Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mr. Coxed and today we're gonna be going through a lesson called Complex Models and Colours.

Let's get started.

The outcome for this lesson is I can create and detail complex 3D models.

And the keywords are face, a surface made up of three or more edges.

Vertex, a point where two or more edges or lines meet.

Edge, a line connecting two vertices, and extrude, to transform a 2D shape into a 3D object by extending it along a path or direction.

There are two parts to today's lesson.

First, we'll learn how to extrude in edit mode and then we will look at how to add faces with the loop cut tool.

Let's take a look at the first part of today's lesson.

Look at the 3D model below.

Can you spot faces, vertices, and edges? Pause the video and see if you can find them.

So, a vertex is a point where two or more edges meet.

An edge is a line connecting two vertices together, and a face is a surface made up of three or more edges.

All 3D models are made of vertices, edges, and faces.

Well done if you are able to identify those on the 3D model.

Let's move on.

In Blender, it's possible to switch between different work modes.

In this lesson, most of the modelling work will be done in edit mode.

But note, it's important to switch back to object mode to move parts and add shapes to models.

It is easy to switch between work modes in Blender.

To switch between modes, select an object, click on the object interaction tab, and click on the desired mode.

In edit mode, vertices, edges, and faces can be selected by clicking on the icons at the top.

A new set of tools will appear on the left hand side of the screen.

The tools can be used to modify selected edges, vertices, and faces.

And edit mode helps models create more complex models.

Extruding is when a 2D shape is extruded along a path or direction to add 3D geometry to an object.

And the icon looks like this.

In blender, a face can be selected in edit mode and then extruded along an axis.

A space rocket can be modelled by first adding a simple cylinder in object mode.

Fins can then be added in edit mode by scaling out four edges of the cylinder.

The edge select tool must be selected.

Hold down the Shift key to select multiple edges.

And the four edges can be scaled using the S key.

A rocket body can be added by selecting the top face and extruding.

To extrude, select a face, press the E key, and then drag an axis handle.

Note that the face select tool must be activated to select a face and extrude along the axis.

A nose can be added by selecting the top face, extruding, and then scaling the face to create a point.

To scale a face, select the face, press the S key, and move the mouse.

Materials can be created for the body, nose, and fins.

It's good practise to give the materials sensible names.

This makes the materials easy to recognise and use.

In edit mode, the colour of individual or groups of faces can be selected and changed.

Tip, hold down the Shift key to select multiple faces and remember to press assign to assign the colour to those faces.

Okay, here we are at the first check for understanding in today's lesson.

And the question is, which tool would be used to transform a 2D shape into a 3D object by extending it along a path or direction? Is it a, extrude, b, render, c, loop cut, or d, bevel? Pause the video and think of your answer.

Okay, welcome back.

Let's take a look at which of those is the correct answer.

And it is of course extrude.

And here's our second question.

In blender, which mode would you use to add colour to individual faces of a model? Is it a, object mode, b, edit mode, or c, render mode? Pause the video and think of your answer.

Welcome back.

Let's take a look at the correct answer.

And it is of course edit mode.

In edit mode, we can select individual vertices, faces, and edges, and that means we can select individual faces and assign colours to them.

Don't worry if you didn't get those answers correct.

Take a look back through the previous slides and take your time and you'll get there.

Well done.

Let's move forward.

And we're onto the first task of today's lesson.

And in this task we're going to create our own 3D model of the space rocket.

The first thing to do is to add a 3D cylinder shape in object mode and then use edit mode to add fins and a nose comb.

The second thing to do is to create and add materials to the rocket to give it colour and detail.

And the third thing is to use your modelling skills to add extra details, such as boosters.

If you have extra time, you can add extra features to your model to make it even better.

Use the techniques learned in this lesson to create your space rocket, but be creative and try to make it your own.

Good luck.

I can't wait to see what you produce.

Pause the video and think of your answer.

And welcome back.

Let's take a look at some example answers for task A.

I hope you enjoyed that task and I'm really looking forward to seeing what you produced.

So, let's have a look what Jacob made.

And so he added a cylinder and object mode and created the fins by scaling out four edges in edit mode.

And he found it easy to extrude the body and the nose from the top face by pressing the E key.

And he also pressed the S key to scale the end of the cone to a point.

In part two of the task, he created two materials and added them to the rocket body and fins, and he also right clicked on the rocket in object mode and selected shade smooth to give it a more realistic appearance.

And for part three of the question, Jacob has had some extra time and so he is added three cones for boosters and scaled some spheres for the flames and smoke.

He also created a planet by scaling up a sphere to a really large size, and then he took a screenshot from the rendered view port.

He's really happy with his rocket and I can see why.

He's done a great job and he is used lots of skills and it's a really good quality model that he's produced.

I hope you've produced a good rocket and enjoyed that task.

Let's move on to the next part of the lesson.

Okay, and so we're on to the second part of the lesson, which is to add faces with loop cut.

So, look at the images below.

They're both 3D cubes, but how do the cubes differ? Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, welcome back.

Let's have a look at how these cubes differ.

So they have additional vertices, edges, and faces that have been added to the cube on the right, and we're gonna look at how we can do that in this next part of the lesson.

So the process of adding additional vertices, edges, and faces to a model is known as subdividing.

We can subdivide and subdivide and subdivide and subdivide, and each time we subdivide, we increase the number of vertices, edges, and faces.

Subdividing can allow more complex and detailed models to be created.

The loop cut tool can be used to subdivide an object.

And we'll find it under an icon that looks like this.

And note that the loop cut tool is accessed in edit mode.

The loop cut tool can be used to help create a 3D model of a chair.

A cube can be scaled to form the base of the chair.

You can use the scale tool by clicking on the scale icon or by pressing the S key.

And the base can be subdivided into sections using the loop cut tool.

And don't forget, you can select the loop tool by clicking on this icon or by pressing Control and R together.

The legs can be created by selecting and extruding four faces on the base.

And here's a tip, you can select the extrude tool by clicking on the icon or remember by pressing the E key.

Use whichever method you find most convenient.

The back post of the chair can be created by extruding two faces together.

Remember, you can hold down Shift to select multiple faces.

This saves you having to do it twice and you can be sure to get the same height for the posts.

Loop cuts can be added to the back posts and the extra faces can be used to make the back support.

Faces can be deleted and new faces can be created between edges.

Faces can be added between two selected edges by pressing the F key.

This is a great tip and it will add a face to your selected edges.

And here's a check for understanding on the second part of this lesson.

Which icon would you click on to select the loop cut tool? A, b, or c? Pause the video and see if you can remember which one is used to select the loop cut tool.

Okay, let's take a look at which one is correct, and it is of course a.

A is the tool used to select the loop cut tool, b is extrude, and c is scale.

Well done if you remember the other ones too.

If you didn't, don't worry.

You can always go back and look through the previous content.

And the next question.

Which key would you press to create a face between two edges? Is it a, the X key, b, R, or c, the F key? Pause the video and think of which one you'd choose.

Welcome back.

Let's take a look at the correct answer, and the key we would press to create a face between two edges is the F key.

So F for face.

Well done if you got that right.

And don't worry if you didn't.

It can take a little bit of time to get use to some of the shortcut keys we can press.

Let's move on.

And we're on to the final task of today's lesson.

And we're gonna create our own 3D model of a chair.

The first part of the task is to start your model from a simple cube and then use edit mode to add legs and the back rest.

And the second part is to create and add materials to the chair to improve the quality of your model.

And a tip is to use the techniques learned in this lesson to create your chair, but be creative and make it your own.

Don't be afraid to experiment and to try out new ideas.

Good luck with the task and I can't wait to see what you model in Blender.

Pause the video and have a go.

Welcome back.

I hope you enjoyed that activity and you've got a really good chair.

Let's have a look at some examples and see how Aisha created her chair.

So Aisha scaled a cube and then she used the loop cut tool to subdivide the surface into sections.

She then extruded the legs and the back rest from faces and added some extra back supports by deleting faces and then added new ones between the edges.

For part two of the question, she created a medium brown that she added to the chair and took a screenshot of the final chair in rendered view.

And she's really proud of her 3D model.

And I think her model looks great and I like the colours that she's chosen.

It's a nice, simple chair, but really well-modeled.

Well done, Aisha.

So I hope you did a really good job of your chair too and you've had a chance to try out those skills that we've learned in this lesson and that you are really proud of your model.

Let's take a look at the summary for this lesson on complex models and colours.

2D shapes can be extruded a longer path to create a 3D object.

The loop cut tool can be used to subdivide the surface of models.

Vertices, edges, and faces can be modified in edit mode.

Extra modelling tools can be accessed in edit mode.

Well done for today's lesson on complex models and colours.

I hope you enjoyed adding and creating more detailed models and adding colours to those models to increase their realism and to make them look even better than before.

You've done a brilliant job and I can't wait to see you in future lessons.

Keep practising those 3D modelling skills.