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Object and Edit Mode – 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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Object and Edit Modes in Blender #

Object and Edit modes are two essential modes in Blender that enable users to create, manipulate, and organize objects and their components. This guide will provide an overview of these modes and their functionalities.

Object Mode #

Object Mode is the default mode in Blender and is used to select, move, rotate, and scale objects in the scene.

Object Mode Functions #

  1. Selection: Left-click on an object to select it. To select multiple objects, hold ‘Shift’ while clicking. Press ‘A’ to select or deselect all objects.
  2. Transformations: Use the following shortcuts for object transformations:
    • ‘G’: Move (Grab) the object.
    • ‘R’: Rotate the object.
    • ‘S’: Scale the object.
    Alternatively, use the transformation gizmo in the 3D viewport to interactively move, rotate, or scale objects.
  3. Duplication: Duplicate an object by selecting it and pressing ‘Shift’ + ‘D’. Move the duplicated object to the desired location and left-click to confirm.
  4. Deleting: To delete an object, select it and press ‘X’ or ‘Delete’ on your keyboard.
  5. Parenting: To parent one object to another, select the child object(s) first, then hold ‘Shift’ and select the parent object. Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘P’ and choose the desired parenting option.
  6. Modifiers: Apply modifiers to objects to achieve various effects like deformations, subdivisions, or Boolean operations. Access the Modifier Properties tab in the Properties Editor to add and edit modifiers.

Edit Mode #

Edit Mode allows you to manipulate the individual components of a mesh object, such as vertices, edges, and faces. It is crucial for modeling, UV mapping, and creating clean topology.

Accessing Edit Mode #

  1. Select a mesh object.
  2. Press ‘Tab’ on your keyboard or choose ‘Edit Mode’ from the interaction mode dropdown menu in the 3D viewport’s top-left corner.

Edit Mode Functions #

  1. Component Selection: In Edit Mode, you can select vertices, edges, or faces by pressing ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’ on your keyboard, respectively. Alternatively, use the selection buttons in the 3D viewport’s top-left corner.
  2. Transformations: Use the same transformation shortcuts as in Object Mode (‘G’, ‘R’, and ‘S’) to manipulate the selected components.
  3. Loop Cuts: Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘R’ to create a loop cut. Click and drag the mouse to position the new edge loop.
  4. Extrusion: Select a vertex, edge, or face and press ‘E’ to extrude it. Move the extruded component to the desired location and left-click to confirm.
  5. Bevel: Select an edge or face and press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘B’ to create a bevel. Move the mouse to adjust the bevel size and scroll the mouse wheel to adjust the number of segments.
  6. Merge: Select multiple vertices, edges, or faces and press ‘M’ to merge them. Choose the desired merge method from the popup menu.
  7. Dissolve: Select vertices, edges, or faces and press ‘X’ or ‘Delete’, then choose ‘Dissolve’ to remove the selected components without affecting the surrounding geometry.
  8. Subdivide: Select edges or faces and press ‘W’, then choose ‘Subdivide’ to split the selected components into smaller parts.

By mastering the functionalities of Object and Edit modes in Blender, you’ll have the foundational knowledge to create and manipulate objects and their components effectively, leading to better models and optimized scenes.

Proportional Editing #

Proportional editing is a powerful feature available in both Object and Edit modes that allows you to manipulate selected components while affecting surrounding geometry in a gradual, smooth fashion.

Enabling Proportional Editing #

  1. Press ‘O’ on your keyboard or click the ‘Proportional Editing’ button in the 3D viewport’s top-left corner to toggle proportional editing on or off.
  2. Once enabled, use transformation tools (‘G’, ‘R’, or ‘S’) as usual to see the proportional editing effect on the surrounding geometry.
  3. Scroll the mouse wheel or use the ‘Page Up’ and ‘Page Down’ keys to adjust the proportional editing falloff radius.

Proportional Editing Falloff Types #

You can choose from different falloff types to achieve various proportional editing effects. To change the falloff type, click the dropdown menu next to the ‘Proportional Editing’ button or press ‘Shift’ + ‘O’ repeatedly to cycle through the available types:

  1. Smooth: A smooth falloff that provides a natural, gradual effect.
  2. Sphere: A spherical falloff that affects geometry within a spherical area.
  3. Root: A falloff based on the square root function, which produces a more pronounced effect towards the center.
  4. Inverse Square: A falloff based on the inverse square function, which creates a more subtle effect towards the center.
  5. Sharp: A sharp falloff that creates a more abrupt effect.
  6. Linear: A linear falloff that affects the surrounding geometry uniformly.
  7. Constant: A constant falloff that affects all geometry within the falloff radius equally, regardless of distance.

By understanding and utilizing the features of Object and Edit modes, as well as proportional editing, you’ll be better prepared to create intricate and detailed 3D models while maintaining a smooth and efficient workflow in Blender.

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