---
title: Tape Tree
order: 4
---

The Tape tree lists the whole scene in the top left corner of the 3D View: every shape that renders, with its stack of joins and modifiers in the order Chisel applies them. It shows while the [Chisel tool](active-tool.md) is active and the scene has a Chisel shape; the first [gizmo icon](active-tool.md#gizmo-icons) shows or hides it.

![the Tape tree: three stacks, a shared cutter, a modifier and an unused shape](../assets/tape-tree-anatomy.webp)

## Rows

Top to bottom:

| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| **Tape** *N/M* | The shapes that render, out of all Chisel shapes |
| **+ Add**, **+ Mod** | Add a shape or a modifier, see [Adding shapes and modifiers](#adding-shapes-and-modifiers) |
| ▸ / ▾ | Closes or opens a shape's stack |
| ■ *Base* | A shape that renders on its own, at the left edge. These rows are sorted by name |
| − *CutA* | A shape joined into the row above, one level in, with its own stack under it |
| ◆ *Mirror* | A modifier of the stack, by its kind |
| − *CutA* (under *Other*) | A target used by two stacks shows under each |
| **Unused** | The shapes with *Render* off that no stack uses. Starts closed |
| Scrollbar | Right of the longest name, when the rows do not fit |

The glyph before a name says what the row is, in the colour of its [modifier dot](../preferences.md#modifier-dots):

| Glyph | Row |
|---|---|
| ■ | A shape that renders on its own |
| + / − / ∩ | Joined as Union / Difference / Intersect |
| ∨ | Joined as Carve |
| ▲ / ▼ | Joined as Emboss / Engrave |
| ◆ | A modifier |
| ! | A join whose target is gone: *(no target)*, in red |
| ↺ | A join back into its own stack: *(loop)*, in red |

A Slice shows as two rows: a Difference on the shape and an Intersect on its *_slice* copy. A hidden shape keeps its place, drawn dimmer.

## Mouse

![a click on CutA, Ctrl + click on Rod, Shift + click on Base](../assets/tape-tree-select.webp)

| Mouse | What it does |
|---|---|
| Click a name | Selects that row and its object. A modifier row selects the shape that owns the stack and makes that modifier active. A hidden shape is shown again |
| `Ctrl` + click | Adds the row to the selection, or takes it away |
| `Shift` + click | Selects every row from the active row to the clicked one (hidden shapes are skipped) |
| `Ctrl + Shift` + click | Adds that range |
| Click ▸ / ▾ | Opens or closes the row |
| `Shift` + click ▸ / ▾ | Opens or closes everything under it |
| Click a joined shape's glyph | The join menu, see [Changing how a shape joins](#changing-how-a-shape-joins) |
| Drag a name | Moves the row, see [Moving rows](#moving-rows) |
| Right-click a name | The row's blend and rounding, see [Blend and rounding](#blend-and-rounding) |
| Wheel over the text | Scrolls the tree |

The tree selects by row: a click on a shared target lights only that row. A click beside the text reaches the view.

Selecting modifier rows also narrows the shape's [modifier handles](gizmos.md#which-shapes-show-handles) to those modifiers. Selecting the shape's own row, or selecting in the view or the Outliner, shows them all again.

## Changing how a shape joins

![the join menu on a Difference cutter](../assets/tape-tree-join-menu.webp)

The menu, titled *"CutA in Base"*, lists **Union**, **Difference**, **Intersect**, **Carve**, **Emboss** and **Engrave**, the current one pressed in. A pick changes the join in place.

## Moving rows

![CutB dragged from Base into Rod](../assets/tape-tree-drag.webp)

| Drop on | Puts the row |
|---|---|
| The middle of a shape's row | Into that shape, at the end of its stack |
| The top or bottom edge of a row | Before or after it, in the same stack |
| The top line, or below the last row | Out of every stack, rendering on its own (joined shapes only) |

While dragging, a blue line marks the drop and the top line says what it will do: *"CutB into Rod"*, *"CutB before Mirror"*, *"CutB: on its own"*. Dragging one of several selected rows moves them all.

| Drop | Result |
|---|---|
| Inside one stack | The item changes place; pinned modifiers stay at the bottom |
| A joined shape into another stack | The join moves with its settings; a target parented to its old host is parented to the new one |
| A shape on its own, into a shape | It joins that shape as a **Union** |
| A joined shape on its own | It leaves the stack and renders again, shown and unparented |

A drop that would make a loop (*"Base is inside CutA: that would make a loop"*) or a second Smooth in one stack is refused.

## Adding shapes and modifiers

### + Add

The shapes of the [Add Menu](add-menu.md). With no row selected, a pick adds the shape at the 3D cursor. With rows selected, the menu starts with *"Cut into Base"* (*"Cut into Base +1"* for more), and a pick cuts **one** new shape into **every** selected row's shape as a **Difference**; the redo panel's **Join** changes the operation.

![Other selected, + Add ▸ Cylinder: a hole cut into Other](../assets/tape-tree-add.webp)

### + Mod

![+ Mod with two rows selected: Difference's list](../assets/tape-tree-mod-menu.webp)

| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Difference**, **Union**, **Intersect**, **Slice**, **Emboss**, **Engrave**, **Carve** ▸ | **Selected** joins the selected shapes into the active one. A shape below it is made new and joined into every selected row's shape |
| **Mirror**, **Bisect**, **Solidify**, **Array**, **Twist**, **Bend**, **Revolve**, **Sweep**, **Lattice**, **Smooth** | Added to every selected shape. A Mirror or Bisect goes on each shape on its own frame |

## Blend and rounding

![right-click on a joined cylinder: Blend, Material Blend, Rounding](../assets/tape-tree-options.webp)

A right-click on a name opens:

| Row | Shows |
|---|---|
| A joined shape | Its join's **Blend** (on/off, profile, radius, chamfer smooth); for a Boolean also **Material Blend**; for Emboss and Engrave the **Outer** and **Inner** edges |
| A modifier | A Mirror's blend, an Array's smooth, a Bisect's cut edge, a Smooth's radius and profile |
| A shape on its own | The Smooth of its stack |

Below them come the shape's own **Bevel** and **Rounding** (a Lathe's **Side Rounding**). A row with nothing to round says *"Nothing to round or blend"*. On a Boolean the blend radius reads **Outer**.

Each selecting click, drop, join change and add is one undo step; opening and closing rows is not.