Watch This Before you Get Started with Blender (7 Tips)

Summary

In this informative video, Alex Oliver provides a structured approach to learning Blender, a powerful yet complex 3D modeling software. The video emphasizes the importance of creating a learning map to guide your progress, simplifying the user interface to focus on essential tools, and using a three-button scroll wheel mouse for efficient navigation. Oliver also stresses the need to practice navigating the 3D space effectively, learn and utilize keyboard shortcuts, and experiment with basic geometry tools like select, move, rotate, and scale. He encourages beginners to start creating and editing 3D models to build a strong foundation, and to embrace creating 'bad' models as part of the learning process. The video concludes with an invitation to follow their channel for more in-depth tutorials and a mention of an upcoming comprehensive video course for those serious about mastering Blender.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ Start with a learning map to outline your end goal and the steps needed to achieve it, as recommended by learning expert Scott Young.
• 🖥️ Simplify the Blender user interface by focusing on the Layout Workspace tab to get comfortable with the basics first.
• 🖱️ Use a three-button scroll wheel mouse for optimal Blender navigation and consider a drawing tablet as a secondary tool.
• 🕹️ Practice navigating the 3D viewport effectively using the mouse wheel and keys to zoom, orbit, and pan.
• ⏯️ Navigate in small increments to precisely hone in on specific areas of your model without overshooting.
• ⌨️ Learn and use keyboard shortcuts from the beginning to increase efficiency and reinforce tool functions.
• 🔍 Experiment with creating and editing geometry to understand the foundational tools and concepts of 3D modeling in Blender.
• 🛠️ Understand the underlying geometry of 3D models, which are made up of vertices, edges, and faces forming a mesh.
• 🔄 Master the selection and manipulation of vertices, edges, and faces in Edit Mode to alter the geometry of your 3D models.
• 📐 Practice creating 'bad' 3D models to reinforce learning and build confidence with Blender's tools and keyboard shortcuts.
• 📚 Take notes on challenges and questions that arise during practice to guide your future learning and improvement.

Q & A

What are the seven key things one needs to know to get started using Blender the right way?

The seven key things are: 1) Start with a learning map, 2) Simplify the user interface, 3) Use the right mouse, 4) Practice navigating the right way, 5) Use keyboard shortcuts, 6) Experiment with creating and editing geometry, and 7) Create bad 3D models without help.

Why is creating a learning map a recommended first step when starting with Blender?

A learning map helps to outline your end goal and the key steps or concepts needed to achieve it, allowing you to focus on only the skills necessary for your specific goal and avoid unnecessary tutorials.

How can simplifying the Blender user interface help beginners?

Simplifying the user interface reduces distractions and allows beginners to focus on learning the fundamentals of 3D modeling without getting overwhelmed by advanced tools and options.

What type of mouse is recommended for optimal use with Blender?

A three-button scroll wheel mouse is recommended because it allows for efficient navigation and tool usage within Blender.

Why is it important to practice navigating in Blender?

Navigating well is crucial because most of the time in Blender is spent moving to better views to accomplish tasks; mastering navigation saves time and increases efficiency.

How can keyboard shortcuts benefit a user when working with Blender?

Keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up the workflow by providing quick access to tools, actions, and menu options, thus reducing the need to navigate through the user interface panels and menus.

What are the basic tools for working with 3D models in Blender that beginners should focus on?

The basic tools are Select, Move, Rotate, and Scale, which form the foundation for learning to work with 3D models in Blender.

What is the underlying geometry in Blender composed of?

The underlying geometry in Blender is composed of vertices, edges, and faces, which together form a mesh that constitutes an object in Blender.

How can one add new mesh objects in Blender?

To add new mesh objects, one can press Shift and A to bring up the add menu, then select a mesh type from the dropdown to place it at the 3D cursor's location.

Why is it advised to create 'bad' 3D models when starting out with Blender?

Creating 'bad' 3D models is a way of practicing and experimenting with the tools and concepts learned. It allows beginners to understand the tools better and build confidence before moving on to more complex models.

What is the importance of taking notes and adding challenges or questions to your learning map?

Taking notes helps to identify areas of difficulty or interest, which can then be added to the learning map for focused improvement. This process aids in structured learning and ensures that learners address their weaknesses effectively.

What does the speaker suggest for those who are serious about learning Blender and want to avoid wasting time or picking up bad habits?

The speaker suggests checking out a comprehensive video course they are building, which incorporates lessons learned from years of in-person teaching, and subscribing to their channel for upcoming videos that will help avoid common struggles faced by beginners in Blender.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Learning Blender Effectively

Alex Oliver introduces the audience to seven key tips for starting with Blender, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach to learning. He shares his experience in teaching 3D modeling and proposes creating a learning map as the first step, inspired by Scott Young's 'Ultralearning.' The map involves outlining the end goal and the necessary steps or concepts to achieve it. Oliver also suggests focusing on the essential skills for the specific goal and avoiding unnecessary tutorials. He recommends Young's book for a deeper understanding and offers help in creating a customized map for individual needs.

05:02

🎨 Simplifying the Blender User Interface for Beginners

The video continues with a focus on simplifying the Blender user interface to ease the learning process. It advises starting with the Layout Workspace tab to grasp the fundamentals of 3D modeling. The audience is guided to ignore certain interface elements initially, such as the main menu, workspace tabs, outliner, properties editor, and timeline editor, to concentrate on the 3D viewport and the default cube. The importance of using a three-button scroll wheel mouse for efficient interaction with Blender is highlighted, with an alternative for those who prefer using a trackpad.

10:04

🖱️ Mastering Navigation and Utilizing Keyboard Shortcuts

The third part of the script deals with mastering navigation in Blender, which is crucial for efficient modeling. It covers the use of the mouse wheel for zooming and the center mouse wheel click for orbiting the view. Additionally, the Shift key combined with the mouse wheel allows for panning. The presenter also introduces keyboard shortcuts, which are vital for speeding up the workflow in Blender. Despite the initial learning curve, the investment in learning these shortcuts is encouraged for long-term efficiency. A free set of notes including a cheat sheet of common shortcuts is offered to assist the learning process.

15:04

⛏️ Experimenting with Geometry and Creating 3D Models

The script's fourth paragraph delves into experimenting with Blender's key tools for creating and editing geometry. It advises beginners to understand and practice with the basic tools—select, move, rotate, and scale—before attempting to build specific models. The importance of comfort with these tools for future learning is emphasized. The process of selecting and manipulating vertices, edges, and faces in Edit Mode is explained, along with the use of keyboard shortcuts for selection modes. The video concludes with a prompt to practice creating basic shapes and to document any challenges or questions encountered, reinforcing the value of active learning over passive tutorial following.

🚀 Embracing the Learning Journey with Blender

The final paragraph encourages learners to embrace the process of creating imperfect 3D models as part of their journey to master Blender. It covers how to add and delete mesh objects and stresses the importance of continuous experimentation and practice. The video course offered by the presenter is highlighted as a resource for those serious about learning Blender efficiently. The script ends with an invitation to subscribe to the channel for more learning resources and a motivational farewell.

Keywords

💡Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation. In the context of the video, it is the primary tool being discussed for creating 3D models, animations, and renderings. The entire narrative is centered around how to effectively learn and use Blender for various 3D modeling tasks.

💡3D Modeling

3D modeling refers to the process of creating a three-dimensional representation of any object, like a 3D model of a character or a building, using specialized software like Blender. It is a fundamental concept in the video, as the host, Alex Oliver, is an expert in teaching 3D modeling and shares tips on how to start learning it with Blender, emphasizing the importance of understanding the basics before venturing into complex projects.

💡Learning Map

A learning map is a strategic plan that outlines the end goal and the key steps or concepts needed to achieve it. In the video, it is recommended as a crucial first step for learners to avoid getting overwhelmed or lost. The host mentions that mapping out one's learning journey with Blender can help focus on relevant skills and avoid unnecessary tutorials, as illustrated by the advice to write down the end goal and the steps needed to reach it.

💡User Interface

The user interface (UI) refers to the space where interactions between users and a digital device occur. In the context of Blender, the UI consists of menus, panels, tools, and editors that can be overwhelming for beginners. The video suggests simplifying the UI to focus on the essentials, such as starting with the Layout Workspace tab, which is crucial for learning the fundamentals of working with 3D models.

💡Three-Button Scroll Wheel Mouse

A three-button scroll wheel mouse is a type of computer mouse that has left and right buttons, plus a center wheel that can scroll and click. It is emphasized in the video as the preferred input device for using Blender efficiently. The host explains that this type of mouse, even a simple one, can significantly speed up tasks and is superior to using a trackpad or a drawing tablet without it.

💡Navigation Tools

Navigation tools in Blender refer to the methods used to move around the 3D workspace, such as zooming, panning, and orbiting the view. The video stresses the importance of mastering these tools for efficient work in 3D space. It provides specific techniques, such as using the mouse wheel to zoom and the center mouse wheel click combined with mouse movement to orbit around the model.

💡Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys on a computer keyboard that command the computer to perform certain actions more quickly than using the mouse. The video highlights the importance of learning and using Blender's keyboard shortcuts to save time and improve efficiency. It mentions that nearly every tool and function in Blender has a corresponding shortcut, and practicing these from the beginning is beneficial for new users.

💡Geometry

In 3D modeling, geometry refers to the vertices, edges, and faces that make up the shape of a 3D object or mesh. The video instructs beginners to experiment with creating and editing geometry to understand the foundational aspects of 3D modeling in Blender. It explains that proficiency with basic geometry tools like select, move, rotate, and scale is essential for more advanced modeling.

💡Edit Mode

Edit Mode in Blender is a mode that allows users to manipulate the underlying vertices, edges, and faces of a mesh object independently. The video demonstrates how to toggle into Edit Mode using the Tab key and how to use this mode to select and modify individual components of the geometry, which is a critical skill for detailed 3D modeling work.

💡Mesh

A mesh in 3D modeling is a collection of vertices, edges, and faces that define the shape of an object. The video explains that all geometry in Blender is made up of these elements and that understanding how they work together is fundamental to creating and editing 3D models. The default cube in Blender, for instance, is a mesh consisting of six faces.

💡Practice

Practice, as discussed in the video, is the act of repeatedly performing some actions to improve skills through experience. It is a key theme as the host encourages beginners to create 'bad' 3D models as a form of practice. The idea is that through continuous experimentation and making mistakes, learners will gain a deeper understanding and become more proficient with Blender.

Highlights

Start with a learning map to outline your end goal and key steps for learning Blender.

Simplify the user interface by focusing on the Layout Workspace tab for fundamental 3D modeling skills.

Use a three-button scroll wheel mouse for optimal Blender navigation and interaction.

Master Blender navigation by practicing zoom, pan, and orbit techniques with the mouse wheel and keys.

Navigate in small increments to avoid overshooting targets and wasting time.

Learn and practice keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow in Blender.

Experiment with creating and editing geometry to understand the foundational tools and concepts.

Understand the underlying geometry of 3D models, including vertices, edges, and faces.

Switch between Vertex, Edge, and Face Selection Modes to manipulate different aspects of your 3D model.

Use selection techniques like Shift-click and drag-box to efficiently select multiple geometry elements.

Create and manipulate mesh objects by adding them from the add menu and using the default cube as a reference.

Delete unnecessary mesh objects using the Shift + X keyboard shortcut.

Embrace creating 'bad' 3D models as a part of the learning process to build proficiency.

Take notes on challenges and questions to guide your ongoing learning and improvement.

Continue experimenting and practicing with Blender to reinforce the core principles and skills.

Consider comprehensive video courses for structured learning and to avoid developing bad habits.

Subscribe to the channel for upcoming tutorials to help avoid common struggles faced by Blender beginners.

Transcripts

- Hey, guys.

Today I'm gonna show you

the seven key things you need to know

to get started using Blender the right way.

You already know Blender's an amazing tool

for creating everything from conceptual 3D models

to polished renderings and animations,

but it's also a difficult program

to learn and master on your own.

And if you're like most of the self-taught students I know,

trying to navigate your way

through the ocean of Blender tutorials out there

is overwhelming.

And following the wrong advice

can leave you drifting aimlessly or get you completely lost.

I'm Alex Oliver.

And over the past decade,

I've taught thousands of students and professionals like you

the fundamentals of 3D modeling.

And now, I'm gonna share these crucial tips

for getting started on the right course with you.

So what are the seven critical tips you need to know

before getting started with Blender?

Let's dive into the list with number one,

start with a map.

The journey of learning Blender can be rough,

and at times, totally daunting.

That's why,

as I cover in our "Welcome to Blender Academy" video,

I always recommend this simple yet crucial first step.

Before you dive in, make yourself a learning map.

This idea comes from learning expert Scott Young

in his book "Ultralearning."

And all it takes is writing down your end goal

and the key steps you'll need to take

or concepts you'll need to learn in order to get there.

If you haven't watched that video yet, go check it out.

It outlines how you can learn smarter

when it comes to Blender,

not just more efficiently, but also more effectively.

Now, whether you're mapping out a specific project goal

or it's a broader aim,

like being proficient in a particular Blender skillset,

like, say, character animation,

drawing a map will help you focus

on only the skills you need to learn to achieve your goal

and avoid unnecessary tutorials or pieces of tutorials

that won't help you achieve that goal.

Of course, being new to Blender,

at this point, you might feel like

you couldn't possibly know

what all the steps are you even need to take,

and that's okay.

In "Ultralearning," Young provides a guide

for writing down why you're learning

and how to identify what concepts, facts,

and procedures to focus on.

Before you know everything

about the skill you're trying to learn,

I definitely recommend you check out his book.

Or if you don't have time, send me a message,

and I'd be happy to help you create a customized map

for your particular situation.

All right, once you've got your map in hand,

now you're ready to start learning Blender.

And if you're like most of my students,

your first intuition is to jump in

and start drawing something,

but before you do, there are a few more key things

that you should know that will make your life much easier.

Starting with number two, simplify the user interface.

When you open Blender for the first time,

the sea of windows, panels, tools, and menus

that make up the user interface is downright overwhelming.

And as you set off to learn the fundamentals,

all these panels and tools are not only distracting,

but they can also slow you down.

That's why I recommend simplifying the user interface

so that you can be laser-focused

on getting comfortable with the basics first.

To do that, let's take a look

at what makes up the Blender user interface.

On the top left,

there are the five main Blender menu options

and then several workspace tabs to the right.

Each Workspace tab changes Blender's user interface

to support a different category of functionality

by rearranging what tools, editors, and menus are visible.

When you're new to Blender,

no matter what you'll be using it for down the road,

I recommend you start with the Layout Workspace tab.

In the Layout Workspace,

you'll learn the key fundamentals of working with 3D models

that will serve as the foundation you'll need

to move forward with whatever else

you plan to use Blender for in the future.

With the Layout Workspace tab selected,

this is now what your default user interface

should look like.

We'll cover more about what some of these menus

and tool icons are as we move through the video,

but first, let's talk about everything you should ignore

when you're first getting started.

First, we don't need to worry about anything across the top,

including the main menu, workspace tabs,

and everything else to the right.

We also don't need to worry

about the outliner and properties editor panels on the right

or the timeline editor at the bottom.

That leaves us with just the main 3D viewport editor.

Now, even within the 3D viewport,

you can mostly ignore the menus and icons across the top.

We'll talk about one or two of these things later,

but for now, you don't need to worry about them.

And while we will take a brief look at the tool icons

to the left and the right,

you won't need to click on them,

and you can even ignore these two things in the viewport:

the camera and the light.

They aren't relevant yet either.

That's right.

All you need to care about right now

is the three-dimensional space in the 3D viewport

and the default cube in it.

Okay, now that we've narrowed down what we're looking at,

you're ready for the next critical tip.

Number three, use the right mouse.

When you're new to Blender,

you might be tempted to see if you can get away

with using only the trackpad on your laptop.

Here's the problem.

Just like in the real world,

there are tools that you can use to get the job done,

but also tools that can get the job done much faster.

And with Blender,

there are a few critical things

that will save you a ton of time and frustration

when you use the right kind of mouse.

What kind of mouse?

Well, Blender works best

with a three-button scroll wheel mouse.

That means a mouse that has both left and right buttons

plus a center scroll wheel

that can be rolled and clicked on,

and it doesn't have to be fancy.

Often, the simplest three-button scroll wheel mouse

works the best.

Now, depending on the type of art

you'll be producing with Blender,

a drawing tablet can be an amazing tool to add to the mix,

but it should be used

with your three-button scroll wheel mouse,

not instead of it.

And if you absolutely must stick with the trackpad,

know that there is a setting in Blender that you can use

to emulate a three-button scroll wheel mouse,

but you're still making life harder than it needs to be.

Okay, you've got the right kind of mouse

and you're ready to start using Blender.

That leads us to the next thing on our list.

Number four, practice navigating the right way.

Most of your time in Blender

is actually spent navigating to a better view

to accomplish the next thing you're trying to do.

So being able to navigate well

is one of the most important things

you can invest time into learning and practicing.

By navigate, I mean using Blender's navigation tools

to zoom, pan, and orbit around in 3D space.

Before we talk about how to do that,

let's cover a few basics.

First, your 3D space is defined

by red and green axes stretching across a grid

that serves as the ground plane.

And then you can think of it

like there's an invisible blue axis

that would extend up and down

to define the 3D space above and below the grid.

Now, when it comes to navigating around this space,

while there are icons for the zoom, pan, and orbit tools,

you shouldn't use them.

That's right.

You don't need to use them

because you can access these tools

directly from your three-button scroll wheel mouse.

With a little practice,

this will save you a ton of time in Blender.

(people cheering)

So how does it work?

By rolling your mouse wheel forward and backward,

you can zoom in and out of your model.

If you press down on your center mouse wheel like a button

and move your mouse around,

you will see that you're now orbiting your view

around your model.

And if you need to pan over to get a better view,

while pressing the Shift key on your keyboard,

also press and hold down the center mouse wheel,

then move your mouse to pan your view.

When you're done, let go of the Shift key

and center mouse wheel to stop panning.

Now, hold on.

Before you go off and practice these moves,

I've got one quick bonus tip

that will help you navigate like a pro.

Navigate in small increments.

Often, when you're trying to hone in

on a specific area of your model,

if you try to make too big of a zoom or orbit in one swoop,

you'll overshoot where you're trying to go

and end up wasting a bunch of time orienting yourself

just to get back to where you started.

To avoid this, practice navigating in small increments

to get where you want to go.

Let's try it.

Click your center mouse wheel in the center of the screen

and orbit just a little.

Then, let go,

move your mouse back to the center of the screen,

and repeat,

and repeat again, and again, and again,

and repeat it as many times as it takes

to get where you're trying to go.

It feels a little clunky at first,

but once you have it down,

you can gradually begin to speed up the process.

And before you know it, you'll be just like the experts

who are constantly making hundreds of tiny zooms,

tiny orbits, and tiny pans

to zero in on what they need to see better.

Being able to get where you need to go in the model

makes using Blender so much easier.

Speaking of making Blender easier,

that leads me to the next thing on our list.

Number five, use keyboard shortcuts.

Nearly every tool, action, and menu option in Blender

has a corresponding keyboard shortcut.

All told, there are over 200,

with some of them being made up of multiple keys

that have to be pressed together.

To a beginner,

this might seem more daunting than trying to learn piano,

which is why it's tempting to think it might be simpler

to skip learning the shortcuts

when you're first just trying to learn the basic tools

and functions in Blender.

I get it, trying to memorize each keyboard shortcut

as you practice using the corresponding tool or function

can slow you down a bit in the short-term.

But taking the extra time now

to try to practice the keyboard shortcuts from the get-go

means that every time you use a tool or a function,

you'll be reinforcing the shortcut.

And before you know it,

the tool will be wired together in your brain.

And as anyone that has used Blender

for even just a couple of months can tell you,

this will save you a ton of time

versus having to click your way

through the various user interface panels

and menus to get the tools and commands you need.

So take the time to practice using keyboard shortcuts

from the start,

your future self will definitely thank you.

(upbeat piano music)

Thanks, past me.

All right.

I know this is a lot to keep in mind

when you're just getting started.

So I've actually gone ahead

and put together a free set of notes

that will make it easy for you

to review everything we're covering today,

including a cheat sheet

of the most common keyboard shortcuts you'll want to know.

I've added a link to download them in the description.

Okay, you're finally ready to start creating

your first 3D models in Blender.

(people cheering)

That takes us to the next thing on our list.

Number six, experiment with creating and editing geometry.

Nearly every beginner Blender tutorial out there

gives you steps to follow to build something specific.

But here's the problem.

Before you try to create something specific,

the best thing you can do

is actually give yourself a chance to experiment

with the key tools and concepts first.

That way, you'll be teaching yourself

how the tools actually work,

not just how they work in the context of a specific step

towards a specific outcome.

There are a few key tools,

select, move, rotate, and scale,

that will serve as the foundation

for learning to work with 3D models in Blender.

And making sure you're comfortable with how they work now

will pay huge dividends down the road.

Plus, becoming proficient with these tools

will also build skills and understanding that will transfer

to the next tools and functions you learn in Blender.

To get started with these tools,

let's open a new file

and make sure the Layout Workspace tab is selected.

On the left of the 3D viewport is your toolbar.

And as I mentioned, we're gonna primarily focus

on select, move, rotate, and scale.

In a new Blender file,

you'll see a default cube in the middle of the 3D viewport.

You'll notice it has an orange outline

showing us that it's already selected.

Now, we can use the move, rotate,

and/or scale tools to transform it.

Press the G key on your keyboard.

G is the shortcut for the Move tool,

and you can think of it as G is for grab.

Now that you've hit G, when you move your cursor,

you'll see you're moving the cube.

You can click anywhere to set it down.

Know that you can be very precise

about where you move the cube in 3D space,

but we're not gonna worry about that just yet.

Next, with the cube still selected,

press the S key on your keyboard and move your cursor.

S is the shortcut for the Scale tool.

Click anywhere to stop scaling the cube.

Finally, press the R key on your keyboard.

R is the shortcut for the Rotate tool.

Move your cursor to begin rotating the cube,

then click anywhere to stop rotating it.

Okay, knowing how to move, rotate,

and scale the whole object is nice,

but when it comes to creating 3D models

of recognizable things,

you'll need to understand how to work

with the underlying geometry.

What do I mean by underlying geometry?

The first thing to know is that in Blender,

all of your geometry

is made up of vertices, edges, and faces.

Two vertices can define an edge

and multiple edges can define a face.

When you have one or more connected faces,

that's what's called a mesh.

And meshes are one type

of what's called an object and Blender.

So for instance, that default cube

is actually a mesh made up of six faces.

And when we move, rotate, and scale it,

we're transforming all of the underlying vertices, edges,

and faces together.

To get a clearer picture

of how these underlying geometric pieces work together,

let's press the Tab key on our keyboard

to toggle from Object Mode to Edit Mode.

In Edit Mode, we have the ability to move, rotate,

and scale vertices, edges, or faces independently.

Let's try it.

With the Select tool active,

click once away from from the cube to deselect it.

Then, hover over a corner vertex

and click on it to select it.

Press the G key on your keyboard and move your mouse,

and you're moving only that vertex.

You can click again to set it down.

Note that because a vertex is a single point,

it can't be rotated or scaled,

so there's no need to try those tools here.

Now, here's where some people get tripped up.

In order to move, rotate, or scale an edge or a face,

you'll have to select that edge or face.

But when you switch to Edit Mode,

the Select tool will default

to what's called Vertex Selection Mode.

To switch to Edge Selection Mode,

press 2 on your keyboard,

then click on an edge and it will select.

To switch to a Face Selection Mode,

press 3 on your keyboard,

then click on a face to select it,

and you can switch back to Vertex Selection Mode

by pressing 1 on your keyboard.

Take a moment to experiment with this.

Press 2 on your keyboard, click an edge to select it,

then press R to switch to the Rotate tool,

move your cursor, and then click to end the rotation.

Then, press 3 on your keyboard,

click a face to select it,

press S to switch to the Scale tool, move your cursor,

then click to stop scaling it.

Now, let me interrupt your experimentation

with one more tip.

With the Select tool, you have two options

for selecting more than one vertex, edge, or face.

Option one, hold down the Shift key

while clicking on each vertex, edge, or face

to add it to the selection set.

And if you add one thing too many,

keep the Shift key held down

and click on it again to deselect it.

Note that this respects

whether you're in Vertex, Edge, or Face Selection Mode.

Option two, you can click and drag a selection area

around the vertices, edges, or faces

that you want to select.

Once again, this will respect

whether you're in Vertex, Edge, or Face Selection Mode.

Also note, it will only select the vertices, edges,

or faces that you can see,

but the ones on the other side of the cube

won't be selected.

If you want everything within the selection window

to be selected, even the stuff you can't see,

you need to switch to Wire Frame View

before making your selection.

Alright, now you know the basics

of editing underlying geometry.

If you have any questions or need any help,

reach out to us in the comments.

Oh, and one more thing.

Don't forget to give this video a like.

All right, that brings us to our final tip.

Number seven, create bad 3D models without help.

At this point, you know the basics,

and now it's time to practice

the fundamentals you've learned:

navigating well, using keyboard shortcuts,

and experimenting with editing basic geometry.

And the best way to do that is to just start building.

But before you can do that,

there's one more feature in Blender

you'll wanna be familiar with:

adding new mesh objects.

To add new mesh objects,

if you're still in Edit Mode,

press the Tab key on your keyboard

to toggle back to Object Mode,

then press Shift and A.

This is the keyboard shortcut to bring up the add menu,

where you'll see a bunch of objects

you can add to your model.

At this point, we're only gonna worry

about the mesh dropdown.

Under Mesh, pick a mesh type to place it at the 3D cursor,

which defaults to the origin of the red and green axes.

You can then press G

and move your cursor and click to set it down somewhere else

and follow the previous steps we've gone over

to move, rotate, and scale the entire object

or switch to Edit Mode to edit its underlying geometry.

And if you need to delete anything,

in Object Mode, with the Select tool,

click once on the mesh to select it,

then press Shift and X, then press Enter to delete it.

All right, now you're ready

to use these basic tools and concepts

to try to create 3D models

of more recognizable shapes on your own.

At this point in your Blender learning journey,

they'll be bad, and that's okay.

The important thing is to continue experimenting

and practicing until you feel more and more comfortable

with how the tools work

and the keyboard shortcuts to get you there.

Also, be sure to take notes

on anything frustrating you run into

or questions that arise,

and add those things to your learning map

for the next things to work on.

Even though you're only creating rudimentary shapes

at this point,

know that you're actually much further along the journey

to mastering Blender

than if you just followed along passively

with one of the many tutorials out there

on creating a more finished-looking product.

That's because you're actually doing the hard work

of learning and practicing the core principles

and foundational skills you'll need

in order to succeed in Blender.

So, what's next?

From here, it's definitely possible

to learn Blender on your own.

But if you're serious about learning Blender

and can't afford to waste time or pick up bad habits,

we're building a comprehensive video course

that incorporates all the lessons we've learned

from teaching in person over the years.

Head over to our website now to learn more.

Then, be sure to subscribe to our channel

so you don't miss our upcoming videos

to help you avoid the most common things

that often cause people to struggle

when they're first getting started in Blender.

Until next time, happy blending!

(upbeat piano music)

And it doesn't have to be fancy.

Thanks.