The tutorial titled “Tutorial: Blender MODELLING For Absolute Beginners – Simple Human” is a comprehensive guide catered towards individuals with no prior experience in modeling using Blender software. The tutorial primarily focuses on teaching absolute beginners how to navigate and perform basic functions in Blender, ultimately enabling them to create their first-ever 3D object. The content covers various topics, including moving around in Blender, utilizing mirror and subdivision surface modifiers, and starting with a default primitive object. Emphasizing simplicity and basic techniques, this tutorial serves as an excellent starting point for beginners to delve into the world of Blender modeling.

Presented in a video format by PIXXO 3D, the tutorial provides step-by-step instructions, allowing learners to follow along easily. The first paragraph introduces the tutorial’s purpose and target audience, highlighting its focus on modeling in Blender for absolute beginners. It also mentions that the tutorial covers only the essentials, thus emphasizing its suitability as a starting point for further learning and exploration. The second paragraph provides an overview of the tutorial content, mentioning specific topics covered such as navigating Blender, using modifiers, and starting with a default primitive object. The paragraph also mentions the simplicity and low polygon counts emphasized in the tutorial, as well as the availability of additional resources such as Patreon and social media channels. Finally, it encourages beginners to embark on their Blender journey by starting with this tutorial.

Downloading and Installing Blender

Shop Top Rated 3D Printers

Accessing the Blender website

To begin your journey in 3D modeling using Blender, the first step is to access the official Blender website. Simply open your preferred web browser and search for “Blender.org”. Once you reach the website, you will find various options and resources related to Blender.

Choosing the appropriate version for your operating system

Upon accessing the Blender website, you will notice that there are different versions of Blender available for various operating systems. It is crucial to select the correct version compatible with your operating system to ensure a smooth installation process. For instance, if you are using a Windows operating system, choose the version designed for Windows. Similarly, for Mac users, opt for the version compatible with macOS.

Downloading and installing Blender

After selecting the appropriate version based on your operating system, proceed to download the Blender software. Click on the download link, and a file will begin downloading to your computer. Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded file and extract it if necessary. Then, open the extracted folder and run the Blender executable file. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Understanding the Blender Interface

Introduction to the Blender workspace

Upon launching Blender, you will be greeted with its interface, which may appear overwhelming at first glance. However, understanding the different elements of the Blender workspace is crucial. The interface is divided into various sections such as the 3D view, panels, editors, and toolbars. Familiarizing yourself with these components will make your modeling experience much more efficient.

Navigating the 3D view

The 3D view is the main area where you will create and manipulate your 3D objects. It allows you to view your scene from different angles and perspectives. Navigating the 3D view involves using mouse gestures or keyboard shortcuts to pan, rotate, and zoom in or out. For example, holding the middle mouse button and moving the mouse allows you to rotate the view, while scrolling the mouse wheel enables zooming in and out.

Understanding the various panels and editors

Blender includes multiple panels and editors that provide access to various functionalities and tools. These panels are organized logically to enhance your workflow. Some common panels and editors include the properties panel, outliner panel, timeline, and node editor. Each panel serves a specific purpose, such as adjusting object properties, organizing and managing your scene hierarchy, animating objects, and creating complex material networks.

Customizing the interface

Blender provides great flexibility in customizing the interface based on your preferences and workflow. You can rearrange, resize, and show/hide different panels and editors to create a workspace that suits your needs. This level of customization allows you to optimize your workflow and increase productivity. Take some time to explore the different customization options available in Blender and tailor the interface to your liking.

Working with Default Primitive Objects

Adding and deleting objects

In Blender, you can start your modeling process by adding primitive objects, such as cubes, spheres, or cylinders. To add an object, navigate to the “Add” menu, either by pressing Shift + A or finding it in the top menu. From the menu, select the desired primitive object to add it to your scene. To delete an object, select it in the 3D view and press the Delete key or use the “Delete” option from the Object menu.

Selecting and manipulating objects

Being able to select and manipulate objects is essential for modeling in Blender. To select an object, simply click on it in the 3D view. Multiple objects can be selected by holding down the Shift key while clicking. Once an object is selected, various manipulation tools become available. These tools include translation (moving objects), rotation (rotating objects), and scaling (changing the size of objects). You can access these tools from the toolbar or by using keyboard shortcuts.

Changing object properties

Blender allows you to modify various properties of objects, such as their position, size, and orientation. To access these properties, select the desired object and navigate to the properties panel. Here, you can adjust parameters like location, rotation, scale, and more. Understanding and utilizing object properties is essential for creating complex models and achieving desired results.

Using basic transformation tools (translate, rotate, scale)

Transforming objects is a fundamental aspect of 3D modeling. Blender provides convenient transformation tools to translate, rotate, and scale objects efficiently. To access these tools, use the shortcuts: G for grabbing (translate), R for rotating, and S for scaling. Once activated, you can manipulate the object’s position, rotation, or scale by moving the mouse. The transformation tools also have additional features, such as constraining movements or duplicating objects.

Creating a Simple Human Model

Choosing a base mesh for the character

To create a simple human model, it is recommended to start with a base mesh that closely resembles the desired character’s proportions. Blender offers several base meshes, such as the human meta-rig or the simple skin modifier. These base meshes serve as a foundation, allowing you to sculpt and refine the model’s details.

Activating the mirror modifier

The mirror modifier in Blender is a powerful tool when creating symmetrical models, such as human characters. It allows you to work only on one side of the model while automatically mirroring the changes to the opposite side. To activate the mirror modifier, select the model and navigate to the modifiers tab in the properties panel. Add a mirror modifier and adjust the settings to ensure proper symmetry.

Using the subdivision surface modifier

The subdivision surface modifier is essential for achieving smooth surfaces and adding detail to your model. It subdivides the faces of the model, resulting in a higher level of detail. Applying the subdivision surface modifier can be done by adding the modifier to the model and adjusting the levels of subdivisions. It’s crucial to find the right balance between adding detail and maintaining manageable polygon counts.

Adjusting the model’s proportions

Creating a believable human model involves paying attention to proportions. Blender provides various tools and techniques to adjust the model’s proportions. This can include scaling specific parts of the model, applying proportional editing to modify multiple vertices simultaneously, or using sculpting tools to refine the shape. Experimentation and attention to anatomical references will help you achieve realistic proportions.

Refining the Model Details

Adding facial features (eyes, nose, mouth)

To bring life to your human model, it is essential to add facial features. Blender provides tools and techniques to create eyes, nose, and mouth using a combination of extrusion, scaling, and manipulation of vertices. By selecting the appropriate faces or vertices, you can extrude and shape them to resemble the desired features. Paying attention to anatomical references and understanding facial anatomy is crucial for achieving convincing results.

Find 3D Printing Accessories Here

Creating limbs and body parts

Expanding your human model beyond the head, you can create limbs and body parts using similar techniques as before. By selecting faces or vertices and manipulating them, you can extrude and shape the geometry to form arms, legs, and torso. Attention to proportions and anatomical references becomes even more critical at this stage. Blender’s tools provide the flexibility to mold the model into various poses and positions.

Filling in gaps and smoothing edges

As you refine your human model, you may encounter gaps or uneven edges. Blender offers tools to address these issues. The fill tool can be used to fill gaps between faces, creating a watertight mesh. Additionally, you can smooth edges using the edge slide tool, eliminating sharp creases and creating more natural forms. These tools help achieve clean and polished geometry.

Using loop cuts and edge loops

Loop cuts and edge loops are powerful tools to control the topology and subdivision of your model. Loop cuts allow you to create new edge loops along specific parts of the mesh, enabling further refinement and detail. Edge loops, on the other hand, are continuous lines of connected edges that help define the shape and flow of your model. Skillfully utilizing loop cuts and edge loops enhances the overall quality and control of your model’s structure.

Assigning Materials and Textures

Applying basic materials to the model

Materials play a crucial role in giving your 3D model its appearance and texture. In Blender, you can assign materials to different parts of your model. A material can define properties such as color, reflectivity, and transparency. By selecting a surface and adding a material, you can specify its characteristics in the material properties panel. Experimenting with different materials and adjusting their parameters will help you achieve the desired look.

Changing material properties (color, shininess, etc.)

Blender allows you to fine-tune material properties to create specific visual effects. The material properties panel provides options to adjust various parameters such as color, shininess, roughness, and transparency. By modifying these properties, you can create materials that simulate metals, glass, liquids, or different surface finishes. Understanding the impact of each parameter and experimenting with different combinations will help you achieve the desired material appearance.

Importing and applying textures

Textures bring realism and detail to your 3D models. Blender allows you to import and apply external textures to your materials. By using image texture nodes in the node editor, you can link an image file to the material, which will then be applied to the model’s surface. Blender offers extensive control over texture mapping, allowing you to adjust parameters such as UV coordinates, tiling, and displacement mapping.

UV unwrapping basics

UV unwrapping is a crucial step in applying textures accurately to your 3D model. It involves unwrapping the 3D geometry and creating a 2D representation, which helps map the texture image to the model’s surface. Blender provides various tools and techniques to accomplish UV unwrapping, such as the Smart UV Project method or manually selecting and unwrapping individual faces. The goal is to simplify the UV layout while minimizing distortions and ensuring the texture fits correctly.

Rendering and Previewing the Model

Setting up the render settings

Rendering is the process of creating a final image or animation from your 3D scene. Blender offers a range of rendering settings to adjust the quality, lighting, and output format of the render. These settings can be accessed through the render properties panel. Parameters such as resolution, samples, lighting models, and output format can be modified to suit your project’s requirements.

Choosing a render engine (EEVEE or Cycles)

Blender provides two powerful render engines: EEVEE and Cycles. EEVEE is a real-time render engine that offers quick feedback and is suitable for fast previews or animations. Cycles, on the other hand, is a physically-based render engine that produces highly realistic results. The choice between EEVEE and Cycles depends on your project’s specific needs and the desired level of realism.

Adjusting lighting and camera angles

Lighting and camera angles greatly influence the final appearance of your render. Blender offers various types of lights, such as point lights, spotlights, and area lights, which can be placed strategically to illuminate your scene. Additionally, you can position and adjust the camera angle to capture the desired composition and perspective. Experimenting with different lighting setups and camera angles will help you achieve the desired aesthetic and storytelling.

Previewing the model’s appearance

Blender’s real-time preview options allow you to assess the model’s appearance and make necessary adjustments. You can enable real-time rendering or use the material preview mode to see how materials and textures interact with the lighting. These preview options provide instant feedback and help you refine the model’s appearance before the final render.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Fixing overlapping geometry

Overlapping geometry can occur when modeling complex shapes or combining multiple objects. To fix this issue, you need to identify the overlapping areas and adjust the geometry accordingly. Techniques such as merging vertices, splitting faces, or using boolean operations can help resolve overlapping geometry. Additionally, ensuring proper topology and using edge loops effectively can prevent overlapping issues during the modeling process.

Resolving issues with modifiers

Modifiers in Blender can sometimes cause unexpected issues or undesirable results. If you encounter problems with modifiers, it is essential to review the modifier stack and tweak the settings. Common issues include incorrect settings, improper order of modifiers, or conflicts between multiple modifiers. Understanding each modifier’s purpose and adjusting their parameters can help resolve these issues and achieve the desired results.

Understanding and fixing shading problems

Shading issues can arise when faces or normals do not align correctly, resulting in visible seams or artifacts in the model’s appearance. Blender provides tools to address shading problems, such as the recalculate normals function, which ensures that all normals face outward uniformly. Additionally, techniques like smooth shading or adding edge creases can help achieve smoother shading transitions across surfaces.

Addressing texture mapping errors

Texture mapping errors can occur if the UV layout is distorted, incorrect, or incompatible with the texture image. To address these errors, you need to review the UV unwrapping process and ensure proper alignment and mapping of the texture to the geometry. Adjusting and tweaking the UV layout, scaling, or moving individual UV islands can help resolve texture mapping errors and achieve accurate and visually appealing textures.

Practicing and Expanding Your Skills

Exploring Blender’s vast modeling resources

Blender offers a wealth of modeling resources and assets to further enhance your skills. Exploring Blender’s official documentation, tutorials, and online resources can provide you with valuable insights and techniques for improving your models. Additionally, Blender’s extensive community contributes to an ever-growing library of models, shaders, and add-ons that can be utilized to expand your modeling capabilities.

Joining online communities and forums

Engaging with the Blender community is an excellent way to learn, share, and receive feedback on your work. Joining online communities and forums dedicated to Blender modeling allows you to connect with like-minded individuals and gather valuable insights from experienced artists. Participating in discussions, seeking critiques, and sharing your progress can immensely contribute to your growth as a 3D modeler.

Participating in modeling challenges

Modeling challenges provide a fantastic opportunity to put your skills to the test and receive valuable feedback from peers. Various online platforms host regular modeling challenges where participants are assigned specific themes or constraints to create models within a given timeframe. Engaging in these challenges not only hones your skills but also exposes you to a diverse range of modeling techniques and approaches.

Experimenting with advanced techniques

Once you have mastered the fundamentals of modeling in Blender, it is essential to continue pushing your creative boundaries by experimenting with advanced techniques. Blender offers a vast array of tools and features that allow for intricate and sophisticated modeling workflows. Delving into advanced topics such as sculpting, retopology, or procedural modeling can significantly expand your skill set and open new opportunities for creative expression.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have covered the basics of modeling in Blender, with a focus on creating a simple human model. We started by downloading and installing Blender, then delved into understanding the Blender interface. We explored working with default primitive objects, refining the model’s details, assigning materials and textures, rendering and previewing the model, troubleshooting common issues, and ways to practice and expand your skills.

It is important to note that this tutorial only scratches the surface of what Blender can do, but it serves as an excellent starting point for absolute beginners. Modeling in Blender requires practice, patience, and a willingness to explore and experiment. By continuing to learn and explore the vast possibilities of Blender, you can uncover new techniques, workflows, and creative potential. So, embrace the learning process, enjoy the journey, and remember that practice makes perfect. Happy modeling!

Maintain Your 3D Printer with these Tools