Blender

This page contains Debbie's notes on the basics of Blender: the Interface, Shortcuts, Selecting Objects, Transforming Objects, Moving Objects, Adding and Removing Objects, Adding Modifiers, Creating Diffuse/Specular materials, UV Unwrapping, Lighting, Camera Positioning, and how to render with Cycles (Blender's ray-trace based production render engine).

More elaboration on specific things:

• Blender Modifiers
• Blender Python

Interface

It is best to use Blender on a computer with a numpad and a three-button mouse, as many functions are best accessed using Shortcuts, and all 3 buttons of your mouse will be used.

Keyboard

• If you have a laptop without dedicated numpad go to Blender User Preferences > Input.
• Blender User Preferences SHORTCUT is Cmd ,

• Alternatives: If you don't like emulating the numpad in this way, there are also alternative methods of accessing those shortcuts, such as by installing scripts such as this 3D_Navigation virtual numpad emulator which will show additional button options in the Tools section.

Mouse

• If you don't have a 3 button mouse, go to Blender User Preferences > Input.
• Blender User Preferences SHORTCUT is Cmd ,

• Selecting 'emulate mouse' will mean that you can simulate the middle mouse button if you press the Alt key while using the left mouse button.
• But please get a three-button mouse.

Cursor

Snap Menu Shift-S

Views

Blender has a context-dependent interface - the View and Mode that you are in (and where your mouse is hovering) will affect what the shortcuts will do.

Modes

Shortcuts

head1	head2	head3
A	accesskey-ep-form-save	s
B	accesskey-ep-edit-institution	e

Editing Objects

Modifiers

Blender Modifiers