Blender - Basics

[last updated: 2020-09-18]
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go to: Blender - Editing
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First attempts, using 2.79 on tower
RMB, LMB, MMB = right, left, and middle mouse button
• When you first open Blender, it will display a "splash screen" . Click on the screen to remove it and show the default cube that starts every project.

• Set up for mm units:
  Properties > Scene > Units
  Unit presets select millimeters
  Length select Metric
  Unit Scale: 1.0000
  File > Save

• Panels:
  • Initially there are 4 panels. They will have a default "Current Editor type" (see it by hovering over dropdown)
    Header panel - default "Info"
    Main panel - default "3d View"
    • 3d view has "tabs" along the left side. the default tab is "tools"
      Press "T" to hide or show this tool panel
    • selecting "create" tab allows adding elements/objects to the model

    Two right panels - default "Outliner" at the top, and "Properties" at the bottom
    Bottom panel - default "Timeline"

  • Re-sizing panels
  • Splitting and merging panels
• Navigation:
  • middle button, hold & drag to rotate
  • shift-middle button, hold & drag to pan
  • scroll wheel to zoom in or out
  • left click places a "3d cursor" which marks the point where newly created elements will be placed
    shift-"C" moves it to the origin
• Selecting and Moving Objects:
  • Select object:
    In Object mode, position cursor over an object and RMB to select it
    The 3-axis icon will display.
  • Move an object:
    position cursor over object (whether or not it's selected), RMB-hold and drag to move, release RMB
    RMB to cancel and revert to previous position,
    -or- LMB to confirm/lock new position
  • -or- Move an object with 3d manipulator - translate - see below
  • Press "A" key to deselect everything
  • Move Object to Absolute position:
    select object; alt-g moves it to the origin
    then g, y, 8 enter - moves it to y=8
    then g, x, 8 enter - moves it to x=8
• There are shortcut keys for most operations
  "7" on keypad switches to "Top" view

• 3d manipulator widgets:
  • Translate:
    LMB-hold on any axis arrow, and drag to move (translate) the object
    release to lock
  • Rotation:
    LMB-hold on desired axis-circle and drag to rotate
    release to lock
  • Scale:
    LMB-hold on desired axis-end and drag to scale
    release to lock

  • Shortcut keys:
    These work regardless of which 3d manipulator icon is active

    
    alt-g moves object back to origin
    alt-r cancels all rotations and restores original orientation
    alt-s cancels all scalings and restores original size

    
    press r y 30 enter to rotate 30deg in y-plane
    press s x 2 enter to scale by factor of 2x in x direction

• Cameras and Views:
• Rendering:

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eof