---
title: Modifiers
order: 7
---

Modifiers cut, repeat and deform Chisel shapes. A shape's modifiers are listed in its [Chisel Modifiers](../interface/panels.md#modifier-properties--chisel-modifiers) panel, in the Modifier tab of the Properties editor. The joins (Boolean, Emboss & Engrave and Carve) are modifiers too and share the same panel and menus; they have their own section, [Joins](../joins/index.md).

## All modifiers

In the order of the *Add Modifier* menu:

| | Modifier | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| ![a box with a cylinder cut out](../assets/modifiers-thumb-boolean.webp) | [Boolean](../joins/boolean.md) | Join two shapes: Difference, Union, Intersect, or Slice into two parts |
| ![a hollowed sphere](../assets/modifiers-thumb-solidify.webp) | [Solidify](solidify.md) | Hollow a shape into a shell of a given thickness |
| ![two mirrored arms](../assets/modifiers-thumb-mirror.webp) | [Mirror](mirror.md) | Reflect a shape across one, two or three planes |
| ![a box cut by a tilted plane](../assets/modifiers-thumb-bisect.webp) | [Bisect](bisect.md) | Cut a shape with a plane or a fence of planes |
| ![a ring of copies](../assets/modifiers-thumb-array.webp) | [Array](array.md) | Repeat a shape along a line or around a circle |
| ![a logo raised out of a plate](../assets/modifiers-thumb-emboss.webp) | [Emboss & Engrave](../joins/emboss-engrave.md) | Raise a shape out of a surface, or sink it in |
| ![a sphere in its pocket](../assets/modifiers-thumb-carve.webp) | [Carve](../joins/carve.md) | Cut a pocket in the shape of another shape, which keeps rendering |
| ![a bent bar](../assets/modifiers-thumb-bend.webp) | [Twist & Bend](twist-bend.md) | Twist a shape around an axis, or bend it into an arc |
| ![a ring turned from a profile](../assets/modifiers-thumb-revolve.webp) | [Revolve](revolve.md) | Spin the shape's cross-section a full turn round an axis |
| ![a bar swept along a bent path](../assets/modifiers-thumb-sweep.webp) | [Sweep](sweep.md) | Run the shape along a path of points |
| ![a block shaped by a cage](../assets/modifiers-thumb-lattice.webp) | [Lattice](lattice.md) | Deform the shape with a cage of points |
| ![a model rounded all over](../assets/modifiers-thumb-smooth.webp) | [Smooth](smooth.md) | One rounding radius for every join and edge of a model |

## Adding a modifier

| Where | What gets the modifier |
|---|---|
| **Add Modifier** in the [Chisel Modifiers](../interface/panels.md#add-modifier) panel | Boolean, Emboss, Engrave and Carve: the active shape, with an empty **Target** to pick in its row. Every other modifier: every selected shape |
| [Pie menu](../interface/pie-menu.md) `Q`, South wedge | Joins (Difference, Union, Intersect, Slice, Emboss, Engrave, Carve): the selected shapes become targets of the active one. Every other modifier: every selected shape |
| [Right-click](../interface/rmb-menu.md) ▸ **Modifiers** | As the pie menu |
| [Tape tree](../interface/tape-tree.md) ▸ **+ Mod** | Every shape whose row is selected. A join opens a list: **Selected** joins the selected shapes into the active one; a shape name makes one new shape of that kind and joins it into each selected row's shape |

### Each Its Own

A Mirror or a Bisect added to several shapes reflects or cuts every other shape across the active one. **Each Its Own** in the redo panel (`F9`) gives every selected shape its own mirror or cut at its own origin instead. The Tape tree's **+ Mod** always adds them that way.

![the redo panel of a Mirror added to two shapes, with Each Its Own](../assets/each-its-own.webp)

## The modifier stack

Modifiers apply from the top of the stack down: each one works on the result of the ones above it, so changing the order can change the result. The row arrows in the panel move a modifier up or down; so does dragging its row in the [Tape tree](../interface/tape-tree.md#moving-rows).

### Pin

![a stack of five modifiers, two of them pinned](../assets/modifiersettings-pined.webp)

A pinned modifier stays at the bottom of the stack: every modifier added later goes in above the pins. The row arrows never move a modifier across that line. Unpinning puts the modifier at the bottom of the unpinned ones. A [Smooth](smooth.md) and a mirror added with [Rotor](mirror.md#mirroring-with-rotor) are pinned when added.

## Swap Modifier

**Swap Modifier** changes the operation of every modifier that uses the selected shapes, keeping their targets. It is the `Shift` + click on a join button in the pie and the right-click menu. With exactly one shape selected and a modifier already using it, the plain click swaps and `Shift` + click adds a new join. A join button lights up when the selected shape is already used that way.

With the Chisel tool, `'` steps the same swap forward through Difference, Union, Intersect, Emboss, Engrave and Carve, and `;` steps back.

## The origin is the pivot

Mirror, Twist, Bend, Revolve and a Circle array work from the shape's origin: the mirror plane, the axis a circle array turns round, and the twist, bend and revolve axes all pass through it. To move the origin without moving the shape, use Blender's *Set Origin*, or *Affect Only Origins* in the transform options. A Bend's **Center** slides the bend along its axis, away from the origin.

## See also

- [Gizmos](../interface/gizmos.md): every viewport handle
- [Properties Panels](../interface/panels.md#modifier-properties--chisel-modifiers): the Chisel Modifiers panel
- [Tape tree](../interface/tape-tree.md): the stacks of the whole scene
- [Rounding & Blending](../rounding-and-blending/index.md): the profiles of joins and edges