7 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Learning Blender

I started learning Blender few years ago and I wish I had known a few things before I started.

Firstly, Blender is not an easy software to learn. It took me a few weeks of solid learning before I felt comfortable using it.

Secondly, the community is fantastic!

There are so many helpful and friendly people willing to help you out and answer any questions you have.

Finally, there are a ton of resources available online, so make sure to take advantage of them!

1. Blender is not just for 3D modeling.

Blender is a complete suite for 3D creation.

The software supports almost the entire 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking. Even video editing and sculpting are possible with Blender.

Blender is not an easy program to learn (for a complete beginner). If you are new to Blender or any other 3d creation software, don’t expect to be an expert within a few hours. It will take some time to learn all of the features and how to use them.

I had no idea that Blender could be used for so much more than just 3D modeling. It turns out that Blender is actually a powerful tool for simulations, 3D/2D animation, VFX, and even sculpting. I’m glad I took the time to learn it.

Recently, an exciting User Story was published on Blender.org website: Indian studio Makuta VFX used Blender to create hundreds of shots for the blockbuster movie “RRR”.

They used Blender throughout the pipeline, from asset creation to final 3D rendering. Because of its powerful and versatile capabilities, Blender was the apt tool that they needed.

2. Learn Basics.

“3D concepts” can be pretty daunting when you first start learning Blender. I remember being completely lost when I was trying to figure out all of the different terms and features.

Even now, after using Blender for a while, there are still times where I come across a new term or feature that I have to look up. If you’re just starting out with Blender, don’t worry! Everyone has to start somewhere.

Also, before you jump into complex projects like creating a house, spaceship, or an Iron Man suit, first you should learn the basics. You must understand the user interface, keyboard shortcuts, workflow, and the general process of making renders.

This 7 day tutorial series will help you to learn the Basics:

3. Knowing the shortcuts from the start.

As someone who’s just starting out with Blender, I wish I had known about all the great shortcuts that can make my journey so much easier.

Sure, I could find them eventually by looking around online or watching tutorials, but it would have been nice to know them from the start.

Also Read: Latest Blender Keyboard Shortcuts and Essential Hotkeys

Learning all of these Blender shortcuts will definitely help you to work faster and more efficiently in Blender. So, make sure to memorize them and put them into practice!

4. Frustration of learning Blender.

Blender is very powerful and can create very complex models. However, this power comes at a price. Blender can be very slow and frustrating to use at times. You don’t have to worry too much about the frustrations. It is quite natural to feel it here and there until you become good at Basics.

It’s quite a bit like learning to drive a car; at first, it’s very confusing and you crash a lot, but eventually, you get the hang of it and it becomes second nature.

Here are some of the things that you can do to make Blender faster and more efficient for you.

• Use The Right Tools: There are many different types of tools in Blender, and each one has its own purpose. You don’t need to use all of them all the time. In fact, you shouldn’t. Instead, focus on using the right tools for the job at hand. If you’re modeling something simple, you don’t need to use particle system or simulations that you would use for something more complex.
• Use the Right Hardware: One of the best ways to make Blender faster for you is to make sure that your computer is powerful enough to handle the software. Blender is a 3D graphics software that can be taxing on your computer’s resources. If you have an older computer, it may not be able to handle Blender as well as a newer one. Upgrading your computer, getting a new one or use Render farm for rendering may be the best way to make Blender faster for you.
• Use The Right Modifiers: Modifiers are a great way to change the way your model looks without having to redo everything from scratch. However, they can also be very slow and can make your model look strange if you’re not careful. Instead of using a modifier for everything, only use them when you absolutely need to.
• Use The Right Settings: There are many different settings in Blender, and each one can have a big impact on the way your model looks. However, some of them can also be very slow and can increase your render time. Instead of using same settings for all projects, take the time to experiment with different settings and find the ones that work best for the scene.

Also Read: Top Free Sites to Download CC0 Textures & HDRIs

If you ever get stuck while using Blender, there is a great community of users that are always willing to help. There are also a ton of resources available online, such as tutorials and forums.

5. Focus on what really matters.

When you create a 3D model in Blender for the first time, chances are there for spending hours on unnecessary details. 

To maintain balance in work, Focus on what is important to you. Spend less time on things that do not matter. Unfortunately, we can be so focused on our current task that we forget to take a step back and evaluate what really matters.

I am a perfectionist, and I made a lot of mistakes when I created a 3D floor plan for the first time. I used to spend a lot of time making wall bevels, door hinges, 8K images to make perfect wall textures, and so on.

6. Strong community and resources.

I wish I had known about all the wonderful communities when I first started learning Blender.

Although I could have eventually found them by browsing the web or watching tutorials, but it would have been nice to know them from the start.

Blender has a very active and helpful community. There are many resources available online to help you learn Blender. The community is also very helpful if you have any questions.

Communities: Blender Stack Exchange, Blender Artist Forum and bunch of Facebook Groups.

7. Blender is constantly evolving. 

One of the things I love about Blender is that it is free and constantly evolving.

The developers are always adding new features and improving the software. This means that you will need to keep up with the latest changes in order to stay proficient with the software. And, It’s really exciting to see what they come up with next.

Overall, Blender is a very complex and powerful program. It will take some time to learn all of the features and how to use them. However, the time you invest in learning Blender will be well worth it.

What techniques or tips would you provide for Blender Artist who want to improve their artwork, and get better results?