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BlenderTutorialforBeginners:HowToMakeAMushroom

Blender Tutorial for Beginners: How To

Make A Mushroom
VickiWenderlichonOctober30,2013

Ifyou'renewhere,youmaywanttosubscribetomyRSSfeedorfollowmeonTwitter.Thanksforvisiting!

Itsasad,familiarstory:agameprogrammerwantstocreatea3Dgame,
buthasno3Dmodelstouse!
Ifthissobstorysoundsfamiliar,dontfeelbadyourenotalone.Inthis
situation,youhavefouroptions:
cry
findfree3Dmodelsonline
payanartisttomakesome
createyourownitsnotashardasyouthink!
IfyouvenevertouchedBlenderbeforebutwanttobeabletomakesome
simpleobjectsforuseinyourgame,looknofartherthistutorialisforyou!
Blenderisa3Dmodelingprogramthatwasturnedintoanopensource
projectwhentheoriginatingcompany,NotaNumber,wentbankrupt.Since
then,Blenderhasbecomethedefactomodelingtoolforindiedevelopers.

Learnhowtocreatemushroomsin
Blender

InthisBlendertutorialforbeginners,youlllearnthebasicsetupofBlender
bycreatingacutecreatureyouwillundoubtedlyrecognizefromthe8bit
days.:]ThistutorialwontcovereverythingBlendercando,justthestuff
youneedtoknowtogetstartedmakingobjectsandusingthemingames!
Thistutorialcoversthefollowingconcepts:
Blenderbasicsetup
AddingandtransformingobjectsinObjectMode
EditingtheobjectinEditMode
UnwrappingtheobjectsUVmesh
Creatingatexture
Exportingyourfiles.

Getting Started
Note:IfyoudonthaveBlenderinstalledonyourcomputer,downloadacopyhere.Likeother3Dmodelingtools,Blender
isagraphicallyintensiveapplicationifyoureplanningtoinstallBlenderonanoldercomputer,checkoutthesystem
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requirementsbeforeinstallingtomakesureyourrigwillrunBlenderwithoutalotoffrustratinglag.

OnceyouhaveBlenderinstalled,launchitandyoullbegreetedbyasplashscreen.Clickanywhereoutsideofthesplash
screentogetstarted.Youshouldseethedefaultscenethatcontainsacube,acameraandalamp,asillustratedinthe
screenshotbelow:

Note:Dontseetheelementsabove?SimplyselectFile>Newtogenerateanewscenewiththerequisitestarterobjects.

Theseobjectsarelocatedinthe3DviewthathasX,Y,andZaxes.Theseaxeshelppositionandedityourobjectsin3Dspace.
Tohelptellthemapart,theXaxisisred,theYaxisisblue,andtheZaxisisgreen.Thegridyouseeonthescreenrepresents
theXYplane,andtheZaxisextendsperpendiculartotheXYplane.Youcanalwaysconfirmtheorientationofyourviewby
checkingtheminiaxisinthebottomlefthandcornerofthe3Dview.
Therearefourpanesonthescreenthatyoullusetocreateyour3Dobjects:
Outliner:listsallobjectsinyourscene.
Properties:allowsyoutoeditthepropertiesofwhateverobjectormaterialyouareworkingwith.
3DView:containsalltheobjectsyourecreating.Notethetoolbaratthebottom,youllbeusingthisquiteabitlateron.
ToolShelf:displaysanyrelevantoptionsfortheactionyourecurrentlyperforminginBlender.
Thefollowingscreenshotshowstherelativepositionsofthefourpanesnotedabove:

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Nowthatyouvereceivedthefivecenttouroftheapp,itstimetocoverafewconceptsthatyoullneedbeforecreatingyourfirst
3Dmodel.

Controlling Your View

Navigatingaroundyour3Dviewissomethingyoullbedoingfrequently,soyoushouldgetreallycomfortablewiththe
navigationalcontrols.Theprimarywaystomanipulateyourviewareasfollows:
Torotateyourview:holdthemiddlemousebuttonanddragaround.
Tozoomyourview:usethemousescrollwheel
Topanupanddown:holddownShiftandusethemousescrollwheel
Topanrightandleft:holddownControlandusethemousescrollwheel
Therearetwoviewsforyour3Dscene:orthographic,whichmeansyourobjectisdrawnlinearlywithoutanyperspective
distortion,andperspective,whichmeansthatobjectsfurtherawayinyourviewappearsmaller,andlinesonyourobjects
displayperspectivedistortion.
Thedifferencebetweenthesetwoviewsisillustratedbelow:

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Althoughperspectiveviewlooksmorenatural,youllprobablyfinditeasiertodesignyourobjectsusingtheorthographicview
whereyoucanviewandeditobjectsonaflatplane.Theimagesbelowshowthebenefitofdesigningintheorthographicview:

Thedefaultviewforanewsceneistheperspectiveview.Toswitchbetweenorthographicandperspectiveviews,selectView>
ViewPers/Ortho(fromthetoolbarunderthe3DView)alternatively,press5onthenumpad.Tochooseaspecificpredefined
view,ratherthanrotatingaroundwiththecentermousebutton,choosetheviewfromtheViewmenu,asshownbelow:

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Note:Blenderhasearnedsomenotorietythroughouttheyearsduetoitsdifficultuserinterface.Thankfully,Blender
developershavebeenlisteningtothecommunityandhavemademanyusabilityimprovements,andthereareeffortsto
makeevenmore.However,therearestillafewthingstowatchoutforwhenusingBlender.
Forexample,asyoumayhavenoticedinthepreviousscreenshot,theViewmenuisnotaccessiblefromthestandard
applicationtoolbarrather,itsaccessedfromaBlendergeneratedtoolbar.ThesameistrueforallotherBlenderrelated
functions.

Modeling Windows
Toresizethevarioustoolbarpanels,simplymouseovertheedgeofthepanelandresizeittosuitasshownbelow:

Ifyoumovethepanelalittletoofarandwhoopsitdisappears,clickanddragthelittletransparentplusicontabtopullthe
panelbackout,asshownbelow(notethatifyoudothiswhilethepanelisvisibleitwillcreateasecondarypanel):

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Sometimesyoullwanttohavetwoviewsofyourobjectopenatthesametime.Tocreateanotherviewwindow,clickanddrag
thetriangleatthetoprightorbottomleftofthecurrentwindow,asshownbelow:

Togetridofaviewwindow,clickanddragthetoprighttriangleofthewindowyouwanttokeepontothewindowyouwantto
remove.Thewindowtoberemoveddarkensreleasethemouseandthesecondwindowdisappears,asdemonstratedinthe
followingscreenshot:

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Manipulating Objects in Object Mode

Blenderworksinseveraldifferentmodes.Atthispointinthetutorial,youreinObjectmode(whichyoucanseeinthetoolbar
belowthe3Dview),whereyoucanadd,delete,move,scale,androtateyourobject.Alittlelateron,youllmoveontoEditmode
butfornowyouvegotsomeworktodoinObjectmode.
SelectingObjects
Notethatthecubeinyoursceneshouldhaveayellowoutlinethismeansthatthecubeisselected.Thereareafewwaysto
selectanddeselectobjectsinBlender:
Toselectanobject:clickitwiththerightmousebutton.
Todeselectanobject:shiftclickitwiththerightmousebutton.
Totoggleselectingallobjectsornoobjects:presstheAkey.
DeletingObjects
Youreheretodesignamushroom,notasugarcube,soyoullneedtogetridofthecubefromyourscene.Ifthecubeisnt
selected,clickthecubewiththerightmousebutton,presstheXkey,andchooseDelete.

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3DCursor
Soyourscenehasbeencleared,andyourereadytoaddsomenewshapestoyourscene.Buthowdoyouknowwheretoadd
them?
The3Dcursorshowsyouwherenewobjectswillbeadded,asshownbelow:

Tosetthepositionofthe3Dcursorinyourscene,clickonyourscenewiththeleftmousebutton.
Inthesceneabove,the3Dcursorisnotsettothecenterofyoursceneitsdownandofftotheleftsomewhere.Youllneedto
drawyourobjectcenteredintheview,soyoullneedtomovethe3Dcursorbacktotheorigin.Youcouldtrytoclickontheorigin
withthemouse,buttheresaneasierway.

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Toresetyour3Dcursortotheorigin,chooseObject>Snap>CursortoCenterifyoureafanofkeyboardshortcuts,hitShift+
S>CursortoCenter.
AddingObjects
Nowthatyour3Dcursorisattheorigin,pressShiftAtodisplaytheAddmenu.SelectMesh,andyoullbepresentedwithall
typesofshapesthatyoucanadd.
SelecttheCylindershape,asshownbelow:

Nowthatyouhaveacylinderinyourscene,checkthelefthandpaneltoseewhichoptionsareavailabletoedityourshape.
Theseonlyappearimmediatelyafteryouaddtheobjectandbeforeyouvedoneanyotherediting,sonowsyourchancetoget
thesettingsright!
Modifythefollowingpropertiesinthelefthandpanelasfollows:
Vertices:10
Radius:1.5
Depth:3
CapFillType:TriangleFan
Leaveallotherpropertiesasis.Yourpanelshouldappearasbelow:

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Youcaneitherclickthefieldandtypeinthevalues,oryoucanscrubbackandforthwiththemousetosetthevalues.

Transforming Objects in Object Mode

InObjectMode,youcantransformtheentireobjectbymoving,scaling,orrotatingit.Therearethreewaystotransformobjects:
usingtheshortcutkey,usingthetransformhandles,andusingthetransformpanel.
TransformingwithShortcutKeys
Tousetheshortcutkeystotransformtheobject,firstensuretheobjectisselected.Next,presstheappropriatekeytobeginthe
action,andthenmovethemousetostartthetransform.Thefurtheryoumovethemouse,thegreaterthemagnitudeofthe
translation.
Theshortcutkeysfortransformsareasfollows:
Move:G
Scale:S
Rotate:R
Forexample,toscaleanobject,firstselectit,thenpresstheSkeyandmovethemousetocontrolthescalingofthetransform,as
shownbelow:

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YoucanconstraintransformstoaparticularaxisbypressingX,Y,orZ.ThereforeifyouonlywanttoscalealongtheZaxis,press
S(thenrelease)andthenpressZ(thenrelease).Youcanonlyconstraintooneaxisatatime.
Toacceptthechanges,clicktheleftmousebuttontodiscardthechanges,clicktherightmousebutton.Ifyouveacceptedthe
changes,butthenchangeyourmind,BlenderprovidesthegoodoldCommandZkeystroketoundoyourlastaction.
TransformingwiththeX,Y,ZHandles
Thesecondmethodtotransformyourobjectgivesyoualittlemorecontrolbyusingtheblue,greenandredarrowsthatshowup
whenyouselectanobject.YourcurrentselectionshouldbetheTranslatemanipulator,asshowninthescreenshotbelow:

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Clickthebluearrowonyourobjectwiththeleftmousebutton,anddragupwithyourmouse.Youshouldseetheobjecttranslate
alongtheZaxis.UndothischangebypressingCommandZ.
Next,clicktheScalemanipulatoricon.Clicktheredarrowonyourobjectwiththeleftmousebutton,anddragitaround.Notethat
yourobjectonlyscalesalongtheXaxis.UndothischangeaswellwithCommandZ.TheRotatemanipulatorworksthesame
way.
TransformingwiththePropertiesPanel
Thethirdmethodoftransformingeditingtheobjectpropertiesdirectlyoffersthemostcontrolyoucanusethismethodifyou
needveryspecificcontrolovertheshapeandsizeofyourobject.
Toeditthepropertiesofyourobjectdirectly,gotothePropertiespanelontherighthandsideofthescreenandclicktheObject
icon.ThisbringsupallthepropertiesoftheobjectyoucantransformtheobjectbychangingitspropertiesintheLocation,
Rotation,andScaletables,asshownbelow:

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AnoteaboutmeasuringdistanceinBlender:distanceina3Dspaceisentirelyrelative.Blendermeasuresdistancebyusing
BlenderUnitswhichcorrespondstoonegridspaceinthe3Dviewport.
Ifyoureasticklerfortraditionalmeasurements,youhavetheoptionofswitchingtoMetricorImperialmeasurements.Simply
selectthesceneiconinthepropertiespanel,thenselectyourdesiredmeasurementsystemasshownbelow:

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Forthepurposesofthistutorial,anyinstructionsinvolvingmeasurementsaregiveninBlenderUnits.
ThatcoversmostofwhatyoucandoinObjectMode.Nowitstimetoeditthevertices,edges,andplanesoftheobjectyoull
dothatinEditmode.

Editing Objects in Edit Mode

ToenterEditmode,selecttheobjecttobeeditedandpressTab.
Youllseethattheobjectturnsyellowandalloftheedgeshighlight.Lookdowntothebottomtoolbar,tothreeiconsthatshow
littlecubes.Theseiconstellyouwhichselectmodeyouarein:vertexmode(lefticon),edgemode(middleicon),orfacemode
(righticon),asshownbelow:

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Atthemoment,youreinVertexmode,witheverythinginyourobjectselected.PresstheAkeytodeselecteverything.
Moveyourmouseoveravertexandselectitwiththerightmousebutton.HolddownShifttoselectmultiplevertices.PressA
againtodeselecteverything.
LoopCutandSlide
Atthemoment,yourobjectdoesntlookmuchlikeamushroom,doesit?Beforeyoucandeformyourcylindertolooklikea
mushroom,youllneedtoaddafewmoresegmentstoyourobject.
Toaddsegments,locatetheLoopCutandSlidefunctiononthelefthandsideofthescreen,asshown:

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Moveyourmouseoveryourcylinder,andyoullseeapurpleedgeringshowupmidwaydownthecylinder.
Clicktheleftmousebuttononcethepurpleringturnsyellowindicatingthattheverticesareselectedandmovable.Asyoumove
yourmouse,andtheringwillfollow.Clicktheleftmousebuttononcemoretoplacetheringabout2/3ofthewaytowardthetop,
asshownbelow:

NowpresstheAkeytodeselectallobjectsinyourview.Ifyoudontlikewheretheloopendedup,youcoulduseCommandZto
undotheaction.Alternatively,youcouldmovethelooptoadifferentlocation.Todothis,firstclicktheedgemodeiconandthe
transparencytogglebuttonsasshownbelow:
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ThisputsyouinEdgemodewhereyoucanselecttheedgesofyourobjectsturningontransparencymodeletsyousee
throughyourobjectsothatyoucanseealloftheedges.

Selecting Vertices, Edges, and Faces

YoucouldselecttheedgestobemovedbyclickingthemwithShift+rightmousebutton,butthatcanbecumbersomewhen
youvegotalotofedgestoselect.Fortunately,therearethreeoptionsforselectingedges.
BoxSelect
Boxselectallowsyoutodrawaboxaroundtheitemsyouwanttoselect.
Movetheview(usingthemiddlemousebutton)sothatyoucanseetheloopyouwanttoselect.NowpressBforBoxSelect
mode,holddowntheleftmousebuttonanddrawaboxthatenclosestheedgesyouwanttoselect,asshownbelow:

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Movetheviewaroundtheobjecttomakesureyougotalloftheedgesyouwantedtoselect.Ifnot,Shiftselecttheremaining
edges.
CircleSelect
InadditiontoBoxSelect,youcanuseCircleSelect,whichisjustasitsounds:selectingwithacircleinsteadofabox.
DeselectallwiththeAkey.NowpressCforCircleSelect.Thedottedwhitecircleindicatestheselectionareainuse.Scrollupor
downtoincreaseordecreasetheradiusoftheselectioncirclealternativelyyoucanusePageUpandPageDowntodothe
samething:

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Onceyourcircleencompassestheedgesyouwishtoselect,clicktheleftmousebuttontoselectthem.Nowpresstheleftmouse
buttontoselect.Youcancontinuetoleftclicktoaddtoyourselection.Whenyouaredone,presstherightmousebuttontoexit
circleselectionmode.
LassoSelect
Lassoselectisprobablytheoptionthatyoullfindmostuseful.
PressAagaintodeselectall.NowholddownControlandpresstheleftmousebutton.Dragthecursoraroundyoullseea
dottedwhiteoutlinearoundyourselection,asshownbelow:

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Nowthatyouhaveyouredgeloopselected,itstimetomovetheedgeloopalittlefurtherupyourcylinder.

Transforming Edges, Vertices, and Faces

Transformingedges,vertices,andfacesisverysimilartotransformingtheentireobject:youcandoitbyusingthetransform
handles,theshortcutkeys,orthepropertiespanel.
GodowntothebottomtoolbarandclicktheTranslatemanipulatorthelittlearrowiconnexttothered,blue,andgreenaxes
iconasindicatedbelow:

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TheothertwoiconsareforRotateandScale.
Clickanddragthebluearrow(i.e.,theZaxis)tomovetheselectededgesup.Releasethemousewhentheyarenearthetop,as
so:

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AddabitmoredetailtoyourcylinderbyperformingLoopCutandSlidefunctions.Placethesenewloopstowardthebottomof
yourcylinder,asshownbelow:

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Nowitstimetoaltertheedgesandfacestocreatethetopofyourmushroom!
Youregoingtobeselectingedgeloopsalotluckily,thereisashortcuttoselectingthem.HolddownOption(orAlt),andclick
therightmousebuttonononeofthetopedgesofthecylinder.Thisselectstheentireloopthatcontainstheedgethatyouclick
on,asbelow:

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Youllwanttoscaletheseedgesdowntocreatethetopofyourmushroom.PressStoscaletheedgeloop,anddragthemouse
sothattheedgeloopisabitsmaller,asbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontotoconfirmthetransform.
Nowyouneedtomakethebottomedgeofthetopofthemushroomlargerthanthetop.Selectthetwoinneredgeloopsnearthe
bottomofthecylinderbyholdingdownShift+Optionandclickingtherightmousebutton,asbelow:

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Becarefultotoselectonlytheverybottomedgeofthecylinder.
PressStoscale,andmovethecursorawayfromthecentertoscalethebottomedgesup,asshownbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.
Nowyouneedtomaketheloweredgeofyourmushroomlookalittlethicker.PressAtodeselecteverything,andthenselectjust
theupperedgeloopusingOption+rightmousebutton.Draguponthebluearrowtotransformit,asshownbelow:

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Itslookingmorelikeamushroomnow!Scalethecurrentlyselectededgeloopabittoroundoffthemushroomalittle.PressSto
scale,andpulltheedgeloopinjustabit,asshownbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.

Using the Extrude Transform

Yourmushroomheadislookingprettygoodbuteverygoodmushroomneedsastalk!Youlldothisbyusingtheextrudefeature.
Movetheviewaroundsoyoucanseethebottomofthemushroomhead.Ifyouneedtopandownwards,holddownShiftwhile
scrolling.
Youregoingtocreatethestalkbyextrudingthebottomfacesofyourmushroomhead.Beforeyoudothat,youllneedtoscale
thebottomedgeringsothatyourstalkwontbeasthickasyourmushroom.Selecttheedgeloop,pressStoscale,andscalethe
bottomringintoabouthalfthesizeofthemushroomhead,asshownbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.
Now,switchtoFaceSelectmodebyclickingtheFaceSelecticon.Turnoffthetransparencytoggleiconsothatitseasiertosee
whatyouareselecting.HolddownControlandclicktherightmousebuttononeachofthetenfacesthatformthebottomofthe
mushroomhead,asshownbelow:

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Gotothelefttoolpanel,andclickonExtrudeRegion.Assoonasyoudoso,yourmousemovementextrudesthosefaces.Using
yourmouse,extrudethebottomfacetoareasonablelengthforamushroomstem,asshownbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.
Extrudethefacesonemoretime,sothatyoucancreatetheroundedbottomofthestalk.ClickExtrudeRegion,andextrudethe
facesjustalittlebit,asshownbelow:

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Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.
Nowscalethefacesinward.Canyourememberhow?

SolutionInside

Show

Yourmushroomshouldlooklikethefollowingfinespecimen:

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Changing the Object Origin

Yourmushroomissproutingupnicely!However,atthemomentyourmushroomisnotexactlysittingonthegrounditpasses
throughtheXYplane,asshownbelow:

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YoullneedtomoveyourmushroomupwardsalittlebittohaveitsittingproperlyontheXYplane.
Inordertogetitplacedproperly,youwillfirstplacethe3Dcursoratthebaseofyourmushroom(atthecenterofthebottomofthe
stalk),andthenmovetheobjectsorigintothe3Dcursorlocation.
Todothis,hittheAkeytodeselecteverything.Next,switchtovertexselect(byclickingthebuttoninthebottomtoolbar),and
selectthecenterbottomvertexinthestalk,asshownbelow:

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NowpressShiftSandchooseCursortoSelected.The3Dcursorwillmovetothevertexthatisselected.HitAtodeselectall.

HitTabtoswitchtoObjectMode.Noticehowthered,blue,andgreenobjectoriginisupontheXYplane,asshownintheimage
below:

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Youwanttomovetheobjectorigindowntothelocationofyour3Dcursor.GotothetoolshelfandchooseOrigin>Originto3D
Cursor.

Nowyoucanmovetheobjectbyplacingitsoriginatthecoordinates(0,0,0),whichwillputyourmushroomsbasesquarelyon
theXYplane.
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GoovertotheObjecttab,andchangetheZvalueofLocationto0,asshownintheimagebelow:

Dontforgettosaveallyourhardwork!GotoFile>Save,orsimplypressCommandSchoosealocation,nameyourproject
mushroom,thenhitentertwiceorclickSaveAsBlenderFile.

Coloring the Mushroom

Nowthatyourmushroomiscomplete,itistimetobringittolifebygivingitsomecolor.ColoringanobjectinBlenderisdonein
threesteps:
Applyingamaterial
Unwrappingthemeshintoa2Dtexturethatyoucanpainton(calledaUVwrap)
PaintingontheUVwrap

Applying a Material
GoovertothePropertiespanel,andclicktheMaterialsicon,asbelow:

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Therearentanymaterialshereatthemomentbutyoucanaddanewone.ClicktheNewbutton,andyoullseethefollowing
dialogappear:

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ThematerialiscurrentlynamedMaterial.001.Togiveitamoredescriptivename,clickthematerialnameandtypein
mushroom,asshownbelow:

HitEntertoconfirmthenamechange.
Therearelotsofwaysyoucanchangeyourmaterial,butyoulljustleaveitasisnow,sinceyoullbepaintingonthecolorlaterin
thistutorial.

Unwrapping the Mesh

Thenextstepistounwrapthemeshsothatyouhaveaflatcanvastopainton.Thisismuchlikepeelinganorangeandlaying
thepeeldownflatonatable.
YoucanonlyunwrapthemeshinEditmode,soswitchtoEditmodenow(bypressingtab).
Dragoutanewwindowbyclickingthetriangleatthetoprightofthewindowanddraggingittotheleft.Youllneedtwowindows
forthisoperationbecauseyoullneedtoseeyourtextureimagewhilelookingatyour3Dobjectsoyoucanseehowthe3D
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objectlooksasyoupaintthetexture.
ChangetheleftwindowtobeaUV/ImageEditorbyclickingthelittlecubeiconatthebottomleftofthescreenandchoosing
UV/ImageEditor,asbelow:

RightnowtheUVeditorisblank,becauseyouhaventyetunwrappedyourmesh.Gobacktotherighthandwindow,andhitAto
selectall.ChooseMeshfromthebottomtoolbarofthe3Dview,chooseUVUnwrap>SmartUVProject,andselectthedefault
optionswhenthepopupappearsbyclickingOK.
NowintheUVEditor,youwillseeallthefacesofthemushroommappedouttotheblankimage,asshownbelow:

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Thewaythismappedout,yourmeshisntveryeasytopainton.Thegoodthingis,youcantellBlendertounwrapthemesh
differentlyfordifferentfaces!
Gobacktothe3DviewanddeselectallwiththeAkey.Turnonthetransparencytoggleiconandpositiontheviewasshown
below:

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HitBtoenableboxselectandusetheleftmousebuttontodragoutaboxovertheoverthemushroomheadsfaces,asshown
below:

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Now,unwrapthemeshagainbychoosingMesh>UVUnwrap>Unwrap.HereswhatyoushouldseeinyourUVEditor:

Ahthatlooksaloteasiertoedit.YoucanedittheUVmeshinthesamewaythatyouwouldedittheobjectinEditmodeinthe
3Dviewer.Selectfaces,edges,orvertices,aswellasislands(anentiregroupoffaces)bychoosingtheappropriatemodeand
selectingwiththerightmousebutton.

Oncethedesiredmeshitemshavebeenselected,presstheshortcutkey(G,S,orR)forthetransformyouwishtouse.
Giveitatrybyscalingdownthemushroomheadislandmeshsoittakeslessofthespaceavailable.
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Chooseislandmodebyclickingtheislandicon,thenclickonthemeshislandwiththerightmousebutton.Next,pressSto
scale,thenmovethemousetoscaleitdown.Clicktheleftmousebuttontoconfirmthetransform.NextpressGforGrab,and
movetheislandovertothebottomright.Yourmeshshouldlooklikethefollowing:

Nowyoucantransformthestalkinthesamemanner.Gobacktothe3Dviewerandboxselectthestalksfaces,asbelow:

ChooseMesh>UVUnwrap,butthistimechooseCylinder,sincethestalkissortofcylindrical.IntheUVEditor,youmayhaveto
zoomouttoseethefullmesh,buthereswhatitshouldlooklike:

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Scaledownthemesh(usingtheSshortcutkey)andmoveittotheupperleft(usingtheGshortcutkey).Moveyourmouseover
the3DviewandpressAtwice(todeselecteverything,thenselecteverything)sothatallofthemeshfacesfacesareselected
andyoucanseetheentiremeshintheUVeditor,asbelow:

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Creating the Texture

Nowthatyouhaveunwrappedthemesh,youneedtoaddanimageforthemeshtobemappedto.
Themeshmapsthetexturetotheobject.Itssortoflikewrappingapaper2Dworldmaparoundaballtomakeaglobe,likeso:

Gobacktoyour3Dwindow,andclickontheDisplayiconinthebottomtoolbar.ItscurrentlysettoSolid,butchooseTexture
instead.Nowthe3Dviewwilldisplayyourtextureasyouedititsothatyoucanseetheresultofwhatyouaredoing.

DeselectallobjectswiththeAshortcutkey.Thetransparencymodeisnowquitedistracting,soturnyourmodelbacktoopaque
bytogglingthetransparencyiconasshownbelow:

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Notethatsomeofyourmushroomsfacesareblack.Thatsgoingtomakeithardtoseethecolorsasyouapplythem.The
contrastissoseverebecausethereisonlyonelightinthedefaultBlenderscene.Youneedtoplacemorelightsaroundyour
mushroomsothatyoucanseeitbetter.
HitTabtogobacktoObjectModelampscanonlybeaddedinObjectMode.
DeselectyourmushroomwiththeAkey.Moveyour3Dcursortotheareashownbelowwhereyouaregoingtoplaceyourlight:

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PressShiftA,andchooseLamp>Point.Anewlightwillbeplacedatthelocationofyour3Dcursor.Ifyoudontlikewherethe
lampisplaced,usethered,green,andbluetransformarrowsonthelighttomovethelamparound.Youcanseehowthe
mushroomgetslighteronthefacestowardthelamp,asshownbelow

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Ifyoumoveyourviewaround,youllseethattheresstillaproblemareathedarksideofthemushroom.(NowTHATwould
havebeenagreatnameforaPinkFloydalbum!:])Itgenerallytakesthreeorfourlampstolightascenewellenoughtoseeall
thewayaroundanobject.
Placeyour3Dcursorinthegeneralareabehindyourmushroom,andplaceanewlampinthatareabyusingShiftA,then
selectingLamp>Point.Movethelampsothatitlightsupthebackofthemushroom.Now,addafourthlampbelowthe
mushroomsothatthebottomislitup.Tweakthepositionofallfourlampssothatthemajorityofthefacesofthemushroomare
nolongerblack.
Belowyoucanseeallfourlampsplacedinoursamplescene,andwelllitthemushroomisonallsides:

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Nowyoullbeabletoseewhatyourepainting!
SelectyourmushroomagainwiththerightmousebuttonandpressTabtoswitchtoEditmode.PressAtoselectall,andyouwill
seeyourUVshowupontheUVEditor.
ClicktheNewbuttonatthebottomoftheUVEditortoaddanewimagebehindthemeshes.Nametheimagemushroom,and
clickontheColorswatch.SetthecolorparameterstoRed=1.0,Green=0,Blue=0,andAlpha=1,asshownbelow:

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ClickOKtosaveyourcolorsetting.
Wowthatsalotofred!Zoomoutifyouneedtothisiswhatyoushouldsee:

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SavetheimagebychoosingImage>SaveAsImagefromthebottomtoolbar.SaveitinthesamefolderasyourBlender
mushroomfile,forconvenience,andnamethisimagemushroomasshownbelow:

Youvegottheredforthetopofthemushroomnowyouneedtopainttheothercolorsontothemushroom.
Inyour3Dview,godowntotheModebutton(whereitsaysEditMode)andchooseTexturePaintmode,asso:

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Ontheleft,youllseeyourbrushoptions.Movethecursoroveryourmushroom,andyouwillseeawhitecirclearoundit.Thisis
thesizeofyourbrush.Clickonceonthemushroomyoushouldgetawhiteblurrydotasbelow:

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Hmmmushroomsusuallyhavebigwhitespots.Thisisntwhatyouwant,soundoyourbrushstrokewithCommandZ.Goto
thebrushoptionspanel,andscrolldownthepaneltofindCurve.ClickthearrownexttoCurvetoexpanditsoptions,asso:

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Curvedefineshowcoloristransferredwithyourbrush.Currently,youhaveacurvethatgivesyourbrushstrokesasoftedge,as
theopacitydecreasesgraduallytowardtheoutsideofthebrush.Youwantanicecrispedgeonyourcirclesnodropoffin
opacitysochoosetheicononthebottomrighttosetaconstantopacity:

ChangetheStrengthto1.0,likeso:

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Nowclickonthemushroomheadtopaintanotherdot.Asatip,alwaystrytoviewtheareayouarepaintingstraighton,rather
thantiltedawayfromyou,sothatthepaintgoesexactlywhereyouwantitratherthanbeingstretched.Youshouldseethe
followingresult:

Yay,adot!NoticethatyourdotalsoshowsuponyourUVimageintheUVEditor.
Thisisanicestart,butyouwantthedottobealittlelarger.UndousingCommandZ,andchangethebrushradiustoabout45.
Youcaneithertypeinthevalue,orscrubwiththemousetochangethenumber.
Youcanalsomouseovertothemushroom(sothatyourcursorshowsthebrushsize),pressF,thendragthecirclesizeinorout.
Clicktheleftmousebuttontoacceptthenewbrushsize.
Oncemore,clickonthefaceofthemushroomtopaintadot:

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Thatsbetter!
Nowmoveyourviewaroundsoyoucanseeanotherfaceofthemushroom:clickanddragyourviewwiththemiddlemouse
buttonuntilyouhavetheviewpositionedasyouwish.
Ifyouzoominandout,youwillseethatyourbrushsizedoesnotchange.Thismeansthatifyouzoominandpaintadotonthe
mushroom,yourwhitedotwillbesmallerthanthepreviousone.Ifyouzoomin,besuretoincreaseyourbrushsizeaccordingly!
Paintanotherdotonthemushroom.Youllnoticethatwhenthebrushoverlapsanotherplanetiltedawayfromtheview,the
brushstrokewillbedistortedsomewhat,asillustratedbelow:

Ifyoudontliketheresultofyourbrushstroke,simplyundoandtryagain.Continueplacingdotsaroundthetopofthemushroom
asso:

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Dontworryaboutgettingwhiteonthestalkofthemushroomyoullbecoloringthestalklater.
Onceyouaredonepaintingthemushroomtop,gototheUVEditortopaintthestalkbyselectingthePaintviewasshownbelow:

Changethebrushcolortoalighttancolor,likeso:

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IncreasethesizeofthebrushbypressingFanddraggingthebrushcirclebiggerwiththeleftmousebutton,asso:

Nowpaintovertheislandthatisthestalkofthemushroom.Itwillupdateaswellinyour3Dview,asshownbelow:

Finally,youneedtopainttheeyesonthemushroom.Itwouldbeeasiesttopaintthemdirectlyontothemushroom,soreturnto
the3Dview.ZoominanddecreasethebrushsizeusingFanddragthecirclesmallerwiththeleftmousebutton.Finally,change
thebrushcolortoblack.
Thatsityoucanpainttheeyesontooneofthefacesofthestalk,asshownbelow:

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Nowzoominandchangethebrushcolortowhite.Painttwowhitedotsintheupperrightofeacheye,asso:

Tada!YouvenowcreatedyourownMariostylemushroom!Yourentiremushroomshouldlooklikethefollowing:

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Hereswhatyourtextureimageshouldlooklike:

Thelastthingyouneedtodoisexportyourmasterpiecesoyoucanuseitinyourgame.

Exporting Files
Youwillneedthefollowingfilesforuseinyourprojects:
The.objfilefortheobjectdata.
The.matfileforthematerialinformation.
The.pngor.jpgforthetexture.
Beforeyouexport,makesureeverythingisnamedthewayyouwantitithelpstonameeverythingthesame,asyouvedonein
thistutorial.BesuretocheckthattheMaterial,Image,andObjecthaveallbeennamedthesame.
TheonlythingyouhaventrenamedyetisyourObject,soheadovertotheOutlinerpanelanddoubleclickCylindertorename
it.CallitmushroomandhitEnter.
Checkyourmaterial:itshouldalreadybesettomushroom,asso:
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Aswell,navigatetotheMaterialtabandcheckthename,likeso:

Okay,looksgood!Saveyourimageagaintomakesureitisuptodate.
GoovertotheUVeditor,clickonImage,andchooseSaveAsImage.Giveitaname,andsaveitasmushroom.
SaveyourBlenderfileatthispointtoo.
Yourenowreadytoexport!GotoFile>Export,andchooseWavefront(.obj)Thiswillsaveboththeobjectandmaterialfiles.
Namethefilemushroom.
EnsurethatIncludeNormalsandTriangulateFacesarecheckedunderExportOBJ.ChangetheForwardoptiontoYForward
andtheUpoptiontoZUp,asshownbelow:

Thisisrequiredbecauseinthe3Dviewyouwillbeusinginyourgame,thepositiveYdirectionislikelookingforward,andthe
positiveZdirectionislikelookingstraightupintothesky.
ClickExportOBJ.
Congratulationsyouhavecreatedacutecreatureentirelyfromscratch,andexportedthefilessothatyoucanusethemin
yourgame!Youcanusethissameprocesstomakemanysimplecharactersandobjects.

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YoucangetthecompletedBlenderfileshere,ifyouwouldliketocomparethemtoyourownfiles,orjusttoseewhatthefinished
fileslooklike.

Where to Go From Here?

IhopeyouenjoyedthisBlendertutorialforbeginners!IfyouwanttolearnmoreaboutBlender,therearelotsoftutorialsonline:
BlenderTutorialsfromtheofficialBlendersitetheyhaveagreatGettingStartedsection.
BlenderBasicsanothergoodintroductionforbeginners.
BeginnerBlenderTutorialsSpecificallyofinterestaretheonesaboutHowtoEditObjectsandHowToUseModifiers.
Ifyouneedmore,checkouttheBlenderwiki.Itssometimeshardasabeginnertofindexactlywhatyouarelookingfor,butI
foundthatingeneralifIGoogledmyissue,IendedupattheBlenderwiki.
Also,makesuretokeepcheckingbackhereforfutureBlendertutorials.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorcomments,besuretoraise
themintheforum!
Goforthandconquerthe3Dgameworld!

VictoriaWenderlich
VickiisRayswifeandbusinesspartner.Sheisadigitalartistwhocreatesillustrations,game
art,andalotofotherartordesignworkforthetutorialsandbooksonraywenderlich.com.She
alsorunsgameartguppy.com,whichisawebsitewhereshecreatesfreeandandinexpensive
artassetsforgamedeveloperstouseintheirgames.Whenshesnotmakingart,sheloves
hiking,agoodglassofwine,andattemptingtocreatetheperfectcheeseplate.

Razeware LLC. All rights reserved.

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