Duplicating objects

To duplicate:

Do one of the following:

On the page, drag a selected object with the pressed. While dragging, release the key to move the object instead, or press the key while moving to duplicate rather than move.
On the Layers panel, -click a layer, group or object and select Duplicate.
On the Layers panel, press the down and drag the layer you would like to duplicate into its position.
With an object selected, select Edit>Duplicate.

Duplicate using Move data entry

As well as moving, rotating and sizing an individual object precisely, Move data entry lets you create any number of copies of an object in one operation which, when combined with move, rotate and scale operations, leads to some striking object transformations.

Move data entry has the following characteristics:

You can duplicate curves and text as well as shapes
It is controlled via a dialog
Your chosen transformation is previewed on the page
You can edit the properties of the object being transformed (affecting its its previewed duplicates) as well as its transform origin while the dialog remains open
The duplicate(s) can be placed in front of or behind the original object
The previous settings can optionally be used
Scaling is cumulative, e.g. 80% scaling is applied to each duplicate in turn

Examples of Move data entry — (A) Linear offset (Horizontal: 6mm; Number of copies: 6),
(B) Rotating (Rotation: 30°; Number of copies: 12),
(C) Scaling (Scale: 80% and 110%; Number of copies: 6),
(D) Rotating and Scaling (Rotation: -4°; Scale: 93% and 101%, Number of copies: 50)

You can achieve very different duplication results if you experiment with the Insertion mode option on the dialog.

Insertion mode in front of or behind items — Effects of Insertion mode when set to add duplicates in front of (A) or behind (B) the original item

To duplicate (by Move data entry):

With the Move Tool active, select one or more objects or groups.
Press the to display a Move / Duplicate dialog.

Enter new settings that will offset the duplicate(s) from its original position, with optional Angle, Rotation and Scale settings. The Distance setting is the measurement between duplicate object midpoints.
Check Duplicate and set the Number of copies you want.
(Optional) Choose an Insertion mode to add duplicate objects either in front of ( Insert new items in front) or behind ( Insert new items behind) the original object.
Click OK.

Click Reset to clear previously applied settings and remove the duplicates.

Pressing the will cancel the operation; the entered settings will still be remembered.

Power duplicate

If you duplicate an object and then transform the duplicate, you can immediately duplicate this transformed object. If you do, the newly created object will adopt the transform of the duplicate and will be also transformed again using the same settings. In other words, the transform is applied accumulatively to subsequent duplicates.

To power duplicate:

Select one or more objects or groups.
From the Edit menu, select Duplicate.
Move the duplicated object or group.
From the Edit menu, select Duplicate.

A duplicate is created and the transform is automatically applied to the duplicate.
Repeat step 4 to create more duplicates with the transform accumulatively applied.

Duplicate using Move data entry

Power duplicate

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