Discover the fundamentals of Blender's Sculpt Mode, a powerful toolset that allows you to shape and mold digital objects as if they were real-life clay. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get started.
First, select a mesh object in your scene. Then, navigate to the mode selection dropdown menu in the top-left corner of the 3D Viewport and choose Sculpt Mode. Your object will turn a solid color, indicating you're ready to sculpt.
On the left side of the screen, you'll find the Toolbar with a variety of brushes. Common starting brushes include the Draw brush to pull the mesh outwards, the Clay Strips brush to build up forms, and the Grab brush to make large-scale adjustments.
At the top of the viewport, you can adjust the Radius (size) and Strength of your selected brush. Use the keyboard shortcut F to interactively change the radius and Shift + F to change the strength.
Click and drag your mouse cursor over the surface of your mesh to apply the brush effect. To perform the inverse action of a brush (e.g., pushing the mesh inward instead of pulling it out), hold down the Ctrl key while sculpting.
For more freedom, enable Dyntopo from the header at the top right. This feature adds or removes geometry on the fly as you sculpt, allowing you to add fine details without being limited by the object's initial polygon count.
Essential Tips for Effective Sculpting
Activate symmetry (usually the 'X' axis) in the top-right corner of the viewport to mirror your strokes across the model. This is crucial for sculpting symmetrical characters and objects.
Hold down the Shift key while using most brushes to temporarily activate the Smooth brush. This is perfect for blending strokes and refining your forms.
Use the Mask brush (M) to paint areas you want to protect from being affected by other brushes. To clear a mask, press Alt + M.
For the best experience and pressure sensitivity control, using a graphics tablet is highly recommended over a standard mouse.
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