Day 1: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Introduction to Blender Interface and Basic Navigation

 

Objective:

Learn the basics of Blender, including navigating the interface, understanding the 3D viewport, and basic transformations (move, rotate, scale). By the end of this session, you'll create a simple shape (cube or sphere) and manipulate its position.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install Blender:
• If you haven't already, download Blender from the official Blender website.
• Install Blender following the on-screen instructions for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Open Blender and Get Familiar with the Interface:
• Launch Blender. When it opens, you'll see the default workspace with a splash screen.
• Close the splash screen to reveal the main interface, which consists of several key areas:
• 3D Viewport: The main area where you'll create and manipulate objects.
• Toolbar (left): Tools for editing objects (Move, Rotate, Scale).
• Outliner (top right): Displays all objects in your scene.
• Properties Panel (bottom right): Adjust object properties like size, location, and materials.
• Timeline (bottom): Used for animations (not needed for today).
3. Basic Navigation in the 3D Viewport:
• Orbit (Rotate View): Middle mouse button drag or use the Numpad (4, 6, 8, 2) to rotate the view.
• Pan View: Shift + middle mouse button drag.
• Zoom In/Out: Scroll the mouse wheel or use Numpad (+ and -).
4. Understanding the Basic Elements:
• Default Objects: Blender starts with a cube, a camera, and a light.
• Axes: The red, green, and blue lines represent the X, Y, and Z axes, which help you orient objects in 3D space.
5. Selecting and Manipulating Objects:
• Select Object: Left-click on the object (e.g., the cube) to select it.
• Move (G): Press G to move the object. You can lock movement to an axis by pressing X, Y, or Z after pressing G.
• Rotate (R): Press R to rotate the object. Lock to an axis by pressing X, Y, or Z after pressing R.
• Scale (S): Press S to scale the object larger or smaller. Use X, Y, or Z to scale on a specific axis.
6. Practice Creating a Simple Object:
• Add a New Object:
• Press Shift + A to open the "Add" menu.
• Choose Mesh > Sphere (or any other shape you prefer).
• Position Your Object:
• Use G to move the sphere to a new position.
• Rotate it with R or resize it using S.
7. Save Your Work:
• Save Your Blender File:
• Go to File > Save As.
• Name your file (e.g., "Day1_Practice.blend") and save it in a location you can easily find.
8. Explore Viewport Shading Options (Optional):
• At the top right of the 3D Viewport, try different shading modes:
• Wireframe: Shows only the edges.
• Solid: Shows objects with basic shading.
• Material Preview: Displays materials and textures.
• Rendered: Shows the final look with lights and shadows.
9. Wrap-Up:
• Take a few minutes to play around with moving, rotating, and scaling your objects to get comfortable with the controls.
• Reflect on what you’ve learned and note any questions you may have for further exploration.

Outcome:

By the end of Day 1, you will have created, positioned, and manipulated basic 3D shapes in Blender, setting the foundation for more complex illustrations in the coming days.

Feel free to ask if you need more guidance or clarification on any of the steps!

Source:

ChatGPT