View source for Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Detailing Your Simple Person 1

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This tutorial uses the simple person model from the previous tutorial.  If you didn't do it, [[Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Modeling a Simple Person|go back and do it now]]---or find it pre-made just for you [http://www.nusoy.com/blender here].

If your model does not appear to be solid, it is currently being drawn in wireframe mode.  For this tutorial, you need it to be drawn solid.  Return to Object Mode ('''TAB''') and press the '''ZKEY''' to see the model in solid mode.

==Subsurfaces==

[[Image:Blender3D_editing_panel_button.png|right|The Editing button can be clicked to display the Editing Panel]]

You should already have the ''Editing Panel'' displayed in the ''Buttons Window''. If not, click on the ''Editing'' button (shown pressed in the image on the right) or press '''F9''' to have the Editing Panel displayed. On Macintosh OS X, use '''CMD+F9''' to avoid engaging the Exposé window effects. Note that the ''Editing panel'' is a different thing from ''edit mode''; don't confuse them. Depending on whether you're in ''edit mode'' or ''object mode'' the ''Editing Panel'' will display different tabs. With the object (your man) selected ('''RMB''') press '''TAB''' to view how the available buttons in the panel change.

[[Image:Blender3D_subsurf_buttons.png|right|The subsurf panel]]

First of all select the model. We're going to turn on subsurfaces, or Subsurf.

To enable Subsurf, you must go to the ''Buttons Window'' &rarr; ''Editing Panel''(F9) &rarr; ''Modifiers'' subpanel &rarr; click ''Add Modifier'' &rarr; ''Subsurf'' from the list. You should immediately see your model change to look more round and less edgy. New options for ''Subsurf'' are now shown in the Modifiers subpanel.  You may also perform this action by pressing '''SHIFT'''+'''O''' while in object mode.

Note that the ''Modifiers'' subpanel will be displayed in both ''edit mode'' and ''object mode''.

<div style="float: left; width: 250px; margin: 5px; padding: 3px; background: #eee; border: 1px solid #ccc;">
To enter a value on a bar you can:
*click on the left or right arrows on either side of the bar to add or subtract a unit.
*click in the middle of the bar and enter a value with the keyboard.
*Hold down '''LMB''' and move your mouse to the left or right while hovering the mouse cursor over the number.
</div>

What just happened?  Each face was just divided into four smaller faces that are progressively angled, which has helped soften the sharp edges of the model where faces touch each other. Click the horizontal bar labeled ''Levels'' and change the value to '2'.

The model will change again because each of your original faces is now divided into 16.  If you change the value to '3' each plane will be divided to sixty-four smaller planes, but don't do it unless you've got a computer that you're sure can handle it (newer computers should be able to handle it pretty easily).  Note that subdivisions work with base 4, i.e., Level: 1 yields <math>4^1=4</math> divisions; Level: 2 yields <math>4^2=16</math> divisions; Level: n yields <math>4^n</math> divisions.

[Troubleshooting: If one or two of your sides don't subsurf, press '''AKEY''' to select all vertices while in ''edit mode''.  Then, click ''Rem Doubles'' under the ''Mesh Tools'' tab in the ''buttons window''.  You can also change the ''Limit'' of how far Blender should look for vertices that are close together.  If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, type '''WKEY''' to display the ''specials'' menu, and select ''Remove Doubles''.  ] 

Notice the other bar labeled "''Render Levels''" below the ''Levels'' bar? That controls how many subdivisions to do at rendertime, while the value we've been changing handles the number of subdivisions while working in Blender.  Before moving on, set the first subdivisions value to 2 and the rendertime subdivisions to 3.

A Modifier is defined as the application of a "process or algorithm" upon Objects. They can be applied interactively and non-destructively in just about any order the user chooses. This kind of functionality is often referred to as a "stack of pancakes" and is found in several other 3D applications and breakfasts.  The x in the upper right of the subsurf modifier will remove the modifier from the modifier stack. The arrows at the left of the x will move the modifier (and its effects) higher or lower in the modifier stack.

The ''Optimal Draw'' button removes the extra wireframe lines which display as a result of having additional geometry.  This button is especially useful to clarify and speed up the display of densely subdivided meshes.

[[Image:Apply-modifier-to-edit-mode.png|left|The apply modifiers to edit mode button can be clicked to display the modifier]]The blank roundish button towards the top of the Modifiers panel, just to the left of the up and down arrows, applies the modifier to the editing cage.
In Edit Mode, hit the '''AKEY''' once or twice so that all the vertices are selected (if you're not in Edit Mode, select the object and press '''TAB''').  Press this button now and notice how it transforms the translucent, boxy cage to a more rounded one. Take note of this function for future reference, but for now press it again to return to the boxy version.  You will need this boxy version for the next few lessons.

The ''Apply'' button applies the modifier to the mesh.  While this is useful for some modifiers, for Subsurf this will add many extra vertices and is generally not needed.

Remember, you can undo any accidental modifications by pressing '''CTRL'''+'''Z''' to go back a step. If you need to, you can go back several steps and then repeat the process correctly.

For a complete modifiers documentation go to http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Manual/PartII/Modifiers

For a complete subsurf modifier documentation go to http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Manual/PartII/Modelling/Modifier/SubSurf

For a complete subsurfaces documentation go to 
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Manual/Subsurf_Modifier

==Smooth Surfaces==
[[Image:Simple_person.png|right|thumb|Your simple person after setting smooth.]]
Subsurfaces do a good job of smoothing out objects and creating good curved surfaces.  However, even with subsurfaces the model does not appear completely smooth; at this point it even appears scaly.

If your person is in wireframe view, hit '''ZKEY''' to change it to solid view. In Edit Mode, hit the '''AKEY''' once or twice so that all the vertices are selected (if you're not in Edit Mode, select the object and press '''TAB''').  Find the button that says "Set Smooth" (the center-right button inside the ''Links and Materials'' subpanel in the Editing ['''F9'''] panel) (Note: If you can not find the button, you may be in object mode.) and click it. You will see the Blender smooth out the rough edges where faces were touching before.  Next to it is the button labeled "Set Solid."  Click it as well.  You will see the simple person go back to the solid rendering.  The simple person looks better smooth, so click the ''Set Smooth'' button again. (more information about this at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_shading] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouraud_shading]).

You need to keep this file open for the next several tutorials.  Move on to the next page.


'''Note:'''

The person subsurfed but a monkey head instead an icosphere.

To get this, you have to do exactly the same as the tutorial says, but with a minor change. In the previous tutorial instead of adding a icosphere add a monkey head. 


[[Image:Person_with_monkey_subsurfed.JPG‎|Your simple person after setting smooth, with a monkey head.]]


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[[Category:Blender]]