# Getting a pattern on a curved surface (tube) with the stamp tool **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips, Tutorials and Help\ **Created:** [August 10, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715 "2022-08-10T14:20:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RCStudio](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rcstudio/32/8254_2.png) [@RCStudio](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RCStudio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/1 "2022-08-10T14:20:19Z")
Hello folks, I hope everyone is ok around here and not too heavily affected by any of the numerous actual crises like heat waves, wildfires, fuel prices and gas shortages and what not … My problem is: I need to get a pattern I have created an Alpha for on a bent surface. The Alpha is straight; the bent surface is a loop. I know stamps follow curved surfaces, for example the outside of a cylinder. How can I get the stamp to follow the loop? I created the loop with the tube tool. I have included an image of the problematic model. The pattern that is stamped on the inactive (straight) part of the scene needs to go on the loop. Thanks a lot for any help and have a good time Richard from RCStudio ![IMG_1600.PNG](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/0/0a4e34954a6aea8c2b7fe3db1e6829d60bc0eba7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![RogerRoger](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rogerroger/32/33580_2.png) [@RogerRoger](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RogerRoger)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/2 "2022-08-11T00:18:17Z")
This is something that drives me nuts. The stamps and different tools project the alpha along the view and not the surface of the object. To my knowledge, there’s no way to stamp the object surface is such a way as to wrap it around 🙁 Maybe someone else knows of a way but not sure you can do it. ---
**Author:** ![knacki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/knacki/32/1297_2.png) [@knacki](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/knacki)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/3 "2022-08-11T01:33:44Z")
This is the closest Adam did for you @RogerRoger. Where was the original discussion? Anyway, just a workaround, if I am remembering correct. ---
**Author:** ![RogerRoger](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rogerroger/32/33580_2.png) [@RogerRoger](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RogerRoger)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/4 "2022-08-11T01:40:40Z")
There’s two where I’ve discussed it a little. Here: [Masking / Stamping - Texture Wrapping](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/masking-stamping-texture-wrapping/4147) And the other one I’ll post after I find it… ---
**Author:** ![RogerRoger](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rogerroger/32/33580_2.png) [@RogerRoger](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RogerRoger)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/5 "2022-08-11T01:43:54Z")
Here: [Stamp Help](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/stamp-help/3109) I was able to make the ice cream cone work but not the mask texture in the above link. Possibly using a combo of radial symmetry and stamp tiling may get you close but not the best result. ---
**Author:** ![RCStudio](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rcstudio/32/8254_2.png) [@RCStudio](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RCStudio)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/6 "2022-08-11T06:29:45Z")
@RogerRoger and @knacki: Thank you very much, guys, for reacting to my question so quickly. I’ll go read the other discussions @RogerRoger sent a link to and see if I am getting any wiser. Thanks again for helping me out - this forum is really great! ---
**Author:** ![ToBe](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/tobe/32/8089_2.png) [@ToBe](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/ToBe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 6:32am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/7 "2022-08-11T06:32:25Z")
What if you split the model in half with masking, than create a new layer…then use the alpha, invert the mask and use it again with the other half. At the end you delete the Mask and use the “Delete Layer”-Tool with less than 10% intensity and erase it at the transitions? The advantage is that the object is not destroyed and you only work on the layer. ---
**Author:** ![RCStudio](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rcstudio/32/8254_2.png) [@RCStudio](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RCStudio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/8 "2022-08-12T14:34:36Z")
Thank you so much, everybody! This forum is really great. Alas, none of the solutions quite worked with my model. As it is a rather flat braid on a victorian cavalry officer’s jacket, I think I’ll go a different way, make myself an alpha, stamp it on a flat primitive and cut out the form. If you want to I’ll show the result here. Thanks again, have a good time, Richard ---
**Author:** ![Holger\_Schoenischka](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/holger_schoenischka/32/3934_2.png) [@Holger\_Schoenischka](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Holger_Schoenischka)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/9 "2022-08-12T16:11:06Z")
It would be nice if you show your result here. Just out of curiosity, do you want to do something like that ? ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/5/5aa3fc6843b2205ab685993639fba525e5b27d18.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![RCStudio](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rcstudio/32/8254_2.png) [@RCStudio](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RCStudio)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/10 "2022-08-13T13:37:58Z")
I need to get these horizontal braids on the jacket of my model, which is a bust depicting a British hussar from the mid-1850s. The image is rather bad, I fear. I hope it shows what I want to achieve. Actually, your attempt comes rather close! Congratulations! How did you do it? ![s-l500 Kopie](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/2/2f8dbc96f10d8ba7a362b4e068cb63b2bdae2f4d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Holger\_Schoenischka](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/holger_schoenischka/32/3934_2.png) [@Holger\_Schoenischka](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Holger_Schoenischka)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/11 "2022-08-13T15:20:36Z")
You need an alpha with a single segment of the pattern, like this. The center of the alpha may need to be off-center so that it turns nicely in the curves. Set the stroke spacing and use the tool in DOT mode …+ symmetry ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/5/5e5590529661ef3d658395dbe26da2a5e153c82e.png) ---
**Author:** ![knacki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/knacki/32/1297_2.png) [@knacki](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/knacki)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/12 "2022-08-14T15:07:40Z")
Meanwhile I am convinced that an alpha will give you a quick and good result, depending on quality of your reference picture you will turn into an alpha. My quick test after adding a few spheres as knobs. ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/5/5fc15ffee22b4ba3a796e69df6753d7c4cbc3f53.jpeg) [https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/1/1da54518ffda8ce2c69e705c0b54546361a56f09.MOV](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/1/1da54518ffda8ce2c69e705c0b54546361a56f09.MOV) You can even extract the layer to ne geometry. But now it’s about finding a high resolution picture you can turn into an alpha, I found some on Etsy, but they are not good enough. Or use them as base to draw your own alpha. Again, I guess that is easier than sculpting - and with a very good result. ---
**Author:** ![RCStudio](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rcstudio/32/8254_2.png) [@RCStudio](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/RCStudio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/13 "2022-08-15T12:53:31Z")
@Holger, @knacki: Many thanks for your suggestions and for spending your time with my problem! After some experimenting, I think that knacki’s idea with creating extra alphas for the different strips of braid is what provides the easiest workflow and best results. I made some rough sketches on Procreate and turned them into alphas which I then stamped (experimentally) on an early version of my hussar’s jacket. This is only a test, done quick and dirty, but I think it shows that this method has potential. ![IMG_C11303750AF2-1](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/8/895116b805e5139ec1968cf984f6d47ed6fca0df.jpeg) Thanks again to everybody for dedicating your skills to my question. It’s really great to be a member of this forum. I hope I will have gained enough experience with Nomad soon to lend my time to another member’s problem and so give something back to the group. ---
**Author:** ![knacki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/knacki/32/1297_2.png) [@knacki](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/knacki)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/14 "2022-08-15T13:04:10Z")
Cool! Don’t forget to use layers! This way you have plenty of options. 1. You can use the DelLayer brush for adjustments 2. You can go into layer menu (three dots on right) and use extract to generate a new mesh, or in Nomad 1.66 you can one tap to mask what is changed with layer. Super cool for your purpose. Edit: Remeber that you can paint same time while applying alpha. My example is one stroke only 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Pirates\_of\_Confusion](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/pirates_of_confusion/32/5951_2.png) [@Pirates\_of\_Confusion](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Pirates_of_Confusion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/15 "2022-08-15T18:23:12Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/e/e7ad775bba547f1b93f416d4f94a208a109c2cf6.jpeg) ?? ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/1/1ebef8738e4f5956fcf8eff267ea0eef3d680134.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![rapumpel](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/rapumpel/32/10523_2.png) [@rapumpel](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/rapumpel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/16 "2022-08-17T06:46:39Z")
ouh would you mind to show how to do this : > …Nomad 1.66 you can one tap to mask what is changed with layer. > ? ---
**Author:** ![knacki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/knacki/32/1297_2.png) [@knacki](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/knacki)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 7:54am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/17 "2022-08-17T07:54:52Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/6/69fb49144f3bbdb51d9e6ad15d4b001a33737589.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bezzo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/bezzo/32/18150_2.png) [@Bezzo](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Bezzo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 8:07am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/18 "2022-08-17T08:07:50Z")
It’s a small feature but really powerful & will be getting a lot of use from me! ---
**Author:** ![knacki](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/knacki/32/1297_2.png) [@knacki](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/knacki)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 8:10am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/getting-a-pattern-on-a-curved-surface-tube-with-the-stamp-tool/7715/19 "2022-08-17T08:10:51Z")
Yes, storing masks, one use it as Polygroups replacement, Together with extract it is a whole new world of options.