Welcome to the exciting world of 3D modeling! In this lesson, we will cover the basics of 3D modeling, including key concepts, tools, and techniques that will serve as the foundation for your journey in Blender.

3D modeling is the process of creating a three-dimensional representation of any object or surface. These models can be used in various fields such as animation, gaming, architecture, and product design.

• Vertices: Points in 3D space that define the shape of the model.
• Edges: Lines connecting two vertices.
• Faces: Flat surfaces enclosed by edges, forming the "skin" of the model.

• Polygonal Models: Made up of polygons (usually triangles or quads). These are the most common type of 3D models.
• NURBS Models: Use mathematical formulas to create smooth surfaces.
• Subdivision Surface Models: Start with a simple polygonal mesh and refine it to create a smooth surface.

Blender offers a variety of tools for creating and manipulating 3D models. Some of the most commonly used tools include:

• Extrude: Extends a face or edge to create new geometry.
• Loop Cut and Slide: Adds a loop of edges to a mesh.
• Bevel: Rounds off edges or vertices.
• Knife Tool: Cuts new edges into a mesh.

1. Start with a Primitive: Begin with a basic shape like a cube, sphere, or cylinder.
2. Modify the Shape: Use tools like extrude, scale, and rotate to shape the model.
3. Add Details: Use loop cuts, bevels, and other tools to add finer details.
4. Refine the Model: Smooth out the model using subdivision surfaces or other techniques.

Let's create a simple 3D model of a chair to understand the basic workflow.

1. Add a Cube

   • Open Blender and delete the default cube.
   • Press Shift + A and select Mesh > Cube to add a new cube.

2. Scale the Cube

   • Press S to scale the cube.
   • Scale it along the Z-axis by pressing S followed by Z and then type 0.1 to make it thinner.

3. Extrude the Legs

   • Enter Edit Mode by pressing Tab.
   • Select the bottom face of the cube.
   • Press E to extrude and then Z to constrain the extrusion along the Z-axis. Drag down to create the legs.

4. Add a Backrest

   • Select the top face of the cube.
   • Press E to extrude and then Z to constrain the extrusion along the Z-axis. Drag up to create the backrest.

5. Refine the Model

   • Use the Loop Cut tool (Ctrl + R) to add edge loops and refine the shape of the chair.
   • Use the Bevel tool (Ctrl + B) to round off the edges for a smoother look.

Create a simple 3D model of a table using the techniques learned in this lesson.

1. Add a cube and scale it to form the tabletop.
2. Extrude the bottom face to create the legs.
3. Refine the model using loop cuts and bevels.

1. Add a Cube

   • Press Shift + A and select Mesh > Cube.
   • Scale it along the Z-axis to make it thinner for the tabletop.

2. Extrude the Legs

   • Enter Edit Mode and select the bottom face.
   • Press E to extrude and drag down to create the legs.

3. Refine the Model

   • Use the Loop Cut tool to add edge loops.
   • Use the Bevel tool to round off the edges.

In this lesson, we covered the basics of 3D modeling, including key concepts, tools, and techniques. We also walked through a practical example of creating a simple 3D model of a chair. By practicing these techniques, you'll build a strong foundation for more advanced modeling tasks in Blender. In the next lesson, we'll dive deeper into working with primitives and basic transformations. Happy modeling!