--- title: AFM_MeshCopy product: Advanced Framework Pro version: 1.0 engine: Unreal Engine 5.8 updated: 2026-10-05 canonical: https://docs.human-codeable.com/plugins/afm-meshcopy.html --- Module # AFM_MeshCopy Creates a duplicate of an actor's meshes under a new material, shared by highlighting, snapping previews and visibility transitions. #### What it gives you - Ghost copies of any actor's geometry - Fade in and out with sound - Colour interpolation on the copy #### Requires None #### Required by None 1 assets16 API members ## Description Several framework features need to draw a copy of an object: the mesh-copy highlight style, the snapping preview ghost, and the visibility fade. `BP_Helper_MeshCopy` provides that once. It duplicates the source mesh components — including instanced static meshes — applies a single material to all of them, and provides timeline-driven show and hide transitions with optional sound. ## Setup This plugin is used by other systems rather than configured directly. Enable it as a dependency of `AFS_Core_Highlight`, `AFS_Core_Snapping` or `AFM_Visibility`. ## Usage ### Creating a copy Spawn `BP_Helper_MeshCopy`, call `CreateDuplicateMeshComponent` with the meshes to copy, set **Material**, then `SetVisibility` to fade it in. ### Colour `SetColor` for an immediate change, `InterpolateToColor` to blend. ## Key properties | Property | When to change | |---|---| | `Material` | The material the copy is drawn with | | `Anim Duration` | Fade duration | | `Sound Show` / `Sound Hide` | Transition feedback | ## Extending Derive and override `getVisibilityTimeline` for a different transition curve — `BP_Helper_MeshCopy_Visibility` and `BP_Helper_MeshCopy_Anchor` are the shipped examples. ## Performance notes Performance A copy doubles the draw calls for that object while visible. Destroy copies after fade-out — `SetVisibility` takes a flag to do this automatically. ## Example map Visible as the ghost preview in `Map_Examples_Snapping` and as a highlight style in `Map_Examples_Highlight`. ## Troubleshooting **The copy is invisible.** No material assigned, or the source meshes were not passed to `CreateDuplicateMeshComponent`. ## API reference Every blueprint asset in this plugin. Expand an asset to see its members. ### Helper **BP_Helper_MeshCopy**16 members extends `Actor` Ghost actor that duplicates another actor's mesh components and follows them every frame, so the copy can be faded, tinted or given a different material without touching the original. Highlights, previews, snap ghosts and the visibility switch are all built on it. Spawned rather than placed; subclass it when a copy of your own needs its own fade curve. | Kind | Name | Signature | Description | |---|---|---|---| | var | `Initial Mesh Components`Initial | `MeshComponent[]` | Mesh components that were duplicated to build this copy. Filled in when the copy is created. | | var | `Material`Initial | `MaterialInterface` | Material applied to every duplicated mesh, replacing the source materials. This is what gives the copy its highlight, preview or fade appearance. | | var | `Anim Duration`Config | `float` | Duration in seconds of the show and hide transition. | | var | `Visible`Initial | `bool` | Whether the copy is currently shown. Set through Set Visibility so the transition plays. | | var | `Color`Initial | `LinearColor` | Colour written into the copy's material. Change it through Set Color or Interpolate To Color. | | var | `Sound Show`Sound | `SoundBase` | Sound played when the copy fades in. | | var | `Sound Hide`Sound | `SoundBase` | Sound played when the copy fades out. | | fn | `CreateDuplicateMeshComponent` | `(out MeshComponentsToDuplicate: MeshComponent[], out MeshComponentsMap: Map)` | Duplicates the given mesh components onto this actor and returns a map from each source mesh to its copy. | | fn | `getVisibilityTimeline` | `(out ShowMaterial: TimelineComponent)` | Returns the timeline driving the show and hide transition. Override in a subclass to use a different transition curve. | | fn | `AddInstances` | `(MirroredMesh: InstancedStaticMeshComponent, InitialMesh: InstancedStaticMeshComponent)` | Mirrors the instances of an instanced static mesh onto the duplicate, so instanced geometry copies correctly. | | event | `SetVisibility` | `(Set: bool, DestroyAfterTransitionEnded: bool)` | Fades the copy in or out, optionally destroying the actor once a fade-out finishes. | | event | `SetAnimationDuration` | `(AnimDuration: float)` | Changes the transition duration at runtime. | | event | `TransitionFinished` | `()` | Fires when a show or hide transition completes. | | event | `SetColor` | `(Color: LinearColor)` | Sets the copy's colour immediately, without interpolation. | | event | `InterpolateToColor` | `(Color: LinearColor)` | Blends the copy's colour towards the target over time. | | event | `ApplyMaterialToMeshes` | `()` | Re-applies the configured material to every duplicated mesh, after the material or meshes change. |