Beginner Blender 4.0 Tutorial - Part 3: Modelling the Icing

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of modeling icing for a donut using Blender 4.0. This guide is designed for beginners and will cover duplicating objects, modifying meshes, and creating realistic icing effects. By the end, you'll have a visually appealing donut with icing that looks deliciously realistic.

Chapter 1: Duplicating an Object

To start creating the icing, we need to duplicate the donut object:

1. Select the donut in the 3D viewport.
2. Press Shift + A to add a new mesh or Shift + D to duplicate the existing donut.
3. Once duplicated, you will be in placement mode. Cancel the movement by pressing Escape or right-clicking. This keeps the duplicate in the same position as the original.
4. Rename the duplicated object:
   • Option 1: Double-click the object in the Outliner and type a new name.
   • Option 2: With the object selected, press F2 to rename it quickly.

Chapter 2: Entering Edit Mode and Deleting Unnecessary Mesh

Now that we have our duplicated object for icing, we need to modify it:

1. Select the icing object and press Tab to enter Edit Mode.
2. Enable X-ray mode from the top navigation to select through the mesh.
3. Use Box Select (B) to select the bottom half of the icing mesh.
4. Press Delete and choose Vertices to remove the selected half.
5. Exit Edit Mode by pressing Tab again.

Chapter 3: Adding Thickness with the Solidify Modifier

Next, we will add thickness to the icing:

1. With the icing object selected, go to the Modifiers panel.
2. Click Add Modifier and select Solidify.
3. Adjust the Offset to 1 to ensure the thickness is applied outward from the mesh.
4. Set the Thickness to 0.25 or your desired value for realistic icing thickness.

Chapter 4: Hiding the Modifier in Edit Mode

To edit the icing shape without obstruction:

1. In the Modifiers panel, uncheck the eye icon next to the Solidify modifier to hide it in Edit Mode, allowing better visibility of the mesh.

Chapter 5: Using Proportional Editing

Let’s create a wavy edge for the icing:

1. Enter Edit Mode (Tab) and select the top edge of the icing.
2. Enable Proportional Editing by pressing O.
3. Use the G key to grab and move selected vertices down, creating a wavy effect.
4. Adjust the Proportional Editing influence using the mouse wheel for more control over the surrounding vertices.

Chapter 6: Snapping Vertices to the Donut

To ensure the icing conforms to the donut shape:

1. Enable snapping by clicking the magnet icon in the top toolbar and select Face.
2. Move the vertices down while holding G to snap them to the donut surface.
3. For additional control, switch to Face Project for snapping settings.

Chapter 7: Applying the Subdivision Surface Modifier

To enhance the icing's appearance:

1. Go to the Modifiers panel and add a Subdivision Surface modifier.
2. Make sure this modifier is below the Solidify modifier in the stack for proper layering.

Chapter 8: Rounding the Edges

To create a realistic rounded edge on the icing:

1. Select the Subdivision Surface modifier and adjust the Levels for viewport and render to 2 or higher.
2. Adjust the Solidify modifier's creasing settings to create a sharper inner edge for realism.

Chapter 9: Creating Drips for Realism

To add realistic drips of icing:

1. Select the vertices on the edge of the icing where you want drips.
2. Use E to extrude and pull down the vertices to create the drip effect.
3. Repeat for multiple points around the icing, focusing on areas where icing would naturally drip.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we've covered the essential steps to model realistic icing for a donut in Blender 4.0, including duplicating objects, adding thickness, and creating wavy edges and drips. Feel free to experiment with different thicknesses and shapes to personalize your icing. For further learning, consider exploring lighting and texturing techniques to enhance your final render. Happy blending!