# Kitbashing primitives/Insert Mesh Brush **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Request\ **Created:** [March 13, 2021, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923 "2021-03-13T06:50:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dcipperley](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/dcipperley/32/3120_2.png) [@dcipperley](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/dcipperley)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/1 "2021-03-13T06:50:08Z")
Dumb idea. I have seen in ZBrush and 3DCoat and some VR sculpting applications the ability to add a mesh not just at the world center 0,0,0, but also where a brush hits a mesh surface. You are also not just limited to application primitives but custom meshes you have created like greebles, spikes, engines, etc. I believe in ZBrush it is called the Insert Mesh Brush. Examples of it are on YouTube. Ideally in Nomad it would be a brush with a library of meshes in the stroke menu the same way we choose an alpha. Once a mesh is chosen the user would either chose drag radius or just insert which would insert the mesh at its default size. When the brush touches a mesh the new mesh is inserted with its center point aligned with the mesh surface. Ideally the mesh will be a new Scene object with the gizmo on by default so it can be moved and scaled into position. Ideally the gizmo will have a button to mirror the mesh geometry but not change the center point location of the mesh. The idea is to speed the roughing out of shapes using primitives without always having to move them from the world center. ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/2 "2021-03-13T11:43:08Z")
Yes that’s something I’m thinking about. I might be done for the next release actually. ---
**Author:** ![Costorella\_Stefano](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/costorella_stefano/32/1551_2.png) [@Costorella\_Stefano](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Costorella_Stefano)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/3 "2021-03-13T12:25:34Z")
You surely want IMM (Insert Multi Mesh)? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/4 "2021-03-13T13:46:46Z")
Insert Mesh Brush is hot. 👍 Can’t wait to do primitive inserts. Some thoughts for inspiration. Due to limited HD space on mainly IOS devices, this could be challenging. Maybe an optional temp download from cloud just when one needs the IMM? Some IMM brush sets for zBrush have several hundred MB on my HD, which is no fun on a PC, but a problem on a 256GB device. ---
**Author:** ![Costorella\_Stefano](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/costorella_stefano/32/1551_2.png) [@Costorella\_Stefano](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Costorella_Stefano)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/5 "2021-03-13T13:55:57Z")
It could work if for example we would use objects with a maximum weight, we all know that we are not on pc. But I take an example where I want to add cones on a sphere to make a spiked ball, I don’t need my cones to have many polygons. We’re definitely not going to put in big, heavy stuff. But with the IMM one could also insert hairs and fur can be. ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/6 "2021-03-13T16:22:52Z")
I don’t plan on doing IMM (with all the managing and stuff), but just a tool to insert primitive directly in the surface. I do hesitate on a single vs many tool though. If I do one tool for each primitive, it might clutter a bit the toolbox, so maybe it will be a single “Insert” tool with different primitive on the left screen. I could add an option “Mesh” where you can simply clone the current mesh (similar to clone tool except the mesh would spawn where your cursor is). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Ross](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/justin_ross/32/1231_2.png) [@Justin\_Ross](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Justin_Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/7 "2021-03-13T16:28:14Z")
If the mesh used is saved as a tool setting, we can just make our own per-mesh tools, right? ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/8 "2021-03-13T16:45:56Z")
Yes I could do that indeed. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/9 "2021-03-13T17:08:18Z")
The IMM option with primitive selection plus the option to import would be a blast. Or in add menu the option (as IMM) to drag it directly where needed, multiple times as long as one changes the IMM object. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![ray](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/ray/32/23707_2.png) [@ray](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/ray)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/10 "2021-03-13T18:00:29Z")
This would be cool with instancing support (many clones all sharing the same memory for the geometry, just having different transforms)… but could be tricky to manage in the scene view ---
**Author:** ![dcipperley](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/dcipperley/32/3120_2.png) [@dcipperley](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/dcipperley)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/11 "2021-03-13T21:12:08Z")
I think it is very important that after the primitive is spawned at the brush location that the primitive mesh is a seperate mesh in the Scene menu AND the gizmo is automatically activated. I found that insert mesh brushes never place the mesh exactly where I want them and at exactly the correct scale. Having the inserted mesh a seperate mesh in the Scene menu and the gizmo turned on would save a lot of button pushing. An inserted cylinder is never the right size or orientation. There is a method of ZBrush sculpting where one sketches out an armature (Zspheres) and attaches primitives to it and then deforms these primitives like with a move or drag brush. This is what I would hope to see with this tool. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 6:15am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/12 "2021-03-14T06:15:18Z")
It will work a bit differently (at leat at first). When the object is spawned, the “Transform” tool take over and when you release your fingers it selects back the “Insert” tool. The idea is to really use the 2 fingers to rotate/translate/scale in the same gesture. ---
**Author:** ![dcipperley](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/dcipperley/32/3120_2.png) [@dcipperley](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/dcipperley)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/13 "2021-03-16T12:00:26Z")
Stephomi, I just installed v1.43. Thank you very much. I have a question. Did you add a feature in the Insert tool to clone a mesh I have sculpted and have it spawn where the brush touches? I can’t see how to do that. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/14 "2021-03-16T14:00:22Z")
Not yet, I’ll probably add it later. Not sure about what the UX should be like. The simpler for me would be to have an “insert current” where you simply insert the current selected object. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Ross](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/justin_ross/32/1231_2.png) [@Justin\_Ross](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Justin_Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/15 "2021-03-16T17:11:14Z")
Maybe a button on each object in the scene hierarchy, that activates the insert mesh tool with that mesh. Or maybe a long press on the duplicate button to enter insert mesh mode? ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/nomadsculpt/original/2X/2/226f73997c6a30db44ddfbb102e601ddf927651b.png) Or just stick it in the menu at the end of each row? ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/16 "2021-03-16T19:03:44Z")
I like the idea (of re-using the same icon) but there’s aready too many icons. I need to rework the whole hierarchy list interface. Also don’t forget there’s already a “clone” feature for the gizmo/transform. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/17 "2021-03-16T19:21:58Z")
Honestly, this looks very good to me. Make inserts of any geometry loaded to scene is cool. The move object icon could I.e. be deleted instead. Long pres, floating & move like in painting apps layer menu is very common gesture language already. ---
**Author:** ![stephomi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/stephomi/32/19583_2.png) [@stephomi](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/stephomi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/18 "2021-03-16T19:51:14Z")
I’ll remove most of the icons and simply open a popup if you click the name (for example like the tool preset or alpha delete, etc). ---
**Author:** ![dcipperley](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/dcipperley/32/3120_2.png) [@dcipperley](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/dcipperley)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 5:09am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/19 "2021-03-17T05:09:25Z")
Stephomi, thank you for this tool. If you intend to add to this tool the ability to spawn a cloned custom mesh may I suggest something? Let’s say I am adding cone like spikes to a ball. I want the flat end of the spike to be near the surface of the ball and the pointy end facing away from the ball surface. Is there any way that a custom mesh can be oriented in a camera view so that when the custom mesh is cloned that orientation is saved? Then when the Insert tool spawns the clone it is aligned in the direction of that ball’s polygon’s normal. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I just want to reduce position and scale adjustment time after spawning each clone. Just an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Ross](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forum.nomadsculpt.com/justin_ross/32/1231_2.png) [@Justin\_Ross](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/u/Justin_Ross)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 7:48am UTC](https://forum.nomadsculpt.com/t/kitbashing-primitives-insert-mesh-brush/1923/20 "2021-03-17T07:48:05Z")
I think the trick there would be telling the app which axis you want to align with the surface normal. Doable, but a UI concern at minimum.