> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://armorsmith-designer.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create and manage islands

> Mark model areas as islands and manage them in the Patterns workspace.

Islands define areas of your 3D model whose patterns update dynamically as you edit them. Island patterns are separate from the automatic patterns generated by the **Unfold** button on the pattern toolbar. The island tools sit above the 3D model in the Patterns workspace. Select an island in the **Islands** menu, then use the tools to mark or inspect the model.

## Island tools

| Tool | What it does |
| - | - |
| **Decimate** | Reduces the model's polygon count, which can make a dense model easier to work with. |
| **Paint Island** | Adds the faces you paint on the model to the selected island. |
| **Erase Island** | Removes faces from an island by painting over them. |
| **Flood Fill Island** | Adds a connected region of model faces to an island. |
| **Island Picking Tool** | Picks an island from the model so you can make it the current island. |
| **Symmetry** | Enables symmetric island editing across the model. |
| **Show/Hide Islands** | Toggles the display of islands on the 3D model. |
| **Islands menu** | Chooses the current island. The colored swatch helps identify it. |
| **+ / −** | Adds an island or removes the selected island. |
| **Clear Islands** | Clears the model's islands. Confirm the action when prompted. |

## Create an island

1. Select the workspace containing your model.
2. Click **+** beside the **Islands** menu to add an island.
3. Select **Paint Island** and mark the faces you want to include. Use **Flood Fill Island** to mark a connected area more quickly.
4. Use **Erase Island** to remove faces you included by mistake.
5. Add more islands to separate other areas of the model.

## Work with existing islands

Choose an island in the **Islands** menu, or use the **Island Picking Tool** to select one directly on the model. Use **Show/Hide Islands** when you want to inspect the underlying model without the island display. The **−** button removes the selected island; **Clear Islands** clears them all.

<Tip>
  Start with broad areas using Flood Fill Island, then refine their boundaries with Paint Island and Erase Island.
</Tip>

<Note>
  Decimation changes the geometry you use for pattern work. Check the model after reducing its polygon count, especially around details you need to preserve.
</Note>