What are the best sculpting brushes and settings for organic shapes?

1 Basic sculpting tools

Before we dive into the specific brushes and settings, let's review the basic sculpting tools in Blender. To enter the sculpt mode, select your mesh and press Tab. You will see a toolbar on the left side of the screen, where you can access the different brushes and options. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts, such as F to adjust the brush size, Shift+F to adjust the brush strength, and Ctrl to invert the brush effect. You can also enable the symmetry option, which mirrors your strokes across an axis, by pressing X, Y, or Z.

2 Standard brush

The standard brush is the most versatile and essential brush for sculpting. It can be used to add or subtract volume, smooth or sharpen edges, and create basic forms and details. You can change the shape of the brush tip by selecting a different curve preset, such as round, square, or custom. You can also adjust the spacing, jitter, and falloff of the brush strokes, to create different effects. The standard brush works well with a low to medium strength setting, and a medium to high size setting.

3 Clay brush

The clay brush is another important brush for sculpting organic shapes. It simulates the effect of adding or removing clay from the surface, creating a natural and uneven look. It is ideal for building up the general shape and volume of your mesh, and adding rough details and textures. You can use the clay brush with a high strength setting, and a low to medium size setting. You can also enable the accumulate option, which allows you to add more clay with each stroke, without lifting the brush.

4 Crease brush

The crease brush is a useful brush for sculpting sharp and defined edges and features. It creates a narrow groove or ridge along the stroke direction, which can help you define the shape and structure of your mesh. It is especially good for sculpting facial features, such as the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. You can use the crease brush with a high strength setting, and a low to medium size setting. You can also invert the brush effect by pressing Ctrl, to create a ridge instead of a groove.

5 Inflate brush

The inflate brush is a handy brush for sculpting round and puffy shapes. It expands or contracts the surface along the normal direction, creating a balloon-like effect. It is great for sculpting muscles, fat, organs, and other organic forms. You can use the inflate brush with a low to medium strength setting, and a medium to high size setting. You can also invert the brush effect by pressing Ctrl, to deflate the surface instead of inflating it.

6 Smooth brush

The smooth brush is an essential brush for sculpting organic shapes. It averages out the surface of your mesh, removing any bumps, dents, or artifacts. It is ideal for blending and polishing your sculpt, and creating a smooth and natural look. You can use the smooth brush with a low to medium strength setting, and a medium to high size setting. You can also access the smooth brush by holding Shift while using any other brush.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?