Introduction

Copies and duplicates are the same type of object as their original object. For example, if the original object is a Star, a copy is also a Star, and a duplicate is also a Star. But they are individual objects, just like any other object.

If we clone a Star object, then the clone is also a Star, as expected. The feature which makes clones special, is that clones maintain a link to their parent object. There is a literal digital connection or link between the original Star object and the cloned Star object.

This link makes it possible to give the original a fill color, for example, and see the clone adopt the same fill color. The clone will adopt any style element of the original object. (Remember that “style” includes fill and stroke color, stroke width, and sometimes a few other things, depending on the type of object.) Plus any manipulation of the original, also happens to the clone. Rotate the original, and see the clone rotate. Flip it, take the Node tool and move some nodes – and see the exact same thing happen to the clone.

The video below shows some of what clones can do. As you can see, anything you do to the original, also happens to the clone.