Application Method

Define how the tool will modify the relief surface.

Add

Create a raised relief. To modify an existing relief, select the base contour along with the modifying contours.

The image shows an elliptical base relief with text relief applied using the add option.

Subtract

Create a recessed relief. To modify an existing relief, select the base contour along with the modifying contours.

The image above shows the text contours used to modify the base elliptical relief, and the resulting relief when combined.

Merge Highest

The Merge Highest application method is most effective when modifying existing contours. When applied to a new relief, the resulting relief will be the same as the Add application method. When used to modify a relief, the existing relief is only modified where the modifying relief is higher than the existing relief.

The letter on top shows a new relief created by the Merge Highest application method. The bottom relief shows the resulting relief when the same contour is used to modify an elliptical base relief.

Merge Lowest

The merge lowest option modifies an existing relief by merging the relief, only where the new relief is lower than the existing relief.

The top relief in the image above shows a new relief created with the merge lowest option. A flat surface is the lowest surface over the entire area, so the resulting relief is flat. The bottom relief is the result of using the top contour to modify an elliptical relief. Only the sections where the new relief surface is below the elliptical relief surface have been merged.

Replace

When used to modify an existing relief, the applied profile takes the place of the existing relief wherever they overlap. When used to create a new relief, the result is the same as the Add application method.

The top relief in the image is a new relief created with the Replace application method. The bottom relief shows the resulting relief when the same contour is used to modify an elliptical relief.

Mesh

Some relief tools provide the option to create a mesh object instead of a relief surface. The mesh option will appear as the right most application method and activate a set of mesh definition parameters to define the mesh facet size.