Blender 4 for Absolute Beginners : A Comprehensive Guide from Scratch

Introduction

This tutorial is a comprehensive guide for absolute beginners to learn Blender 4 by following a step-by-step approach. You'll learn the basics of the Blender interface, how to add and manipulate objects, apply textures, and set up rendering. By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with foundational skills to create your own 3D scenes.

Chapter 1: The Interface

1. Download Blender

   • Visit blender.org and download the latest version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
   • Open Blender; you will see a splash screen displaying the version and recent files.

2. Navigating the Viewport

   • Use a three-button mouse for better navigation:
     • Rotate: Hold the middle mouse button.
     • Strafe: Hold Shift + middle mouse button.
     • Zoom: Use the mouse wheel or hold Control + middle mouse button.
   • For those without a three-button mouse, enable "Emulate 3 Button Mouse" in Edit > Preferences > Input.

3. Viewport Controls

   • Frame selected object: Press the numpad period (.) key.
   • Change view: Use numpad keys (1 for front view, 3 for side view, 7 for top view).
   • Switch between perspective and orthographic view: Use the view menu or toggle in the viewport.

Chapter 2: Adding Objects

1. Hiding Unwanted Objects

   • In the Outliner, click the eye icon next to the light and camera to hide them from the viewport.

2. Adding Objects

   • To add objects, go to the Add menu or press Shift + A.
   • Select "Mesh" and choose objects like:
     • Plane
     • Circle
   • The object is added at the location of the 3D cursor (use Shift + Right Click to move the cursor).

3. Moving Objects

   • Select an object and press G to move.
   • Constrain movement to an axis by pressing X, Y, or Z.
   • To undo movements, press Ctrl + Z.

4. Resetting Object Positions

   • Use Alt + G to clear movement and return an object to its original location.
   • Alternatively, adjust object positions manually in the side panel (N).

5. Challenge

   • Add various mesh objects (like UV Sphere, Icosphere, Cylinder, Cone, etc.) spaced 5 meters apart along the X-axis.

Chapter 3: Move, Rotate, and Scale

1. Basic Manipulation

   • Move: Press G.
   • Rotate: Press R.
   • Scale: Press S.

2. Using Numeric Input

   • For precise movement, type a number after pressing an axis key (e.g., G then X then 5).
   • Use the N panel for exact positioning.

3. Placing Objects

   • Ensure objects are positioned above the floor (Y-axis) and rotated correctly before final placement.

Chapter 4: Texturing

1. Switch to Shading Workspace

   • At the top of Blender, switch to the Shading workspace for material editing.

2. Creating Materials

   • Select an object and create a new material in the Shader Editor.
   • Adjust base color using the color wheel and rename the material (e.g., "Red" for the cube).

3. Applying Materials

   • Select other objects and either apply the same material or create new ones.
   • Remember, changing the material affects all objects using that material.

4. Experimentation

   • Change roughness and metallic properties to see how they affect the material's appearance.

Chapter 5: Render Settings

1. Understanding Viewport Modes

   • Solid Mode: Basic view without materials.
   • Material Preview Mode: Shows materials without scene lighting.
   • Rendered View: Shows the final rendered image.

2. Setting Up Lights

   • Ensure lights are visible and adjust their settings to see their effects in the rendered view.

3. Adding HDRI Background

   • In the Shader Editor, switch to World to add an HDRI image for realistic lighting.
   • Download HDRIs from sources like Poly Haven.

4. Render Settings

   • Choose between Eevee (fast rendering) and Cycles (realistic rendering).
   • Adjust sampling and enable options like Ambient Occlusion for better shadowing.

Chapter 6: Building a Planet

1. Creating an Icosphere

   • Add an Icosphere (Shift + A > Mesh > Icosphere) for your planet.
   • Set subdivisions to 3 and radius to 3 meters.

2. Editing in Edit Mode

   • Switch to Edit Mode to modify the Icosphere.
   • Use vertex, edge, and face selection modes to manipulate the shape.

3. Making Craters

   • Select faces and use E to extrude outward for craters.
   • Use I to inset faces and create depth.

4. Refining Shape

   • Utilize scaling and extruding techniques to create varied crater shapes.
   • Use Alt + Left Click to select entire edge loops for more complex adjustments.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you've gained fundamental skills in Blender 4. You learned how to navigate the interface, add and manipulate objects, apply materials, and set up render settings. Continue practicing by creating more complex scenes and exploring additional features of Blender. Don't forget to save your work regularly!