Modeling

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…

Core Problem: Separating Joined Meshes into Distinct Objects A common task in 3D modeling is taking a single mesh object that consists of joined parts and separating those parts into distinct objects that can be animated and controlled independently. For example, a human character mesh may initially be modeled as one contiguous body, with the…

When to Link vs Append vs Duplicate When modeling armor in Blender, you may need to reuse geometric assets across multiple scenes or blend files. There are three main methods for reusing geometry: linking, appending, and duplicating. Linking creates a reference to the data in the original file without making a full copy. This allows…

Understanding Camera Limits In Blender, camera limits refer to the clipping range and movement constraints that can be applied to cameras. The clipping range defines the nearest and farthest points relative to the camera that are rendered. Anything outside this range is clipped, or not rendered. Setting realistic camera limits is crucial for creating scenes…

The Importance of Edge Beveling In 3D modeling, beveling refers to taking sharp edges and smoothing them out to have a rounded profile. Beveled edges catch simulated light in a more natural way, creating a highlight that runs along the edge contour. The beveled edge greatly enhances realism and perceived quality in a 3D render….

Viewing Reference Images When creating 3D models in Blender, it is often helpful to use reference images to guide the modeling process. Reference images allow you to continually compare your model to the desired end result. This section covers how to import reference images into Blender and adjust their display properties for optimal use while…

Why Manually Control Shading There are several key reasons why manually controlling shading in Blender can be beneficial compared to solely relying on the automatic smooth shading functionality. The need for precision in shading assignment While auto smooth generally works well, it can sometimes produce undesired artifacts and uneven shading based on the angle threshold….

What is Shading in Blender? Shading refers to the process of depicting depth, texture, and form on 3D models in Blender. Proper shading helps make models look more realistic and visually appealing. There are several common shading methods used in Blender: Flat shading – Sets the normal of each face of a model to face…

What is Vertex Parenting and When Should You Use It Vertex parenting is a technique in Blender that allows you to deform one object, the “child”, by moving vertices on another object, the “parent”. It creates a relationship between the vertex groups of two objects. The main use cases where vertex parenting is helpful are:…

Connecting Objects in Blender In Blender, parenting is a powerful technique for connecting multiple objects together in a relationship. The parent object acts as the controller, while the child objects follow the transformations of their parent. Understanding parenting allows greater organizational control and automation during animation and modeling. What is Parenting Parenting refers to linking…