The 5 Basics Of Blender

Blender is the “all-in-one” house of 3D design and modelling and more people are starting to move to the software for this reason so, if you’ve converted to Blender or are just looking to start the software I have come up with5 functions that are vital to navigating and using it.

Number 1: Object Mode and Edit Mode

Object Mode will let you select the various pieces of your render and move them around as you please. The partner to this is Edit Mode which, allows you to select individual planes, lines and Vertexes and modify meshes that you have utilised . If you want to switch between them you can either press shortcut key (tab) or scroll down to the menu.

Number 2: Basic Navigation

Basic Navigation is THE key starting your Blender journey and starting off with rotation, all you have to do is hold down the middle button on your mouse.

To then move up and down or to ad fro you must hold the shift key and move the mouse in which direction you would like to go. To zoom in and out of your render you simply use the scroll wheel on your mouse. If, you would like to select an object you right click on it then to de-select you click away from said object. Also, If you would like to select multiple objects in your render you hold the SHIFT key and select them. Finally, if you would like to select everything you press A and to de-select you press A again.

Number 3: Rotation, Scaling and Translating

Rotating is very simple, all you need to do is select the object you would like to be rotated and then press B. If you would like to rotate on a specific axis in the software you must first press X, Y, or Z. Each letter corresponds to a different axis.

To scale an object you must press the S key and then if you wanted to stretch an object across a certain axis press X, Y or Z after you press S.

There are many ways you can translate in Blender. Number one is to simply right click on a object and then drag it. Additionally, you could also select an object and press G on your keyboard. Finally, you can left click on the axis you want to move along and then drag the piece of your render that you would like to translate.

Number 4: The 3d Cursor

The 3D cursor is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a cursor in the 3D view. By default it starts in the origin, but you can move it by left clicking.

If you add an object, such as a cube or sphere, it will appear where the 3D cursor is.

Number 5: Adding a mesh

A mesh is the collection of vertices, edges and faces that make up a 3D object. In Blender, they are the most simple and common way of modelling. To start your 3D journey you can add a mesh by going to the Add menu in the software there you will find a variety of sub menus with the first one being Mesh from there, you can start working on your very own 3D creation!

I hope this guide will help familiarise you with the basic functions of 3D design in the amazing free software that is Blender ! and I hope you enjoy. I will be posting a more advanced guide soon to help extended everybody’s knowledge.