Questions tagged [mesh]

A mesh is a collection of vertices, edges, (composed of a connection between two vertices), and faces (composed of 3 or more connected edges). Meshes are the most commonly used object type in Blender.

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161 votes
1 answer
479k views

Splitting pieces of a mesh into a new object

I've just made a set of armor by using a male body mesh model I downloaded and selecting certain faces from the model and duplicating them to create viable armor pieces. Since the pieces are just ...
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152 votes
4 answers
268k views

Add different materials to different parts of a mesh?

How do you add more than one material to a mesh? I have tried adding two materials to the object, and then assigning one of the materials to a vertex-group, but I could not find a place to assign it....
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91 votes
7 answers
181k views

How to smooth shade an object while retaining hard edges?

I frequently come to the problem of having a mesh with parts I would like to render smooth and "hard" edges connecting them. How can I set the mesh to show the sharp edges but render everything else ...
90 votes
3 answers
147k views

Add the Same Modifier to Multiple Objects at Once?

Is it possible to add a modifier to more than one mesh at once? I have a lot of unique objects, and I want to set a subdivide modifier to them, would I have to do each one individually? I have ...
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79 votes
4 answers
53k views

What is the difference between a UV Sphere and an Icosphere?

When working with or adding meshes, I've seen UV Spheres and Icospheres being presented to me. What are the differences between them, when should either be used and is there anything I should take ...
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69 votes
4 answers
43k views

When should N-Gons be used, and when shouldn't they?

Support for N-Gons (polygons consisting of more than 4 vertices) has been in Blender for a while now, but many of us still may not know when to use them, and how to do so effectively. In what ...
68 votes
9 answers
116k views

How can I add vertices to intersection of two edges?

I need to put a point at the intersection of two edges. Below is a picture with red circles around where I need points to be placed.
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52 votes
4 answers
127k views

How to round corners of plane?

How can I cut an arc into a square plane? The gif above shows what I want to do, but, in another software.
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51 votes
2 answers
242k views

How to reduce vertex count on a mesh [duplicate]

I need a way to fix this mesh. It has way too many faces and when I import the .stl file to other programs it gives me a ...
51 votes
2 answers
88k views

Why are some faces in my mesh darker?

While rendering a mesh with smooth shading on, I get a dark region/shadow on certain faces. The effect is more evident when smooth shading is applied to a mesh containing ngons, with the ngons turning ...
49 votes
4 answers
255k views

How can I round the edges of a mesh?

I have looked at other similar questions on this site but couldn't answer my question. I have a model made of cubes the edges look very sharp (I would put a picture here but I don't have the required ...
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49 votes
1 answer
141k views

How to unlink a linked-duplicate? [duplicate]

All is in the question, we can duplicate object with SHIFT+D but also with ALT+D, which is quite handy, because as you know every changes done on a linked duplicate object will be repeated on others ...
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44 votes
3 answers
148k views

How to cut and paste part of a mesh to another mesh?

Hi im new to Blender and i want to know when im in edit mode if i can copy or cut a selections of polygons faces and paste to another mesh. Thanks in advance for any help
38 votes
1 answer
16k views

What's the fastest way to select every other vertex of an edge ring?

What's the fastest way, without using Python, to select every other vertex of an edge ring with an even number of verts?
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37 votes
2 answers
174k views

How to 'merge/dissolve' two faces?

I had trouble merging/dissolve two faces together, like merging these two faces in the screenshot. Any help is appreciated :)
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35 votes
4 answers
76k views

Model a simple 3D spiral shape?

I need to model a simple spiral shape. I imagine the best way to do this is with curves, but I am unsure how to create a perfect spiral shape with curves. What's the best/easiest way to make a spiral ...
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35 votes
3 answers
32k views

How can I convert an SVG to a mesh?

In Blender, extruding and beveling of SVG imported objects, works very well when they are still bezier objects, but the conversion of a SVG path to a mesh is very ugly, with a lot of unnecessary ...
35 votes
1 answer
93k views

In Edit Mode, is it possible to invert selection?

I wish to select areas of a mesh, but it would be much simpler to just select the ones I don't want selected (because they are easier to access), and then inverse the selection. Is this possible?
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34 votes
6 answers
7k views

What's the fastest / most fun way to create a fork in Blender?

Related challenge: What's the fastest and / or craziest way to model an arrow in Blender? I tried to make a fork in Blender, but it was so boring I fell asleep. Is there a faster / more fun way to ...
34 votes
5 answers
198k views

Heat Weighting: Failed to find solution for one or more bones

I cant figure out why I get problems rigging this mesh. I get an error stating Bone Heat Weighting: Failed to find solution for one or more bones Blend file
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34 votes
3 answers
61k views

How to solidify edges

I have a complex mesh with only vertices and edges that I want to solidify. The problem is I just want to solidify edges (not any faces) to have some kind of fat wireframe model (i.e. just every ...
34 votes
3 answers
128k views

How do I convert a triangle mesh to a quads one?

I'm throwing a 3D triangulated mesh into an acoustic simulator. The simulator instructions say that ideally it wants quads. If it receives triangles, it will consider them as a degenerate quad (i.e. ...
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34 votes
1 answer
20k views

Why are the longer edges being beveled more?

I'll preface this by saying I'm very new to Blender - I'm trying to put a bevel on an edge, looks something like this: As you can see, the vertical side is much longer than the horizontal side. When ...
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32 votes
3 answers
25k views

What is the simplest way to generate a dodecahedron?

I've been thinking of animating some dice and while most are easy to make, I'm having some trouble figuring out a way to generate a regular dodecahedron. I could hand build it but it would be ...
user avatar
32 votes
2 answers
149k views

How to set object dimension

Is there a way to set absolute dimensions of an object. Once I've created a cylinder for example, how can I go back and change the length? I know I can scale it, but I want to set an absolute length ...
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32 votes
1 answer
42k views

How can I duplicate a mesh along a curve?

I want to outline a curve in the form of text with a mesh (UV-sphere, cube etc.). How can I do that while saving mesh geometry without using the Curve modifier?
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30 votes
2 answers
54k views

How can I get vertex positions from a mesh?

I want to read the vertex x and y coordinates with a script or a function. How can I do that? The MeshVertex appears to have ...
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30 votes
2 answers
89k views

Split an edge in two?

Is there a simple and quick way to add a vertex to an existing edge? I mean in a similar manner (Ctrl+R) like a loop cut for the whole object? My current workflow is, deleting the edge completely, ...
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30 votes
1 answer
81k views

Subtracting Geometry?

I have two models - we'll say a sphere and hollow cylinder - that I'm working with. Effectively, I want to 'subtract' the hollow-cylinder shape from the sphere. I know from certain orientations (the ...
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30 votes
2 answers
10k views

Is there a way to unfold a mesh?

Is there a way to take a mesh, cut it with seams or sharp edges and flatten it, so that the faces stay the same shape and size? Making paper models is one aspect, where you could use that technique. ...
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29 votes
5 answers
134k views

Straighten Vertices Along a Line

On a line, I need to line up the bottom vertex points in relation to a top reference vertex point. How could I reset the X Y and Z coordinates of these vertex points to essentially line them up all ...
user avatar
29 votes
4 answers
62k views

Is there an unsubdivide function in Blender?

I am wondering if there is a modifier or tool that will essentially undo a subsurf or subdivide command.
29 votes
2 answers
74k views

How to make all polygons into triangles

I need to create test file for my program. But it only accepts polygons with 3 vertices - triangles as input. How can I convert all polygons of some object into triangles? I know how to select all ...
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29 votes
3 answers
16k views

How can I generate an object from a mathematical function?

I have a formula that mathematically describes the heart surface in Cartesian coordinates: $$\left(x^2+\frac{9y^2}{4}+z^2-1\right)^3-x^2z^3-\frac{9y^2z^3}{80}=0$$ Unfortunately, I have no idea how ...
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28 votes
2 answers
26k views

an easy way to subdivide along one axis only?

I'm making a rope for a game so it needs to be low poly. If I create a cylinder and subdivide, I get too many vertices around the circumference which I don't want. I only want to add vertices to the ...
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27 votes
6 answers
43k views

How can I make a hexagonal grill?

How would I be able to create a grill of sorts found on the front of some computer cases such as this one
  • 381
27 votes
9 answers
25k views

Efficient way to get selected vertices via python (without iterating over the entire mesh)

What's the best/fastest way to construct a list of selected vertices for a mesh object in python? I want to avoid iterating over every vertex in the mesh if possible, since that seems like a really ...
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27 votes
5 answers
3k views

Good approach to make planks for a barrel?

I'm trying to make the planks in a barrel, without involving sculpting. What is a good method? I thought about an array, but haven't had too much luck. this is what I've got at the moment, but I'm ...
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27 votes
3 answers
31k views

How to add roughness to a surface using modifiers?

I'm trying to make a roughened parchment-like material. I don't want to just use a texture, because I want to take a low-angle shot that lets me see the actual bumps in the surface. I currently have ...
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27 votes
1 answer
1k views

Closing "Fibonacci's Hole"

Creating a sphere using the points defined by Spherical Fibonacci Mapping. For the most part it is easy to "skin" by using two consecutive fibonacci numbers as steps to loop on the index. And get ...
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26 votes
4 answers
23k views

How are vertex indices determined?

How does the program decide what indices to assign to vertices? If you create a primitive, are the indices generated randomly, or by some base primitive setting? If you extrude new vertices, will they ...
  • 6,323
26 votes
3 answers
61k views

Creating a single vertex on the cursor position

How do I create a single vertex (not connected to another vertex) on the cursor position?
  • 1,930
26 votes
3 answers
27k views

Is it possible to calculate and display volume of a mesh object?

How can I display volume of any mesh object? I can display length of an edge, the area of the face, but nothing for volume. Is it possible?
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25 votes
3 answers
7k views

Shadows along edges of mesh in 3D View

I have recently started using blender and one of the models I'm working on has dark shadows along edges. I started this model from scratch. I can't remember them being there when I first started the ...
  • 353
25 votes
1 answer
3k views

A reliable way to make a brick tower

I have been trying to make a brick tower, but the method I'm using doesn't seems too reliable. This is the method I'm using: Move the brick origin to the center, followed by an empty object/array to ...
  • 635
25 votes
1 answer
86k views

How Can I Unjoin Meshes?

I used Ctrl+J to join meshes, but now I want to take them apart. Is there a simple way?
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24 votes
6 answers
14k views

Is there a way to switch the mesh selection mode by a shortcut?

Is there a shortcut for switching between these three modes?
  • 2,044
24 votes
3 answers
60k views

How can I subdivide this plane into even squares?

I have a plane that has a scale of x: 100, y: 5, z: 1, and I want to split it into squares that have a scale of x: 5, z: 5, but ...
24 votes
1 answer
12k views

Why do the measurements of this object seem erroneous?

I just found out about the Mesh Display : Length feature in the "N" panel (thanks to this seemingly-migratable question) that allows one to measure the length of a face or vertice. But my first ...
  • 4,511
24 votes
3 answers
55k views

Convert Cycles Hair Particle System to Mesh Object

I'm hoping this community can help me solve a issue. I have created a cycles hair particle system to render grass. This is successful in rendering and works great. However I want to convert this ...
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