# CAReplicatorLayer A layer that creates a specified number of sublayer copies with varying geometric, temporal, and color transformations. ``` class CAReplicatorLayer ``` ## Overview You can use a [`CAReplicatorLayer`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer) object to build complex layouts based on a single source layer that is replicated with transformation rules that can affect the position, rotation color, and time. The following shows a simple example: a red square is added to a replicator layer with an instance count of `5`. The position of each replicated instance is offset along the `x` axis so that it appears to the right of the previous instance. The blue and green color channels are offset so that their values reach `0` at the final instance. ```swift let replicatorLayer = CAReplicatorLayer() let redSquare = CALayer() redSquare.backgroundColor = NSColor.white.cgColor redSquare.frame = CGRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100) let instanceCount = 5 replicatorLayer.instanceCount = instanceCount replicatorLayer.instanceTransform = CATransform3DMakeTranslation(110, 0, 0) let offsetStep = -1 / Float(instanceCount) replicatorLayer.instanceBlueOffset = offsetStep replicatorLayer.instanceGreenOffset = offsetStep replicatorLayer.addSublayer(redSquare) ``` The result of the code above is a row of five squares, with colors graduating from white to red.  Replicator layers can be nested. The following code adds `replicatorLayer` to a second replicator layer that offsets the position of each instance vertically and subtracts from the red channel. ```swift let outerReplicatorLayer = CAReplicatorLayer() outerReplicatorLayer.addSublayer(replicatorLayer) outerReplicatorLayer.instanceCount = instanceCount outerReplicatorLayer.instanceTransform = CATransform3DMakeTranslation(0, 110, 0) outerReplicatorLayer.instanceRedOffset = offsetStep ``` The result of adding this code is to create a grid with the value of the red channel being reduced in the vertical direction.  > Note: > The ``doc://com.apple.quartzcore/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer`` implementation of ``doc://com.apple.quartzcore/documentation/QuartzCore/CALayer/hitTest(_:)`` currently tests only the first instance of z replicator layer’s sublayers. This may change in the future. ## Topics ### Setting Instance Display Properties [`instanceCount`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceCount) The number of copies to create, including the source layers. [`instanceDelay`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceDelay) Specifies the delay, in seconds, between replicated copies. Animatable. [`instanceTransform`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceTransform) The transform matrix applied to the previous instance to produce the current instance. Animatable. ### Modifying Instance Layer Geometry [`preservesDepth`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/preservesDepth) Defines whether this layer flattens its sublayers into its plane. ### Accessing Instance Color Values [`instanceColor`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceColor) Defines the color used to multiply the source object. Animatable. [`instanceRedOffset`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceRedOffset) Defines the offset added to the red component of the color for each replicated instance. Animatable. [`instanceGreenOffset`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceGreenOffset) Defines the offset added to the green component of the color for each replicated instance. Animatable. [`instanceBlueOffset`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceBlueOffset) Defines the offset added to the blue component of the color for each replicated instance. Animatable. [`instanceAlphaOffset`](/documentation/QuartzCore/CAReplicatorLayer/instanceAlphaOffset) Defines the offset added to the alpha component of the color for each replicated instance. Animatable. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)