Book Image

Blender 3D Printing by Example

By : Vicky Somma
5 (1)
Book Image

Blender 3D Printing by Example

5 (1)
By: Vicky Somma

Overview of this book

Blender is an open-source modeling and animation program popular in the 3D printing community. 3D printing brings along different considerations than animation and virtual reality. This book walks you through four projects to learn using Blender for 3D Printing, giving you information that you need to know to create high-quality 3D printed objects. The book starts with two jewelry projects-- a pendant of a silhouette and a bracelet with custom text. We then explore architectural modeling as you learn to makes a figurine from photos of a home. The final project, a human hand, illustrates how Blender can be used for organic models and how colors can be added to the design. You will learn modeling for 3D printing with the help of these projects. Whether you plan to print at-home or use a service bureau, you’ll start by understanding design requirements. The book begins with simple projects to get you started with 3D modeling basics and the tools available in Blender. As the book progresses, you’ll get exposed to more robust mesh modeling techniques, modifiers, and Blender shortcuts. By the time you reach your final project, you’ll be ready for organic modeling and learning how to add colors. In the final section, you’ll learn how to check for and correct common modeling issues to ensure the 3D printer can make your idea a reality!
Table of Contents (16 chapters)

Making a low-poly hand

In this chapter, we'll build off familiar mesh modeling techniques to construct what is called a low-poly model. A low-poly model is one with a relatively small number of polygons or faces. It's simple in nature and easy to edit. Once we have a low-poly model, we'll use the Subdivision Surface Modifier to smooth it out and give it a more realistic feel:

Reference photo, low-poly model, and the results of the Subdivision Surface Modifier.

Adding in reference images

Once you decide how you want to position the hand and fingers, I recommend pulling in reference images to assist with your work. You can do this with a background image like we did in Chapter 2, Using a Background Image and...