What Causes the Black Shading The main culprit behind strange black shading issues in Blender Cycles is custom split normals data. This refers to cases where individual faces and vertices have been assigned separate custom normals that deviate from the standard calculated normals. When custom split normals are present, it can disrupt proper shading and…
Identifying Shading and Surface Problems Recognizing inaccuracies in shading and surface quality is a crucial first step in resolving rendering errors in Blender models. Indicators of issues can include sharp transitions between faces, faceted or jagged edges, uneven or distorted textures, inconsistent lighting reactions, and anomalies appearing only at certain angles. Strategically rotating around the…
Why Convert Curves to Mesh? Bezier curves are a powerful modeling tool in Blender, allowing the creation of smooth organic shapes. However, directly beveling curves can lack precision and control. Converting the curves to polygon meshes unlocks more advanced beveling techniques. Meshes enable greater control over bevel form, segment count, angle limits, weight, and more….
Adjusting Bevel Settings for Smoothness One of the most impactful ways to improve the smoothness of a beveled edge in Blender is to adjust the bevel settings themselves. By changing the bevel profile from a custom shape to a half or full round shape, more supportive geometry is automatically generated, removing angular banding artifacts. Additionally,…
Understanding Non-Uniform Scaling Non-uniform scaling refers to scaling an object or parts of an object by different amounts along different axes. For Bezier curves in Blender, this means scaling the bevel or extrusion along the curve non-uniformly to create uneven geometry. Use cases for non-uniform bevel scaling include: Creating tapered tubes or irregular organic shapes…
Understanding Bezier Curves and Bevel Objects in Blender A Bezier curve is a mathematically defined curve used in computer graphics and related fields. In Blender, Bezier curves consist of a series of vertices connected by edges that can be manipulated to create smooth curves and organic shapes. Bezier curves are created in Blender by adding…
Understanding Light Transport in Blender In Blender, multiple types of light rays are used to simulate real-world lighting and materials. Rays start from the camera, bounce around the scene with reflections and refractions, and some rays ultimately reach light sources to calculate illumination. The path that rays take depends on object properties and render settings….
What is Edge Flow and Why It Matters In 3D modeling, edge flow refers to the pattern formed by edges and polygons in a mesh. Good edge flow is important for achieving clean topology with no artifacts, pinching, or distortion when deforming or animating a model. It also impacts shading quality and render times. Poor…
What is Scene Referred vs Display Referred? In 3D computer graphics, there are two main color management workflows – scene referred and display referred. Understanding the difference between them is key to effectively managing color in applications like Blender. A scene referred workflow aims to preserve the original color values of materials and lighting in…
What are Subdivision Surfaces? Subdivision surface modeling is a modeling technique used in 3D computer graphics for representing and rendering smooth surfaces. It works by subdividing an initial mesh into smaller polygons, allowing for increased detail and smoothness. The key advantage of subdivision surfaces over traditional polygon modeling is the ability to create smooth organic…