---
title: Carve
order: 3
---

Carve cuts a pocket for one shape, the [target](../getting-started/concepts.md#target), into another, the [host](../getting-started/concepts.md#host). The pocket is the target grown by the **Offset**, and the target keeps rendering inside it.

![The sphere and the box selected, pie Carve: the sphere sits in its own pocket; right-click ▸ Offset and a drag widen the gap](../assets/carve.webp)

## Carve buttons

**Carve** in the pie (South) and in the right-click **Modifiers** menu carves every selected Chisel shape into the active one, the host. Each selected shape becomes the target of a new Carve with an **Offset** of `0.1`, and:

- keeps rendering, in its own material;
- becomes a child of the host, if it had no parent;
- stays selected, the first one active.

Pressing `'` or `;` with a Boolean [cutter](../getting-started/concepts.md#cutter) selected can also turn its join into a Carve. The shape renders while it is a carve target and is hidden again if it goes back to being a cutter. **Add Modifier** in the panel adds an empty Carve; you then pick its **Target** in the panel.

## Target

The pocket is cut with the target's solid shape. Holes that the target's own Difference, Solidify or Carve make in it are ignored, so a hollow target cuts the same pocket as a solid one. An Intersect, Bisect or Engrave on the target does change the pocket. The target itself still renders with all its modifiers. Because it renders, it has no [cutter outline](../interface/gizmos.md#cutter-outlines).

## Offset

**Offset** is the gap between the target and the pocket wall: the pocket is larger than the target by this distance on every side. At `0` the pocket is exactly the target's size.

![The azure Carve arc dragged outward: the gap around the peg widens](../assets/carve-offset.webp)

Besides the panel field, you can drag the offset in the viewport from:

- the azure Carve arc next to a selected target;
- **Offset** in the pie's South-West wedge or the right-click menu, with a carve target selected;
- the offset value on the Carve's row in the pie's East wedge, with the host active.

Moving the mouse away from the host makes the gap wider. Hold `Shift` for finer steps and `Ctrl` to snap to `0.1` (`Ctrl + Shift`: `0.01`). Click, `Enter` or `Space` confirms; `Esc` or right-click puts the old value back. If the selected target is used by several Carves, they all change together.

## Blend

The rim of the pocket can be filleted like a Boolean seam, with **Blend**, **Profile**, **Outer** and **Smooth**, or with `Ctrl + B` and the blue Blend arc while the target is selected. A Carve has no **Material Blend**: the pocket always has the host's colour.

## Settings

![The Carve in the Chisel Modifiers panel, Blend on, Chamfer profile](../assets/modifiersettings-carve.webp)

| Setting | Default | Range | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand arrow | closed | | Shows or hides the settings. |
| Header | | | *Carve:*, the target and the offset, e.g. *Carve: Peg (0.100)*; *(no target)* in red when the target was deleted. |
| Move up, Move down | | | Move the Carve in the stack. |
| Pin | off | | Keep the Carve at the end of the stack. |
| Remove (`X`) | | | Delete the Carve. |
| **Target** | none | any Chisel shape but the host | The shape the pocket is cut for. |
| **Offset** | `0.1 m` | `0` and up (soft max `2`) | The gap between the target and the pocket wall. |
| **Blend** | off | | Fillet the rim. |
| **Profile** | Round | Round, Sharp, Soft, Tight, Chamfer | The fillet's [profile](../rounding-and-blending/profiles.md). Shown with **Blend** on. |
| **Outer** | `0 m` | `0` and up (soft max `2`) | The fillet radius. Shown with **Blend** on. |
| **Smooth** | `0 m` | `0` and up (soft max `0.5`) | Rounds the two edges of a Chamfer fillet. Shown on Chamfer. |

## Viewport handles

| Handle | Looks like | Drag or click | Keys while dragging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carve arc | an azure arc, bottom right of a selected target, the outermost | Drag outward: a larger **Offset** | `Shift` precision, `Ctrl` snap |
| Blend arc | a blue arc, inside the Carve arc | Drag outward: a wider rim blend | `Shift`, `Ctrl`, `1`–`5` profile, `S` Smooth |
| Target dot | an azure dot at the target's origin. Off by default | Click: select the target | none |

## In the menus

- **Pie** `Q`, **South**: **Carve**, after **Emboss** and **Engrave**.
- **Pie, East**, with the host active: the Carve's profile icons, blend radius, **Smooth**, offset and target name.
- **Pie, South-West**, with a carve target selected: the blend profile icons, **Blend**, **Smooth** on Chamfer, then **Offset**.
- **Right-click**, with a carve target selected: **Blend Profiles** ▸, **Blend**, **Smooth** on Chamfer, then **Offset**.
- **Tape tree**: a carve target is listed under the host with **∨**.

## Limits and known issues

> [!warning] Mesh targets
> With a [Mesh](../primitives/mesh.md) shape as target, keep **Offset** plus the blend within its **Field Margin**, or raise the margin and press **Rebake SDF**.

## See also

- [Boolean](boolean.md), [Emboss & Engrave](emboss-engrave.md): the other joins
- [Blending](../rounding-and-blending/blending.md)
- [Apply Modifiers](../operations.md#apply-modifiers): applying a Carve does not delete its target