It appears the provided reference does not directly discuss how to invert a vertex group in Blender. Instead, it focuses on using the "Factor" setting within the vertex group's influence in modifiers, which allows for precise control over its effect. However, based on common Blender workflows and knowledge, this is how you would invert a vertex group in Blender.
Inverting a Vertex Group's Influence
In Blender, "inverting" a vertex group's influence typically means using the non-assigned vertices as the basis for effect, rather than those that are directly in the group. This is commonly achieved through modifier settings and is a crucial concept for detailed modeling.
Here's how to invert a vertex group using the modifier:
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Understanding the "Influence": The reference shows how to control the strength of a vertex group within modifiers using a factor, but we are looking at the inverse use of the group.
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Using the Modifier: This method generally applies to modifiers that use vertex groups such as the Solidify, Displace, Subdivision Surface etc.
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Vertex Group Selection: When choosing a vertex group in a modifier, you typically select a vertex group that applies to the effect you are going for.
- Standard Effect: In a Solidify Modifier the vertex group applies the solidify effect only to vertices in the selected group, with an adjustable factor to control its strength.
- Inverted Effect: To invert this, the modifier needs to instead affect the vertices outside of the selected group. Blender does not provide a simple "invert" button for vertex group influence but you can add a modifier that does not include the group to apply effects only to unassigned vertices.
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Alternative Approach A secondary option is creating a new group that is the inverse of the first one, which you may need in more complex scenarios. This involves a few extra steps:
- In Edit Mode, go to Object Data Properties which is denoted by a triangle icon in the properties panel.
- Select the first vertex group you want to invert.
- Click the "deselect" button at the bottom of the vertex group menu.
- Then, select the "plus" button to add a new vertex group and press "assign".
- Now you have two vertex groups, one which contains all of the vertices and the other one contains only the vertices that were not in the first vertex group.
Summary of Inversion Methods:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Modifier Inversion | Use modifier settings to target unselected vertices, often by using multiple modifiers. |
| Explicit Inversion | Create a new group by deselecting vertices in an existing one and assigning the rest to a new vertex group. |
Practical Insights:
- Use with Modifiers: This technique is very useful for the solidify, displace, and subsurf modifiers, allowing for selective application of changes and effects based on geometry assigned (or unassigned) to a particular vertex group.
- Complex Selections: While there isn't a direct "invert" toggle for vertex group influence in modifier settings, the workarounds above provide the needed flexibility.
