= Blender Knowledge Base =

This page is a collection of various problems and strategies in Blender. Feel free to add items!

== Useful Tips For Modeling ==
 * Use reference images or sketches as background images. To do this, try "View" -> "Backgroud Image..."
 * Use symmetries. If your model will be symmetrical or almost symmetrical, then you don't have to model both sides. Use the Mirror modifier instead and add small details after that.
 * When adding details to your object, try to save faces. Keep an eye on the face count in the info bar at the top.
 * Don't smooth edges with acute angles. Subdivide instead, if you want it more round.
 * Optimize your model in the end
  * Merge useless points at the end to reduce the face count.
  * Mesh -> Scripts -> Clean Meshes 
  * Mesh -> Scripts -> Poly Reducer
  * Optimize your edge directions (needs illustration)

== Things Not to Do ==
 * Leave holes in your mesh. Use Shift + F instead to fill them.
 * Make sure, all normals point outside. Select all faces in Edit mode and hit Ctrl + N
 * Avoid:
  * Double edges and faces
  * Vertices in plain air
  * Faces, edges and vertices inside your mesh
  * Overlapping faces

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

=== How can I manipulate numerically? ===
Activate your modificator (e.g. E to extrude, G to move, ...) then just input a numeric value. In the header of the 3D-View, you will get numerical feedback. Hit Enter to confirm or ESC to abort the modification.

Alternatively, press N to bring up the "Transform Properties" window. It gives you numerical info location, dimension and rotation of your object and you can also enter numerical values there.

=== How can I set back or bottom view? ===
Holding the mouse over your 3D Viewport and pressing the NUM7, NUM1 or NUM3 buttons will bring you back to perfectly aligned top, front, and side views. Pressing CTRL+NUM7, CTRL+NUM1, and CTRL+NUM3 will result in displaying the bottom, back, and other side views, respectively.

=== How can I manipulate my pivot of my mesh? ===
You can choose the pivot point for rotating, spinning and similar functions by selection an option from the drop-down menu in the header of the 3D-View. The default is "Median Point" but you can also pick other options like "3D-Cursor" to place the pivot point freely with the 3D-Cursor.

=== How can I render my 3d view instead of the camera view? ===
 * Switch to Object mode
 * Open Render Preview: "View" -> "Render Preview"
 * Move/Resize the window to your likings,
 * Right-click the window to render a preview. Note that it often doesn't have the quality of a normal render, but it is useful to get an idea of what the render will look like.

=== How can I change the grid distance for the "Snap-to-Grid" function? ===

Tell us if you know!

=== How can I check my normals? ===

 * Edit Mode -> F9
 * Under "Mesh Tools 1", click on "Draw Normals". The blue lines that appear are your face normals. You want them to point outside of the mesh.
 * Selecting a face and choosing W -> "Flip Normals" lets you change them all individually.
 * You can also select all your faces and hit Ctrl + N to make them all point outside.