Prefabs vs Minis: Which One Should You Use

Foxel has two reusable content systems:

• Prefabs
• Minis

They are both meant for reuse across assets and projects, but they solve different problems.

Why This Matters

Prefabs and Minis are both shared reusable systems in Foxel.

If you mix them up, it becomes harder to choose the right workflow for the job.

The simple distinction is:

• Prefabs are reusable voxel object content.
• Minis are reusable 2D height-based detail.

What A Prefab Is

A Prefab is reusable voxel content that can be placed into other assets.

Prefabs are stored in Prefab Packages.

When a Prefab is placed into an asset, Foxel creates a new Voxel Layer from the Prefab data.

During placement, the Prefab’s colors and materials are remapped to the target asset.

That makes Prefabs useful for:

• Repeated objects
• Modular structures
• Reusable scene elements
• Shared voxel libraries
• Object parts that should become their own voxel content

Use Prefabs when the reusable item should behave like a voxel object or object part.

What A Mini Is

A Mini is a compact 2D heightmap that stores:

• Color
• Material
• Height

Minis are grouped into Mini Sets.

Unlike Prefabs, Minis are not mainly about inserting a complete reusable voxel object.

They are mainly about reusable detail patterns.

Minis can be used in three main ways:

• Stamping
• Placing
• Projecting

When a Mini is used in an asset, its colors and materials are remapped to the target asset.

This makes Minis useful for:

• Relief-like details
• Decorative elements
• Repeating patterns
• Surface detail
• Panel details
• Small raised or carved forms

Use Minis when the reusable item should behave more like detail than a complete object.

The Key Difference

A simple way to think about the difference is:

Prefab = reusable voxel object content
Mini = reusable 2D height-based detail

Prefabs usually become new scene content as a new Voxel Layer.

Minis are usually applied onto voxel content as detail.

That difference is the most important workflow distinction.

When To Use Prefabs

Use Prefabs when:

• You want to reuse a complete voxel object or object part.
• The result should be inserted as its own voxel content.
• You are building reusable object libraries.
• You are creating modular structures.
• You want placed content to become a new Voxel Layer.

Good Prefab examples include:

• Crates
• Doors
• Wall modules
• Props
• Reusable mechanical parts
• Modular environment pieces

When To Use Minis

Use Minis when:

• You want to apply repeated detail.
• The result should behave more like a pattern or relief.
• You want to stamp, place, or project the same detail many times.
• You want reusable small-scale surface detail.
• You want 2D-plus-height data instead of a full voxel object.

Good Mini examples include:

• Rivets
• Panel patterns
• Decorative trim
• Carved symbols
• Small raised details
• Repeating surface accents

Comparison

System	Stored In	Main Use	Typical Result
Prefab	Prefab Package	Reusable voxel objects	New Voxel Layer
Mini	Mini Set	Reusable height-based detail	Stamped, placed, or projected detail

What To Remember

• Prefabs and Minis are both reusable shared systems.
• A Prefab is reusable voxel content.
• Prefabs are stored in Prefab Packages.
• Placing a Prefab creates a new Voxel Layer.
• A Mini is a compact 2D heightmap with color, material, and height.
• Minis are stored in Mini Sets.
• Minis are used by stamping, placing, or projecting.
• Prefabs are better for reusable objects.
• Minis are better for reusable surface detail.