Blender Skull - Part 1 - Main Head Shape | Basic Modeling Course (No Sculpt!)

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic 3D human skull using Blender without the need for sculpting. This step-by-step guide utilizes basic polygon modeling techniques and two reference images to achieve a detailed and realistic outcome. This course is beginner-friendly, although some familiarity with Blender is recommended.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Workspace

• Open Blender and create a new project.
• Delete the default cube by selecting it and pressing X, then confirm deletion.
• Import Reference Images:
  • Go to the Add menu (Shift + A) and select Image > Reference.
  • Locate and select your reference images of the skull.
  • Position the images correctly in the 3D space for easy access.

Step 2: Creating the Base Head Shape

• Add a UV Sphere:
  • Press Shift + A and select Mesh > UV Sphere.
  • Adjust the segments and ring counts to 32 for a smoother shape.
• Scale the Sphere:
  • Press S to scale and modify the sphere to resemble a basic head shape.
  • Use the reference images to align the sphere correctly with the skull’s proportions.

Step 3: Modifying the Mesh for Skull Features

• Enter Edit Mode:
  • Press Tab to switch to Edit Mode.
• Select and Move Vertices:
  • Use the Select tool to select specific vertices.
  • Press G to grab and move vertices to define the eye sockets, nose cavity, and jawline.
• Add Edge Loops:
  • Create edge loops by pressing Ctrl + R and scrolling to adjust the number of loops.
  • Click to place the loop and then move it to refine the shape of the skull.

Step 4: Shaping the Jaw and Cheekbones

• Select the Lower Half of the Skull:
  • Box select (press B) or use the lasso tool (press C) to select jaw vertices.
• Extrude the Jaw:
  • Press E to extrude and pull the jaw downwards.
  • Adjust the vertices to form the chin and jawline.
• Modify Cheekbone Area:
  • Select vertex groups around the cheekbones and manipulate them to achieve a realistic curvature.

Step 5: Refining the Skull Shape

• Use Proportional Editing:
  • Toggle Proportional Editing by pressing O.
  • Select vertices and adjust them while rolling the mouse wheel to control the influence radius.
• Adjust for Symmetry:
  • Use the mirror modifier to ensure both sides of the skull are symmetrical.
  • Apply the modifier once you are satisfied with the shape.

Step 6: Adding Details

• Create Eye Sockets:
  • Select the vertices where the eye sockets will be and inset (I) to create the indentation.
• Define the Nose Cavity:
  • Select the appropriate vertices and extrude downwards to form the nasal area.
• Add Texture Coordinates:
  • Prepare the model for texturing by marking seams where necessary for UV mapping.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have created a basic model of a human skull using Blender's polygon modeling techniques. Make sure to save your work frequently. In the next part of this series, you will learn how to add textures to bring your model to life. Keep practicing these techniques, as they are foundational for more advanced modeling tasks in Blender. If you're eager to continue, check out the next video in the series!