---
title: "Options"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/TOOLBRUSH-MDATA_MAINGROUP.html"
section_path: "Mesh Menu > Brush > Options"
element_id: "TOOLBRUSH"
group_id: "MDATA_MAINGROUP"
description: "Strength is a general setting that defines the strength with which the tool affects points. Simultaneously pressing Ctrl/Cmd will reverse the effect."
---

## Options

### Strength

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_FALLOFF_STRENGTH` · Range: [-∞..+∞%]

**Strength** is a general setting that defines the strength with which the tool affects points. Simultaneously pressing `Ctrl/Cmd` will reverse the effect.

### Size

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_FALLOFF_RADIUS` · Range: [0..+∞m]

Size defines the tool’s size, which will be displayed as a circle in the Viewport. The falloff defined for the Falloff tool will exert its effect within this size.

### Mode

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_MODE`

This setting is used to define how the tool should work. You can select from the following options:

Smear

Drags the mesh in the direction of the mouse movement (this is how the Magnet tool worked in previous versions of Cinema 4D).

Pull

Drags the mesh in the direction of the camera.

Surface

Drags the mesh in the direction of the point Normals at the center of the tool (does not work in conjunction with splines).

Normal

Deforms the mesh in the respective directions of its point Normals (does not work in conjunction with splines).

Repel

Repels the mesh radially away from the tool.

Spin

Spins the mesh around the tool.

Twister

Twists the mesh and drags it in the direction of the center of the tool

Vortex

Works like Twister and also drags the mesh in the direction of the camera.

Smooth

Smooths the mesh like a Subdivision Surface object would (does not work in conjunction with splines). This mode functions similarly to the Sculpt brush - temporarily at any time by pressing the Shift key.

Relax

![Image: 26-102_brush_relax01.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/26-102_brush_relax01.png)

This mode relaxes the Mesh: Polygons will be adapted to their neighbors. The goal is to create the most homogenous mesh possible will maintaining the contours.

The following 4 options are only available for the Brush tool and only affect the editing of Vertex maps (for which the [Paint Tool](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/TOOLCAPAINT.html.md) is actually better suited).

### Visible Only

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_VISIBLEONLY`

If this option is enabled, only the visible points that are not obscured by other objects will be affected in the active Viewport. If disabled, the points not visible from the angle of view of the camera can also be moved.

Elements hidden via the [Hide Selected](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5651.html.md) function are not included and will not be affected. Regions hidden via camera clipping will be treated as if they are visible.

### Preserve Boundary

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_PRESERVE_BOUNDARY`

The term Boundary refers to a mesh edge or selection edge. These remain unchanged and stay in place when the tool is applied.

### Surface

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_CONNECTED`

![Image: 044152.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/044152.jpg)\
**Surface**, here shown using the Magnet tool. Center: **Surface** disabled, at right enabled.

Enable this option if you want to extend the tool’s effect beyond the sphere shown in the Viewport. In the image above you can at the center how part of the plane is also being moved because this area lies within the effect’s radius of the visible tool preview on the left. At the right on the other hand, the tool orients itself to the surface, which makes it possible to make very fine modifications to the object surface.

### Preview

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_PREVIEW`

This enables or disables the circular tool preview.

![Image: subgroup.gif](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/subgroup.gif)\
Restriction

### Space

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_RESTRICTION_SPACE`

### X

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_RESTRICTION_X` · Range: [-∞..+∞%]

### Y

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_RESTRICTION_Y` · Range: [-∞..+∞%]

### Z

Parameter ID: `MDATA_BRUSH_RESTRICTION_Z` · Range: [-∞..+∞%]

This setting can be used to restrict the tool’s effect along 3 axes. For example, if you don’t want to modify the position of points along the Y axis, set **Y** to 0%; if you only want a minimal change in position, set **Y** to 10%, for example. The **Space** setting defines if the object or global coordinate system should be use.