--- title: Extract Patch slug: software/extract-patch description: Extract Patch in Carbon Design Engine allows you to utilize a surface in support of various tools & features such as texturing. docTags: createdAt: 2024-06-06T00:05:50.163Z --- Some tools & features in Design Engine require the use of a surface or patch. **Extract Patch** allows you to create that patch within Design Engine in support of the following: - [Hex Mesh](docId:2s1MLNX3Yfvzt6F5Rge5h) - [Texture](docId\:kZYsdZ5GGoWa_aJxP-az2) ::::VerticalSplit{layout="right"} :::VerticalSplitItem **CAD Surface Alternative** Surfaces may also be imported as STL files from your CAD software. ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![CAD Surface Alternative](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/CAD-Surface-Alternative.gif) ::: :::: # Accessing Extract Patch There are multiple paths to using the extract path feature. ::::::WorkflowBlock :::::WorkflowBlockItem ### Via Context Menu ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem - Right-click on the design space where you want to extract a patch to pull up the context menu. - Select Extract Patch. ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![Via Context Menu](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-context-menu-v0101.gif) ::: :::: ::::: :::::WorkflowBlockItem ### Via an Operation Menu ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem Shown here in the Hex Mesh operation. - Click on the drop-down of the patch selection field. - Select Extract Patch. ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![Via an Operation Menu](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-patch-operation-v0101.gif) ::: :::: ::::: :::::WorkflowBlockItem ### Via Part Menu ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem - Click on the menu for the design space where you want to extract a patch. - Select Extract Patch. ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![Via Part Menu](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-access-mesh-menu-v0103.gif) ::: :::: ::::: :::::: # Select a Patch There are multiple options for selecting a patch within Design Engine. ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem ![Example triangle shown highlighted on an STL file](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/STL-triangles.png "Example triangle shown highlighted on an STL file") ::: :::VerticalSplitItem **STL Triangles** All methods operate by selecting triangles from the underlying mesh structure of the imported STL file. ::: :::: **Patch Selection Methods** - Surface - Plane - Brush - Box - Triangle ::::Tabs :::Tab{title="Surface"} * Click on surface where a patch is needed. * Adjust the tolerance angle to extend or reduce the patch area. - The tolerance angle is the angle between normals of adjacent triangles. * Extract Patch ![Surface](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-surface-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Plane"} - Click on surface where a patch is needed. - Adjust the tolerance angle to extend or reduce the patch area. - The tolerance angle is the angle between the surface and the tangent plane. - Extract Patch ![Plane](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-plane-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Brush"} - Paint the brush on a surface where a patch is needed. - By default, all triangles that cross the brush are selected. - Triangles crossing brush *(example shown)* - Optionally capture only triangles within the brush diameter. - Adjust brush diameter to best fit your model. - Triangles within brush *(example shown)* - Extract Patch ![Brush](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-brush-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Box"} - Draw a box on a surface where a patch is needed. - By default, all triangles intersecting the box are selected. - Triangles crossing box *(example shown)* - Optionally capture only triangles within the box. - Triangles within box *(example shown)* - Extract Patch ![Box](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-box-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Triangle"} - Click to select triangles individually. - Extract Patch ![Triangle](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-triangle-v0103.gif) ::: :::: # Editing a Patch If the selected patch requires adjustment, the following tools are available. ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem ### Remove Triangles - Hold Alt or Option to deselect triangles - The deselection will behave per the selection method. - *(Shown here with the Box method)* ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![Remove Triangles](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-remove-triangle-v0103.gif) ::: :::: ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem ### Fill Holes - Click Show Hole - Hold CTRL/⌘ while clicking to fill holes or... - Click Fill Holes - Hold Shift while clicking to remove islands. ::: :::VerticalSplitItem ![Fill Holes](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-close-holes-v0103.gif) ::: :::: ### Modification Methods ::::Tabs :::Tab{title="Invert"} Selects the reverse patch. ![Invert](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-invert-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Shell"} Selects the reverse patch. ![Shell](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-shell-v0103.gif) ::: :::Tab{title="Grow/Shrink"} Adds/removes the outer layer of triangles from the current selection. ![Grow/Shrink](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-grow-shrink-v0103.gif) ::: :::: # Patch Mesh ::::VerticalSplit{layout="middle"} :::VerticalSplitItem ![Patch Mesh](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Extract-Patch/Extract-Patch-mesh-v0103.gif) ::: :::VerticalSplitItem The extracted patch will be available in your meshes side panel. - Turn on/off visibility - Edit patch and other options area available via menu ::: ::::