# Visibility setting for the prototype of PointInstancer

**URL:** <https://forum.aousd.org/t/visibility-setting-for-the-prototype-of-pointinstancer/2919>\
**Category:** USD\
**Created:** [May 12, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/visibility-setting-for-the-prototype-of-pointinstancer/2919 "2026-05-12T16:48:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BigRayLee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.aousd.org/bigraylee/32/1112_2.png) [@BigRayLee](https://forum.aousd.org/u/BigRayLee)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/visibility-setting-for-the-prototype-of-pointinstancer/2919/1 "2026-05-12T16:48:06Z")

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Hello, I am trying to export the instancing system from our system to USD format. Is it possible to set the visibility of the original prim to “invisible”, and when referencing it as a prototype prim, set it to “inherited”, so the instanced objects will be displayed?

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**Author:** ![nvmkuruc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/76d3ee/32.png) [@nvmkuruc](https://forum.aousd.org/u/nvmkuruc)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/visibility-setting-for-the-prototype-of-pointinstancer/2919/2 "2026-05-12T18:53:29Z")

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Hi @BigRayLee. It’s more common to use an undefined `over` or abstract `class` ancestor in lieu of visibility.

We think that `class` is preferred but it’s new for this usage for `PointInstancer` as of 26.05.

See **Processing and Not Processing Prototypes** in [Universal Scene Description: UsdGeomPointInstancer Class Reference](https://openusd.org/release/api/class_usd_geom_point_instancer.html#details).