Increase a model’s resolution

Sculpting >

The amount of detail that can be sculpted onto a polygonal model is determined by the number of faces on the model, also referred to as its resolution.

The higher the number of faces on a model, the higher the model’s resolution and the finer the detail that can be sculpted. You increase the number of vertices on a model by subdividing it using the Add New Subdivision Level option.

Whenever a model is subdivided, a new higher resolution version of the model called a subdivision level is created, and the model display is updated in the 3D View. The previously displayed version of the model (coarser level) is hidden, but its detail is stored and can be quickly recalled by changing the display (stepping down) back to that level. Since a version of the model exists for each level, an object with four subdivision levels, for example, might have the information of four polygonal models of different resolutions stored in memory at once.

Subdividing a model quadruples its face count. You can calculate the number of faces when adding a subdivision level by multiplying the current face count by four.

Add a new subdivision level

Do one of the following:

Click on the model you want to subdivide then select Mesh > Add New Subdivision Level from the main menu.
Position the cursor above the model you want to subdivide and press Shift + D.

Each time a model is subdivided, a new version of the model containing more vertices is created and the model’s display is updated in the 3D View. The number of polygons for the new subdivision level appears momentarily in the Heads-Up Display. For more information, see Heads-up Display.

NoteYou can also see how many subdivisions currently exist on a model using the Object List. Click the (+) sign beside the model name to display the subdivision level.

Display a different subdivision level

You can change the display of the model to show a different subdivision level and continue sculpting or editing at that level.

Press the Page Down key to display a coarser subdivision level.
Press the Page Up key to display a finer subdivision level.

The number of polygons for the model appears momentarily in the Heads-Up Display window in the upper right corner of the 3D View.

NoteEach time you step up or down a level, the previous subdivision level is hidden in the 3D View.

Tips for subdivision levels

The fastest method for subdividing your model is to position the cursor over a model and press Shift + D to subdivide it. Note that hotkeys always give priority to selected objects, but if nothing is selected, positioning the cursor over the model designates it as the receiving model of the hotkey command.