Post 7/30: VFX tutorial for Blender - Introduction to Modifiers (Subdivision Surface)

 

Goal: Learn how to use modifiers to change the appearance of objects, specifically the Subdivision Surface modifier to smooth out objects.

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

1.     Open Blender and Set Up a New Project:

• Open Blender and start a new project. You can use the default cube or delete it and add a different shape (such as a sphere or cone) by pressing Shift + A → Mesh → Select your shape.

2.     Select the Object:

• Right-click or left-click (depending on your setup) to select the object in your scene that you want to smooth.

3.     Open the Modifiers Tab:

• On the right-hand side of the screen, find the Modifiers tab (a small wrench icon). Click on it to access the modifiers options.

4.     Add the Subdivision Surface Modifier:

• With your object selected, click on Add Modifier in the Modifiers tab.
• From the drop-down menu, select Subdivision Surface under the Generate category.

5.     Adjust the Subdivision Levels:

• In the Subdivision Surface modifier options, you will see settings for View and Render levels.
• The View level controls how smooth the object appears in the viewport.
• The Render level controls how smooth the object will be when rendered.
• Increase these levels to smooth out your object. Start with a View level of 2 or 3 for a moderate smoothness.

6.     Apply or Preview the Modifier:

• If you are happy with the smoothed look of your object, you can apply the modifier by pressing the Apply button in the modifier panel. However, for this tutorial, you can leave it as a preview without applying it.

7.     Refine with Shading:

• To further smooth the appearance, right-click on your object in the viewport and select Shade Smooth. This will make the object’s surface look smoother.

8.     Adjust Lighting and Camera:

• Set up your lighting to highlight the smooth surfaces. You can add a Sun light (Shift + A → Light → Sun) and position it to create interesting shadows.
• Adjust the camera by selecting it, pressing G to move, and R to rotate, framing your object.

9.     Render the Scene:

• Press F12 to render the scene and check out your smoothed object.

10.  Save Your Render:

• Once your render is complete, go to Image → Save As and export your image to share it.

Shareable Visual:

A smoothly subdivided 3D object with clean edges and soft shading, rendered with appropriate lighting and camera angles.

What You’ve Learned:

• How to apply and adjust the Subdivision Surface modifier to smooth out objects.
• Basic understanding of modifiers in Blender.
• Smoothing techniques using the Shade Smooth function.

Source:
ChatGPT