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Interface Overview – Blender 2.80 Fundamentals



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This tutorial is part of the Blender Fundamentals series, produced by Dillon Gu.

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Blender Interface Overview #

Blender’s user interface is designed to provide a seamless workflow, catering to the needs of different users across various disciplines. The interface is organized into several primary sections, including the 3D viewport, editors, panels, and toolbars.

1. 3D Viewport #

The 3D viewport is the main area where you interact with and manipulate 3D objects. You can navigate the viewport, create and modify objects, and control cameras and lights. The viewport offers different shading modes, including wireframe, solid, material preview, and rendered.

2. Editors #

Blender features a range of specialized editors that focus on specific tasks. These editors are accessible through the dropdown menu in the top-left corner of each editor window. Some notable editors include:

  • UV/Image Editor: Edit and arrange the UV maps of 3D objects, paint textures, and preview renders.
  • Shader Editor: Create and edit materials using nodes.
  • Compositor: Edit and combine rendered images using nodes.
  • Video Sequencer: Edit videos and perform basic video editing tasks.
  • Text Editor: Create and edit scripts, such as Python scripts for add-ons or custom tools.
  • Dope Sheet and Graph Editor: Edit animations, keyframes, and animation curves.
  • Outliner: Display and organize the objects, materials, and other elements within your project in a hierarchical view.

3. Panels #

Panels are collapsible sections that contain various settings, tools, and properties. They are grouped contextually based on the mode and editor you’re working in. Panels can be found in the Properties Editor, the Tool Shelf, and the Sidebar.

3.1 Properties Editor #

The Properties Editor is located on the right side of the Blender window and is divided into tabs, each containing settings for different aspects of your project:

  • Scene: General settings for your scene, such as render settings, output settings, and units.
  • World: Settings for the environment, including background color, world lighting, and volumetrics.
  • Object: Settings for the selected object, including location, rotation, scale, and modifiers.
  • Material: Material settings for the selected object, including surface, volume, and displacement properties.
  • Texture: Texture settings for the selected material or world environment.
  • Particle: Settings for particle systems on the selected object, including emission, physics, and render properties.
  • Physics: Settings for various physics simulations, including cloth, fluid, and smoke.

3.2 Tool Shelf #

The Tool Shelf is located on the left side of the 3D viewport and contains a collection of tools based on the current mode. Tools can be selected and used for tasks like sculpting, painting, and editing.

3.3 Sidebar #

The Sidebar is located on the right side of the 3D viewport and can be toggled with the N key. It contains context-sensitive panels that display information and settings based on the current mode, selected objects, or viewport settings.

4. Toolbars #

Blender has two primary toolbars:

4.1 Top Toolbar #

The Top Toolbar spans across the top of the Blender window and contains options for file management, adding objects, viewport settings, and playback controls. The top-right corner contains workspace and mode selectors, as well as shortcuts for rendering and toggling full screen.

4.2 Status Bar #

The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the Blender window and displays information about the current scene, selected objects, and available hotkeys. It also contains buttons for background jobs, such as rendering or baking simulations, and quick access to Blender’s user preferences.

Tips #

  1. Customize the Blender interface by dragging the corner of each editor window to split or merge the windows. You can also adjust the size of individual windows by clicking and dragging the borders.
  2. Save custom layouts as workspaces by clicking on the ‘+’ icon in the top-right corner of the Blender window. This allows you to create tailored environments for specific tasks, such as modeling, animation, or texturing.
  3. To reset the Blender interface to its default layout, go to File > Defaults > Load Factory Settings. Be aware that this will also reset any custom preferences.
  4. To maximize any editor window, hover your mouse over the window and press Ctrl + Spacebar. Press the same combination again to return to the previous layout.
  5. Use the Middle Mouse Button to click and drag the edge of any toolbar or panel to scroll through its contents if they extend beyond the visible area.
  6. If you’re unsure what a specific button or setting does, hover over it to display a tooltip with a brief description.
  7. You can customize Blender’s interface colors, fonts, and sizes by going to Edit > Preferences > Themes.
  8. If you need to search for a specific function or tool, press F3 to open the Blender search menu. This allows you to quickly find and execute commands without navigating through menus or panels.
  9. Blender supports multiple scenes within a single file. To create a new scene or switch between scenes, use the Scene dropdown menu in the top toolbar.
  10. Use the ‘Quick Favorites’ feature to add your most commonly used functions or tools to a custom menu. To add an item to the Quick Favorites menu, right-click on it and choose ‘Add to Quick Favorites’. To access the menu, press Q.

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