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Sculpt using stamps

Stamps work in combination with the sculpting and paint tools to let you mask the tip of your tool with an image and apply interesting sculpted detail effects and features to a model.

Black values in the stamp image act as opaque regions that fully protect the model and white values in the image act as transparent regions that allow the tool’s characteristics to pass through and affect the model. Areas outside the stamp image are regarded as black and remain unaffected.

Stamps are especially useful for sculpting features that need to repeat such as scales, shoe lacing, stitching, and screw heads as well as random textured effects that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

You can create images of lines, text, geometric shapes, virtually any image you can imagine, as stamps to further aid your sculpting.

Stamps can be applied when sculpting in two ways:

- Apply a stamp image to most any sculpting tool so the stamp image affects the tool tip in a repeating manner when you stroke. See Sculpt using a repeating stamp image.
- Apply a stamp image using the Imprint sculpt tool to apply a single instance of the stamp image. See Sculpt a single stamp using the Imprint tool.

NoteA model must be subdivided to an appropriate level for the detail applied by a stamp to be visible. See Increase a model’s resolution.

Sculpt using a repeating stamp image

1. In the Sculpt Tools tray, select the Sculpt tool.
2. In the Stamp tray, select a stamp image.

   The stamp image appears in the Sculpt properties window with the Use Stamp Image option selected.

3. In the 3D View, stroke on the model to apply the stamp detail to the model.

   As you stroke, the stamp detail is applied and repeated along your stroke automatically. If you want more spacing between the individual stamps, increase the Stamp Spacing property in the properties window. You can also have the stamp orient its direction to the stroke path. For more information, see the Sculpt Tool properties.

   NoteA stamp or stencil image can reduce the strength of a sculpt tool depending on the amount of white in the image. White values in the image displace the vertices with full strength, while black values are not displaced at all. If the stamp or stencil image has a lot of gray tones, you may need to compensate by increasing the tool’s Strength property when using a stamp or stencil.

If you want to apply a single instance of a stamp, see Sculpt a single stamp using the Imprint tool.

Note The selected stamp remains active on a sculpt tool until you click the Off button on the Stamp tray or turn off the Use Stamp Image property in the sculpt tool’s Properties window.

Sculpt a single stamp using the Imprint tool

The Imprint tool lets you apply a single instance of a stamp image to your model. Imprint is useful for applying raised or recessed features such as buttons, logos, and so on. You can scale the imprinted stamp image as you apply it to the model.

1. In the Sculpt Tools tray, select the Imprint tool.
2. In the Stamp tray, select a stamp image. (A default stamp image may already be loaded into the Imprint tool but you can replace it with another.)

   The stamp image appears in the Imprint properties window with the Use Stamp Image option turned on.

3. In the 3D View, drag on the model to apply the stamp detail.

   As you drag, the stamp image displays and either scales or rotates from the location you first click with your mouse/stylus to the last position you drag (and release the mouse/stylus button). The image is immediately applied in that area as a single stamp.

   NoteIf you do not click above the surface of the model when using Imprint, the Imprint effect will not be applied to the model.

View stamp properties

You can display the properties for a stamp as follows:

- In the Sculpt Tools tray, select the tool that has the stamp loaded on it.

  The Properties window displays the tool’s properties. Several options are available to modify how the stamp gets applied to the surface. For more information, see Sculpt Tool properties.

Turn off a stamp image

Do one of the following:

- In the Stamp tray, select the Off icon.
- In the current tool’s Properties window, turn off the Use Stamp Image property.

Import a stamp image

Do one of the following:

- Click an image in the Stamp tray to load it as a stamp and make it active on the currently selected sculpt tool (until you select another image or turn off the stamp image).
- Select an image using the Image Browser then click Set Stamp to copy the image path to the stencil.
  NoteA stamp image does not automatically appear in the Stamp tray until you save it as a preset by selecting Add > Stamp in the Stamp tray menu ( ).

Related topics

Apply a repeating stamp effect using a curve guide

Saving images for stencils and stamps

Using the Image Browser

Paint using brush stamps