Then, if you were creating a 3D model for a game or image, you could make the walls transparent to resemble glass and add lighting or reflections. Next, you could add some angles to make it less of a cylinder and more of glass. For example, if you’re trying to make a drinking glass, as we mentioned above, you might start with a cylinder. The easiest way to do this is to start with broad strokes and slowly, as you add each layer, begin to increase the detail levels. Adding the Detailsīefore printing, it’s important to start adding and perfecting your details. In the words of the iconic Miss Frizzle (of Magic School Bus fame), “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” And yes, you will get messy - if you’ve ever seen a 3D print spaghetti-fi when it fails, you’ll understand the mess. Get a feel for how the different tools and vertices modify the 3D structure you’re designing. Pick something easy - like a drinking glass - and start developing your design. You can create nearly anything you want with these programs and an excellent 3D printer, but it’s always a good idea for beginners to start with a simple object. Creating Your First ShapesĮvery 3D print starts with a digital model, so once you have all your settings tweaked to your liking, it’s time to start creating your first shapes.

If you’re planning to use any add-ons to make your modeling journey easier, you’ll want to activate them now. Chances are high that your 3D printer platform isn’t that big, so you’ll need to modify your settings to better suit your printer. You can also choose between degrees or radians for measuring in three-dimensional spaces.Īccording to Blender’s default settings, one “Blender” is one square meter. You can choose between imperial or metric measurements - or none- if you plan to freehand. You’ll want to start by deciding on your measurement units. You may never use many features - such as animation and lighting - if you’re only planning on 3D printing. Opening Blender for the first time can be intimidating. Follow along to learn how to use Blender for 3D printing. Unfortunately, as with most 3D modeling software, there is a reasonably steep learning curve while figuring out the program. For free software, it contains everything you need for 3D modeling and animation - or 3D printing. Blender is a free, open-source 3D modeling software that supports everything from modeling and sculpting to motion tracking and video editing. Searching Google for the best free 3D modeling software brings up the same answer: Blender. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commision.

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