Material1, Material1.001, Material1.002, Material1.003, Material1.004, etc

Another post said to duplicate the objects instead, then move them to another layer. But couldn't see how to do that for scenes, and prefer using Ctrl + C/V. Is there a setting or way to stop copying the materials but still copy objects using that method.

Don't want to link the objects either. Want unique, standalone copies of the objects. But only one instance of each material.

sliver
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  • See this http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/57960/how-to-append-many-objects-without-appending-materials/57984#57984 – Duarte Farrajota Ramos Jul 20 '16 at 22:05
  • As far as I know there is no native direct way of doing this through the UI alone, only through scripting – Duarte Farrajota Ramos Jul 20 '16 at 22:12
  • Don't know the first thing about scripting so not workable for me, at this stage. Your link above explains how to at least clean up the problem, if no one else knows how to prevent the problem w/o scripting. Thanks. – sliver Jul 20 '16 at 22:34
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    You can create linked duplicates instead of full ones of object (Alt+D); then make linked dupe use different object and mesh datablock. Same with moving them between scenes. No way to do what you want using exactly Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V. – Mr Zak Jul 20 '16 at 22:37
  • Possible duplicate of Disable Material Duplication – Shady Puck Jul 21 '16 at 00:55
  • Sorry @MrZak not sure how to make the duplicate use different object and/or mesh datablock. Can you please explain? – sliver Jul 21 '16 at 03:20
  • As a confused beginner. I thought it was copying edits to the object, but that was because I was editing the material that it shared with the other object.

    I realized this and created a new material. Hope this helps another newbie on this same track.

     – Matt Binford Sep 25 '22 at 21:40

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To copy objects without copying materials create linked duplicate of all adjacent objects; they will use the same material (along with other data). Then in order to make linked objects independent from each other (sharing only material), make them single-user via Object > Make Single User menu (or press U while in 3D Viewport) and choose Object & Data.

You can do the same between different scenes by linking them to that scene; press Ctrl+L and in Objects To Scene dropdown choose scene to link them to. Make sure to make them single-user after linking if you want them as independent objects.

Community
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Mr Zak
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  • The linked duplicate url is broken in your answer, here's a working one https://www.blender.org/manual/editors/3dview/object/transform/duplication.html?highlight=linked%20duplicate#linked-duplicates – nantille Dec 11 '16 at 14:00
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    new link: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/scene_layout/object/editing/duplicate_linked.html – ynn Jul 11 '22 at 03:29