Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Modeling a 3D Parachute in Blender
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This tutorial relies on objects being created so that they are aligned to the view that you’re looking through. Versions 2.48 and above have changed the way this works. Visit Aligned to view issue to understand the settings that need to be changed. |
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[edit] Remove the default cube
When you first open blender you will see the default Blender user interface (UI) layout and the default cube.
Delete the cube by selecting it with the Right-Mouse button and then clicking the X key.
[edit] Add a cylinder
Be in Side view.
Add a Cylinder by clicking Space-bar> Add> Mesh> Cylinder. This will bring up a small window in which you can set several parameters including vertices, radius, Depth, and cap ends. We will leave the settings in their default state. Press OK to add the cylinder to the scene.
In earlier versions, Blender would automatically take you to edit mode, otherwise you should switch to edit mode by pressing the TAB key.
[edit] Remove the bottom row of vertices
Next you will want to delete the bottom row of vertices. To accomplish this go into side view by pressing “3” on the num-pad.
Ensure that you are in Vertex select mode by pressing Ctrl-Tab and selecting “vertices”.
Press AKEY twice to deselect everything
Press the B key, and box select the bottom row of vertices, and press the X key to delete and then confirm.
[edit] Extrude and scale to shape
Be in Vertex mode
Select all the vertices around the outside of the circle (you can do this with circle select BKEY twice). The center vertex must not be selected.
Switch to Edge select mode by pressing CTRL+TAB and then Edges.
Press the EKEY key to extrude ("region") the selection and the ZKEY key to constrain to the Z axis.
Drag the edges a small ways down then click the left mouse button to release.
As this makes a right-angle at the sides and parachutes to don’t have straight edges, we need to scale the selection outward.
Press the SKEY key and move the mouse away from the model, you will see that the edges get smaller and bigger.
Scale them out a small ways then left click to release. You will want to practice a little with the scale amounts till you can make a realistic parachute shape.
Noob note: if you're seeing the popup with regions, edges, etc., when you extrude, then you're not in Edge select mode
Continue extruding and scaling till you have a shape like the one shown on the right.
When you're done making a nice shape, be sure to select all (AKEY twice), then hit WKEY and pick "remove doubles"
[edit] Make the top more rounded
Be in Vertex mode
Select the center vertex in the middle of the original top half of the cylinder, use circle select to get it, otherise you will be RMB a number of times to find it, and move (GKEY) it up long the Z axis (ZKEY).
Select all LKEY, and then hit WKEY and remove duplicates, in case any were created.
[edit] Extrude the parachute straps
Now go into top-view by pressing the 7 key on the num-pad. Here you will select ~4 edges at opposite sides of each other.
Go back into side-view (num3) and extrude downward by pressing the E key and then the Z key.
[edit] Merge it together
All that remains to finish your parachute is to press Alt-M then “At Center” which will merge all selected vertices.
