Sculpting - Blender Foundations: The Essential Guide to Learning Blender 2.6 - page 224

Chapter 8
Sculpting
An Alternative to Traditional Modeling
In addition to modeling in Edit mode, Blender has integrated sculpting tools. The sculpting workflow
allows you to work with a mesh as though it were clay—carving details, pushing and pulling the surface,
imprinting it with textures—all with an intuitive, brush-based interface. The two main uses for sculpting
lie in detailing and adjusting existing models, and creating new forms from scratch.
Basic Sculpting Tools
Figure 8.1 shows our character's head mesh from Chapter 6, with Subdivision modifier level 1 applied to
it, raising the density of the mesh. On the 3D view header, you'll see a new mode: Sculpt . In the tool
shelf are the sculpting tools. As sculpting uses the same brushlike interface as weight and projection paint-
ing, several of the tool shelf panels directly related to brushing should already be familiar.
While sculpting, the standard paint tool shortcuts apply in the 3D view. The F key interactively changes
brush size. Ctrl-F changes brush strength. LMB drag executes whichever sculpting tool is selected (i.e.,
you “paint” with these tools just like a regular brush). Holding down the Shift key while painting reverses
the effect of the tools, as we'll see in a bit. Let's run down the different sculpting tools, with gratuitous
examples on the head.
● Draw: “Draws” a raised path on the mesh, as shown in Figure 8.2 . Holding down the Shift key cuts
into the mesh.
● Smooth: Evens out local geometry.
● Pinch: Gathers any geometry within the brush area toward the center of the brush. Holding down
the Shift key pushes geometry away from the brush center.
● Inflate: Kind of like Draw, but this brush blows everything up like a balloon, as shown in Figure 8.3 .
● Grab: Like an interactive G-key grab tool. Use it to LMB drag portions of the mesh around.