【Blender】Modeling Basics - From Primitives to Complex Shapes

Overview

The foundation of 3D modeling is starting with simple shapes (primitives) and gradually building up to complex forms. This article explains the basic primitives available in Blender and fundamental techniques for combining them into complex models.

Types of Basic Primitives

In Blender, press Shift + A to add objects. Basic primitives are in the "Mesh" category.

Primitive	Features	Common Uses
Cube	6 faces, 8 vertices	Buildings, furniture, box-shaped objects
UV Sphere	Even latitude/longitude divisions	Heads, planets, round objects
Ico Sphere	Made of triangles	Sculpting base, low-poly spheres
Cylinder	Circular faces on top and bottom	Pipes, pillars, bottles
Cone	Circular base, pointed tip	Roofs, arrows, cones
Torus	Donut shape	Tires, rings, tubes
Plane	Single quadrilateral	Ground, walls, backgrounds
Circle	Edges only, no face	Holes, pipe cross-sections

Settings When Adding Primitives

Right after adding a primitive, a settings panel appears in the bottom left. You can adjust initial parameters here.

Example: Cylinder

• Vertices: Circle smoothness (8 for octagon, 32 for smooth circle)
• Depth: Cylinder height
• Radius: Cylinder thickness
• Cap Fill Type: Whether to create top/bottom faces

This settings panel disappears after your next operation. Adjust it immediately after adding the primitive.

Basic Mesh Editing Tools

These are the fundamental tools for shaping primitives into your desired form.

Extrude: E

Extrudes faces or edges to create new geometry.

1. In Edit Mode, select a face
2. Press E to extrude
3. Move mouse to adjust distance
4. Click to confirm

Loop Cut: Ctrl + R

Adds loop edges to an object.

1. In Edit Mode, press Ctrl + R
2. Move mouse over an edge (yellow loop appears)
3. Scroll wheel to adjust number of cuts
4. Click to confirm position

Inset: I

Creates a new face inside the selected face.

1. Select a face
2. Press I to inset
3. Move mouse to adjust width

Bevel: Ctrl + B

Chamfers edges to smooth corners.

1. Select an edge
2. Press Ctrl + B to bevel
3. Scroll wheel to adjust segment count

Strategies for Creating Complex Shapes

Strategy 1: Blocking

1. Create rough shapes by combining primitives
2. Adjust placement and size of each part
3. Gradually add details

Example: Creating a house

• Cube → Main body
• Transformed cube → Roof
• Cylinder → Chimney
• Plane → Door, windows

Strategy 2: Subdivision Modeling

1. Create basic shape with low polygons
2. Smooth with Subdivision Surface modifier
3. Add necessary edges with loop cuts
4. Adjust vertices to refine the shape

Strategy 3: Boolean

Combine multiple objects using union, difference, or intersection.

1. Position two objects overlapping
2. Add Boolean modifier to one
3. Union: Join both together
4. Difference: Cut out using the other
5. Intersect: Keep only the overlapping part

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Starting with Details

Always start with the overall shape and gradually add details.

Mistake 2: Too Many Triangles

Use quads (quadrilaterals) as much as possible. Subdivision works better with quads.

Mistake 3: Inconsistent Face Orientation

In Edit Mode, press Shift + N to unify normals facing outward.

Mistake 4: Duplicate Vertices

Select all with A → M → "Merge by Distance" to remove duplicates.

Efficient Workflow

1. Prepare references: Have photos or drawings of what you want to create
2. Start big: Create rough shapes with primitives
3. Use Mirror: For symmetrical objects, only model half using Mirror modifier
4. Save often: Make Ctrl + S a habit
5. Preview: Check with subdivision preview before applying

Summary

• Primitives: Start with basic shapes like cubes, spheres, cylinders
• Extrude/Loop Cut: Fundamental operations for developing shapes
• Blocking: Start with large shapes, work toward details
• Quad Priority: Aim for clean mesh topology

Start by practicing with simple objects (cups, chairs, tables) rather than jumping into complex models.