Questions tagged [modeling]

Modeling refers to the process of creating 3D objects or entities using a 3D modeling application. This tag is used for anything related to modeling including techniques, tools and tips.

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167 votes
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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 ...
user2016's user avatar
  • 1,853
137 votes
5 answers
372k views

How to recenter an object's origin?

So, I'm working creating a lamp... yes, newbie here. After modeling for a bit, I noticed that my point of origin was no longer the center of my object: How to I reset an object origin point to the ...
eikonomega's user avatar
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104 votes
5 answers
164k views

What is non-manifold geometry?

I am not quite sure what non-manifold geometry is. I thought non-manifold geometry was just floating vertices and hole in a mesh. From my experience this is not always the case however. What is non-...
Vader's user avatar
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91 votes
7 answers
190k 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 ...
miceterminator's user avatar
83 votes
3 answers
56k views

How can I quickly generate / create a large city without modeling it all by hand?

I am trying to create an urban open-world environment in Blender that would be about one square kilometre in size. To avoid having to model hundred of individual buildings, I am looking for a way to ...
A A's user avatar
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81 votes
5 answers
252k views

How would you cut a shape out of an object using another object?

Coming from SketchUp one of the tools I miss most is the circle draw tool which lets you draw a circle on any face and then you could extrude it in/out. The only tool that I know of that comes close ...
Qwertie's user avatar
  • 7,016
75 votes
22 answers
18k views

What's the fastest and / or craziest way to model an arrow in Blender?

I'm curious about all the ways you can come up with a solution. I'm searching for the way with the least clicks and maybe the two runner ups. I made up some rules on how to count them: A default ...
Haunt_House's user avatar
73 votes
9 answers
130k 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.
Keavon's user avatar
  • 7,963
71 votes
4 answers
46k 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 ...
Peter Cassetta's user avatar
69 votes
3 answers
154k views

Keep sharp edges when using subdivision surface

How can I use the subdivision surface modifier to create more high poly meshes without ruining sharp edges? For example this mesh The sphere should be subdivided but the rim of the cylinder should ...
Qwertie's user avatar
  • 7,016
68 votes
6 answers
270k views

Cutting a mesh in half

I have a mesh which I have imported from an OBJ file. I would like to apply Material A to the section of the mesh which is on one side of a given plane, and apply Material B to the section of the mesh ...
Jeremy's user avatar
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58 votes
7 answers
31k views

How can I make sharp geometric 3d models look more realistic?

I'm making a scene in Blender with manufactured mechanical and electrical objects - cylinders, metal objects and so forth. I want to make these look real, be fully present with a sense of mass and ...
greatwolf's user avatar
  • 2,951
58 votes
7 answers
117k views

How to model effectively using exact measurements?

I always struggle when trying to create a floor plan or furniture. How do I model using exact measurements.
stacker's user avatar
  • 38.4k
55 votes
4 answers
142k 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.
atek's user avatar
  • 9,882
51 votes
6 answers
64k views

How to edit Parameters for an Object after it is created?

When you first add a cylinder, you have the option to change the number of vertices, etc, but once you do anything else in blender, it seems you no longer can edit those parameters. Is there a ...
Thom Blair III's user avatar
49 votes
4 answers
264k 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 ...
Qwertie's user avatar
  • 7,016
48 votes
6 answers
112k views

Change radius for proportional editing

When proportional editing is enabled in edit mode, then if you select and drag a point, nearby points will also move with it. The effect has a certain radius. How can you set this radius? According to ...
Mechanical snail's user avatar
44 votes
3 answers
165k 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
xproejctvr's user avatar
42 votes
3 answers
297k views

How to merge vertices in Blender?

I am attempting to create my first 3D character just for practice. Being one of my first 3d models I going through the learning curve needless to say. In doing so I find myself creating many extra ...
SKIPPY's user avatar
  • 549
42 votes
6 answers
89k views

Extrude Faces along Local Normals

I am trying to extrude faces of a cylinder along local normals. 3dsmax can do it easy, couldn't find how to do it in blender. The extrude region option extrudes it as shown in the first example. I ...
SyedImran's user avatar
  • 475
42 votes
1 answer
49k views

How to move multiple faces along their individual normals?

I'd like to grab multiple faces and move each one along its normal. Is there a grab individual command?
Natan Yellin's user avatar
41 votes
2 answers
116k views

Extrude along path

Is there a way to extrude an object or shape along a path/curve, so you get a solid object? For example, a rectangle shape along a curve to get a long bendy sidewalk. I feel this was in an older ...
Kirbinator's user avatar
  • 2,641
39 votes
3 answers
75k views

How to merge 4 adjacent, coplanar faces into a single face

I have a plane consisting of 4 squares - take as an example a subdivided plane. How can I merge these faces into one?
Aidan Pallian's user avatar
39 votes
2 answers
6k views

How can I make a wrought iron basket?

I'm want to know how to make something like the wrought iron shapes as shown in the picture.
cybrbeast's user avatar
  • 2,388
39 votes
2 answers
17k views

How to animate morphing a rectangular plane into a sphere

How to make a grid-to-sphere animation like this?
Leon Cheung's user avatar
  • 27.6k
39 votes
2 answers
16k views

Generate curve from equation

I've been trying to design a dynamic sculpture which I can only define with exactitude through mathematical equations. Now, the equations yield only lines, like you can see in the animation below: I ...
Severo Raz's user avatar
39 votes
4 answers
59k views

Select every other face loop

How can I select every other edge loop. In this example its not too bad to do it manually but it other cases it might be. How can I easily select alternating face loops?
Vader's user avatar
  • 14.6k
38 votes
15 answers
5k views

What's the most fun way to make a Snowman in Blender? ❄︎❄︎❄︎

Previous challenge: What's the most fun way to create a fork in Blender?? Winter is here, and I'm trying to build a snowman. But my Blender freezes after the first snowball! (is it because of the ice?...
jachym michal's user avatar
38 votes
2 answers
186k 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 :)
Mr.Benson's user avatar
  • 879
38 votes
3 answers
68k 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 ...
Binary Brain's user avatar
38 votes
1 answer
48k views

Rotating each iteration of an Array Modifier

Is there a way to rotate each iteration of an Array Modifier? For example, I've created the helices of a DNA molecule, and I'm trying to add the base pairs. I've got a cylinder with an array modifier....
ajwood's user avatar
  • 10k
37 votes
5 answers
91k views

How can I quickly move/translate an object to the center location/position of another object in a static scene?

This question relates to positioning static objects while modeling. This is not a question about how to move objects dynamically/programmatically like in a game context. For example, I need to ...
Micah Bolen's user avatar
36 votes
3 answers
5k views

Procedurally generating wear on an object?

What are some techniques for procedurally generating wear (chips, cracks, dents, etc.) on a mesh object? For example, what are some ways I could do something like this: but with more dents and ...
gandalf3's user avatar
  • 157k
36 votes
4 answers
56k views

Apply subsurf modifier to only part of an object

How can I apply a modifier only to a part of an object? I want to model a goblet with a pedestal, and if I add a subsurf, the pedestal, of course, gets an unwanted round shape. How can I avoid that? I ...
user2664856's user avatar
  • 1,065
35 votes
6 answers
102k views

What is the fastest way to create a curved plane?

For a background, a lot of times I need a vertical wall, horizontal bottom, and a nice connecting curved surface between them in front of the camera. So far, I have used two methods: Deform a plane ...
Alex Pakka's user avatar
35 votes
4 answers
80k 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 ...
Keavon's user avatar
  • 7,963
35 votes
7 answers
213k views

Create vertex on a desired part of an edge

Ctrl + R creates vertex exactly between two vertices of an edge but I want it in the place where I click, that is any part of an edge where I click. I wanted to know if there is any such feature ...
simon's user avatar
  • 607
35 votes
4 answers
122k views

Is blender actually useable for engineering?

A moving design would be the final goal, but first I need to build complex shapes based on geometry as 3D modeling for engineering. Does blender have a work tree where you can rearrange the order of ...
Edward Lane's user avatar
35 votes
2 answers
144k views

How to set the current scale to 1? [duplicate]

I want to take an object that I have scaled in object mode and set the current scale to 1. I can find the current scale, clear the scale with Alt+S, and then switch to edit mode and scale to what it ...
Jacob's user avatar
  • 491
35 votes
7 answers
66k views

How to set a specific edge length numerically?

I've got this question from one of my best students. The question is the following: Suppose, that we have Edit mode with some edges, vertices, etc. How to set a selected edge to have a specific ...
piotao's user avatar
  • 1,387
35 votes
6 answers
47k views

How to distribute objects evenly?

how to distribute different objects evenly in Object Mode? I know about dupliverts, particles, array modifier, etc, but they do not serve as a good, general solution. EDIT: I have a scene with a ...
piotao's user avatar
  • 1,387
35 votes
1 answer
74k views

How to apply a modifier in V2.9+

Why I can't apply mirror modifier? Here's screen
user105581's user avatar
35 votes
4 answers
69k views

Selecting faces on object from UV editor window

I can't see this as an option so is there a way to select faces or islands and have them show up as selected faces on the object in 3D view. In programs such as maya it is possible to work from ...
Mark B Tomlinson's user avatar
35 votes
1 answer
21k 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 ...
Helpful's user avatar
  • 817
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 ...
jachym michal's user avatar
34 votes
7 answers
15k views

Organic yet accurate modeling with the golden spiral

Foreword First off, let me say that I am profoundly amazed at the orderliness in nature. If you haven't heard about the Fibonacci sequence (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ...), you should check it out. ...
Daniel Node.js's user avatar
34 votes
5 answers
72k views

How to merge two edge loops

This is a Q&A so I answer it myself. I searched for an answer to this question for ages and didn't find anything so I'll add this here if anybody else struggles with the same issue. So, how can I ...
Finnboy11's user avatar
  • 543
34 votes
2 answers
81k views

Bevel specific edges

How would one curve specific edges while leaving others alone? I'm trying to model this (circled) object, But can't figure out how to bevel side edges and leave the front-edge flat. Tried using the ...
kei's user avatar
  • 845
34 votes
2 answers
42k views

How to align a cluster of points?

If you have a cluster of points selected like this: how do you align the points so that they create a flat plane?
John's user avatar
  • 3,537
34 votes
7 answers
196k views

How to make all faces flip to the right/consistent direction?

What's happening is that I have tried to flip the normals, inside and out, but there are always faces which have to be flipped! Normals recalculated Inside View If I flip them again, all faces get ...
Knuckles209cp's user avatar

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