{"id":1429,"date":"2019-08-12T00:00:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T23:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/?p=1429"},"modified":"2023-09-07T15:54:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:54:57","slug":"separate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/separate\/","title":{"rendered":"Separate Mesh\/Selection"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a15dce1478f6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a15dce1478f6\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/separate\/#separate\" >Separate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/separate\/#separate-by-material\" >Separate By Material<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/separate\/#editing-separated-object\" >Editing Separated Object<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Along other aspects of <b>Edit Mode<\/b> reorganisation in newer versions of Blender, <b>Separate<\/b>, the ability to detach a selection as a fully independent editable object, has been moved from the Vertex sub-menu to the main <b>Mesh<\/b> menu of the 3D View.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"background-color: #fc0; color: #000;\"><p><b>Important<\/b>: <b>Separate<\/b> should not be confused with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/split\/\">Split<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separating-selection.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separating-selection.jpg\" alt=\"A selection ready to be detached in Edit Mode\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>A selection of faces ready to be detached in Edit Mode (selection can be comprised of vertexes, edges or faces).<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"separate\"><\/span>Separate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In <b>Edit Mode<\/b>, to <b>Separate<\/b> a selection choose the elements to be included in the resulting new object and from the main <b>Mesh<\/b> menu (upper-left), click <b>Separate <\/b>then an appropriate option &#8211; <i><b>Mesh \u00bb Separate \u00bb [option]<\/b><\/i> (<i>or press <span class=\"shortcutkey\">P<\/span> to display the <b>Separate<\/b> quick access menu<\/i>);<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Separate<\/b>: detaches the selected elements.<\/li>\n<li><b>By Material<\/b>:\u00a0 detaches based on\/per material assignments.<\/li>\n<li><b>By Loose Parts<\/b>: detaches based on connection to other elements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: the resulting object will comprise whatever was selected, vertices, edges or faces. It will also duplicate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/origin\/\">Origin<\/a> point associated with the parent object (which may need adjustment as needed).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Depending on the option selected a new object will be created, the remaining structure left in place.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-menu.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-menu.jpg\" alt=\"Separating a selection in Blender 2.8+\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>To <b>Separate<\/b>, make a selection and then from the <b>Mesh<\/b> menu click <b>Separate \u00bb [option]<\/b> depending on the outcome wanted.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"separate-by-material\"><\/span>Separate By Material<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some options to separate or detach elements do not need an active selection so for example, <b>Separate \u00bb By Material<\/b> breaks a mesh into new objects based entire on material assignments regardless. To do this, in <b>Edit Mode<\/b>, with or without an active selection (vertex, edge or face), from the <b>Mesh<\/b> menu upper-right of the 3D View select <b>Separate<\/b> then <b>By Material<\/b> in the fly-out &#8211; <b><i>Mesh \u00bb Separate \u00bb By Material<\/i><\/b> (alternatively press <b>P<\/b> then click <b>By Material<\/b> in the <b>Separate<\/b> context menu popup).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: a distinction should be made here between the <b>separate by material<\/b> operation and the process of <b>separation using materials<\/b>; the former automatically splits a mesh based on the number of assigned materials &#8211; a mesh with six assignments results in six separate objects (materials have to be actively assigned rather than just being present in the Material List); whereas the latter only breaks the selected elements apart &#8211; material assignments are used to select and detach specific parts only. To do this (latter), with the object in <b>Edit Mode<\/b> and from <b>Material Properties<\/b>, highlight the Material instance to be used [1] and click the <b>Select<\/b> button below the aperture [2]. The appropriate mesh (sub)section will highlight. Next click <b>Separate \u00bb Selection<\/b> to detach and create a new object completing the process [3].<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/material-selection.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/material-selection.jpg\" alt=\"Separate based on Material selection\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Using the <b>Material List<\/b> [1] to select specific parts of a mesh [2] in Edit Mode for detachment as independent objects [3]. This is a selective, manual process, only affecting elements specifically highlighted for treatment.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Whilst similarly not a Separate operation by itself, <b>Vertex Groups<\/b> can also be used in part to make various (sub)element selections for separation in much the same way as Material selections above. Here <b>Vertex Groups<\/b> need to have been assigned such that parts can be highlighted for processing. To do this, in <b>Object Data Properties<\/b> and under <b>Vertex Groups<\/b>, highlight a group instance [4] and click the <b>Select<\/b> button below the aperture [5]. The selected part\/s will highlight [6]. Separate per the above &#8211; <b>Mesh \u00bb Separate \u00bb Selection<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-vertex-group.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 98.5%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-vertex-group.jpg\" alt=\"Vertex Group based selection\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Vertex Groups [4] can be used to make selection ready for separation in similar fashion to using Material selection, select a group, click Select [5] and then separate the section highlighted [6].<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-by-material-objects.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/separate-by-material-objects.jpg\" alt=\"A separated section created from 'By Material'\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>Using &#8216;By Material&#8217; breaks a mesh apart based on the number of materials assigned [2]. Shown above for example, a section [1], now an individual object, being manipulated without affecting other parts or objects.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"editing-separated-object\"><\/span>Editing Separated Object<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As selections detached in this way create distinct independent objects, to edit, exit Edit Mode for the selected Object (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">Tab<\/span>), select the new and toggle (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">Tab<\/span>) back into Edit Mode to work on the new mesh.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Design note<\/b>: to include the new object as part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/multi-object-editing\/\">multi-object editable group<\/a>, exit Edit Mode (<span class=\"shortcutkey\">Tab<\/span>) and select it before toggling back into Edit Mode to continue working on both mesh objects at the same time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/edit-new-object.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/images\/tutorials\/separate\/edit-new-object.jpg\" alt=\"Editing the newly separated object\" width=\"900px\" height=\"500px\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<i>The new object can be edited on its own or included as part of a larger editable group with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/multi-object-editing\/\">multi-object editing<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,230],"tags":[415,547,346,314,548,423,427,546,685],"class_list":["post-1429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blender","category-tutorials","tag-active-element","tag-detach","tag-edit-mode","tag-mesh-editing","tag-object","tag-object-mode","tag-selection","tag-separate","tag-vertex-groups"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1429"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5146,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions\/5146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katsbits.com\/codex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}