Clone vs Reference commands

William Kansepa

I am a bit overwhelmed but could you please expound the difference in functionality between Clone vs Reference commands?

VectorStyler

@William-Kansepa No problem:

Clone - creates a new (separate) object that has some (initially all) of its attributes linked to the original object. Even if some attributes are linked, this is a new / separate object.
If a linked attribute changes in the original (e.g. stroke color) it also changes in the clone. If some attribute of the clone is changed, it is not linked to the original anymore. It is also possible to relink / unlink attributes of a clone object (Object -> Cloned Properties), and to change the master object (Object -> Select Master).

Reference - creates a replica of an other object, that remains a replica at all times (these are symbols). What this means: there is no new object, just a reference or a link to an existing object, and this reference can be then placed somewhere else and can have additional transformations, shape effects applied to it.
References are how VS implements symbols (a reference is the same as a symbol in VS). The only way to change some existing attribute of a reference object is to use Style Overrides (this is a very important, but separate topic). References can also be expanded using Styles->Expand Symbol. Also: shape effects (envelope, mesh, etc) can be applied on top of existing references (a.k.a symbols).
Anything (style, shape, etc) changed in the original object is mirrored in all references, until the reference (symbol) is expanded.

References are a large part of how VS works, not just for objects (symbols) but also for attributes, things get a bit complicated, so further explanation may be needed (there is also a chapter about Styles in the docs).
Some neat tricks with references:

it is possible to place objects on the Reference Canvas (see Canvas&Artboard panel) and have these behave as symbols through the document. If the reference is edited all instances (uses of the symbol) are updated.
it is possible to define any style (color, transparency, gradient, fill, stroke, shape, effects, etc) as a reference to the style of an existing object. This is where Object Roles come in (Object Objects -> Role button). This topic is a bit large, so a separate tutorial might help.
when creating multiple references to complex object, there is almost no impact on the document size.

William Kansepa

@vectoradmin said in Clone vs Reference commands:

@William-Kansepa No problem:

Clone - creates a new (separate) object that has some (initially all) of its attributes linked to the original object. Even if some attributes are linked, this is a new / separate object.
If a linked attribute changes in the original (e.g. stroke color) it also changes in the clone. If some attribute of the clone is changed, it is not linked to the original anymore. It is also possible to relink / unlink attributes of a clone object (Object -> Cloned Properties), and to change the master object (Object -> Select Master).

Reference - creates a replica of an other object, that remains a replica at all times (these are symbols). What this means: there is no new object, just a reference or a link to an existing object, and this reference can be then placed somewhere else and can have additional transformations, shape effects applied to it.
References are how VS implements symbols (a reference is the same as a symbol in VS). The only way to change some existing attribute of a reference object is to use Style Overrides (this is a very important, but separate topic). References can also be expanded using Styles->Expand Symbol. Also: shape effects (envelope, mesh, etc) can be applied on top of existing references (a.k.a symbols).
Anything (style, shape, etc) changed in the original object is mirrored in all references, until the reference (symbol) is expanded.

References are a large part of how VS works, not just for objects (symbols) but also for attributes, things get a bit complicated, so further explanation may be needed (there is also a chapter about Styles in the docs).
Some neat tricks with references:

it is possible to place objects on the Reference Canvas (see Canvas&Artboard panel) and have these behave as symbols through the document. If the reference is edited all instances (uses of the symbol) are updated.

it is possible to define any style (color, transparency, gradient, fill, stroke, shape, effects, etc) as a reference to the style of an existing object. This is where Object Roles come in (Object Objects -> Role button). This topic is a bit large, so a separate tutorial might help.

when creating multiple references to complex object, there is almost no impact on the document size.

@vectoradmin Thank you for the detailed and invaluable explanation. Armed with this new knowledge, I will definitely practise some more to sharpen my skills.