Blender 3D Complete Volume One

You'll learn about the sub-object components that make up a 3D mesh in Blender. You'll also learn how to access the various elements to edit your meshes on a more complex level.

Now that you've seen Edit mode, you'll learn about a method for adding a mesh to an existing mesh to make a single object. You'll also get a primer in parenting objects so they inhereit the transforms of other objects.

3D scenes can become complex quickly. You'll learn how to name objects in Blender, as well as proper naming conventions to make organizing your scene easier.

Blender has a great method for hiding and unhiding objects. This operation is excellent for making your scene work easier to manage. Blender's layer system works hand in hand with that to make managing large scenes effective.

Today we'll look at the standard undo and redo functions in Blender, as well as some often overlooked hot keys. You'll also learn how to set your own number of undo iterations in the user preferences.

In this video, you'll learn the hot key for deleting objects, and how the menu changes for sub-objects. You'll also learn what the dissolve function is and what it's used for.

Smoothing your meshes can be accomplished a number of ways in Blender, in both object and edit mode. You'll learn the different ways to accomplish that, how to control it, as well as using the edge split modifier to help with maintaining sharp edges when needed.

Duplicating objects is on the list of regularly used operations. You'll learn the two methods for duplicating, and the effect that has on your objects.

Maintaining your orientation in 3D space can be tricky, even more so for the objects in your scene. You'll learn what 3D orientation is, and how it's affected by global and local settings. You'll also learn the hot keys for jumping between them quickly and easily.

Everything in your Blender scene will have an origin point. You'll learn what that means, and see how it affects the changes you make to your geometry.

Being able to lock the camera in your scene to your movement is very important to getting the render angle you want. You'll learn how to do that, and the major pitfalls to avoid when using this technique.

You'll learn how to change some very basic but important properties on our virtual camera. Later you'll be able to get very specific with the types of renders you want to achieve

You'll learn the different selection method for vertices, how to manipulate them, and a new hot key to make organic shapes much easier down the road!

You'll learn some more in depth selections, and a neat trick! Be sure to watch past the quiz for the challenges!

By now, selections should be pretty easy to deal with. This video is a simple review, and a quick demonstration of selection methods you might not think of in face mode.

You'll learn how to hot key your search menu for available operations. You'll also learn 3 important hot keys to help you access functions for vertices, edges, and faces.

Now you'll learn about subdividing meshes. This video, and the rest in this chapter, will cover some of the most used operations in Blender. So really drive these home!

You'll use this tool a lot in your adventures with Blender. It's an excellent tool for adding specific edge geometry with some really cool variables! One of my favorite tools!

You'll get to have fun cutting up some meshes! Blender's knife tool isn't just hack and slash for geometry, you can use it to make some very specific edges in our geometry.

You'll find the rip tool quick and easy to learn. However, don't underestimate it's usefulness!

Now for the elephant in the room, the extrude tool. This is the tool of tools in 3D, used more than any other. You'll get deep into extrusion types, as well as extruding faces, edges, and vertices!

You'll learn about creating insets, an extrusion method for creating additional geometry along a surfac. Another often used operation!

The spin tool let's you create lathe type operations and more. You'll have the knowledge to really bring this tool to bear for things like wine glasses, vases, or any other "spun" type geometry!

You'll learn about this operation inside the spin operation. It will become a staple if you plan to model spaceships, cars, jets, or bikes.

You'll learn about the screw tool, not modifier, at a basic level. We'll cover why it might, or might not be your best choice for this operation type.

One of the best for last in this chapter. The bevel tool is high on the list of often used tools. You'll get used to how it functions before we move on to this chapters lab!

You'll start by roughing out the shape of your stone bridge using many of the editing tools you just picked up in chapter 3.

First, at the end of this video I give a hint. That hint is like Portal's cake. It's a lie. I was thinking object, not curve, so the duplication I mention is NOT available. That said, now we really get some detail going on our bridge. You'll also learn some new modifiers like Curve and Array!

You'll do some simple primitive modeling, and really add some realism to your bridge. By the end your bridge will be complete, and you can move forward with your scene.

Before we finish up, you'll get a chance to use the a fore mentioned screw modifier to add detail to your scene. If you desire that is.

Last one! You'll get a look at my final piece, and discuss my requirements for YOUR final piece. This is what you've been training for! Bring your creativity to the table and show me what you've got!

This pivot point is the type of pivot you'd expect to see when you think of transforms and rotations. You'll see how your meshes react!

The median pivot point is the "center of gravity" pivot point. That sounds straight forward, but you'll see some unexpected results in edit mode.

You'll find this pivot point very handy. Apart from the default median this is one you'll come back to time and again. Spend some time playing here and get really familiar!

This pivot may be the most intuitive to use. You'll get to see how it can get out of hand as well, and may not always suit your needs.

This final type of pivot reacts slightly differently than median. You'll learn a nifty trick for seeing your mesh and bounding box at the same time. You'll also see what the hot keys are for pivot points, and why you generally shouldn't use them.

You'll learn what an empty object is and how they can help you while modeling. You'll also get a look at how they can help with animations.

You'll learn how to apply a background image for reference modeling. You'll learn the default method and why it remains useful for controlling your work.

Time to learn about a relatively new empty object, and how it can be used to place our background reference. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages over the default method.

You've seen a taste of parenting before. Now you'll get in-depth and see how incredibly useful this operation can be.

You learn how to combine objects and sub-objects. You'll also learn how joining order can affect object origin.

We've touched on a few modifiers already. You'll learn one of the most used, and most useful of them all.

You'll get in depth with a new form of modeling. Curves! You'll learn about curves as well as their sub-components, how to turn them into a mesh, and create a cat logo to practice. Then it's challenge time!

Blender calls this operation beveling. In other packages you may have heard it called lofting. You'll get full command of this operation.

The second part of beveling along a path, lathing. You'll see how similar this is in function to the spin tool.

You've put the snap menu to use previously. It's handy for simple transforms, but sometimes you need more. You'll learn the extra tool set Blender gives you for more complex operations.

You got a taste of this tool in the Seaside lab. You'll now get command of all the available operations with this powerful tool.

You'll get your feet wet with text objects in Blender. You'll learn about the need to be careful with hot keys when editing text objects, as well as all of the panels and options available to get your text object looking how you want.

In this final volume video, you'll get a good look at using additional curve objects and modifiers to manipulate your text the way you want. And of course, a final challenge!