Inset
The Inset tool is similar to the Extrude tool, but the new faces it creates are on the surface of the selection and will not change the surface’s shape. This tool generates a copy of the geometry that is an inset of the original selection (it’s possible to also add height to the new geometry). This tool only works with faces (see Figure 6.13).
To use the Inset tool:
1. Select a face or group of faces.
2. Press I to Inset.
3. Drag the mouse to increase or decrease the inset’s thickness. Press Ctrl while dragging to change the height of the inset.
4. Left click to confirm the operation.
You’ll find several interesting options for this tool. Boundary, for example, takes into account the boundaries of the mesh when applying the Inset (very useful when you’re working on a mirrored mesh and don’t want the faces in the mirror’s plane to be affected by the Inset operation). Apart from that, you’ll have other options to change how the thickness is calculated and define both the amount of the inset’s thickness and its height. Finally, there are some options to “outset” instead of inset, or to apply the inset to each face of the selection individually. You can also select either the outer or inner part of the inset after applying this tool, depending on which part you prefer to work with.
Tip
In Blender, Inset works similarly to Bevel in 3ds Max. It may be confusing, but Inset in Blender is similar to Bevel in 3ds Max, while Bevel in Blender is similar to Chamfer in 3ds Max.