👾 Character Modelling — Session 1

Step 1: Identify the Main Shapes

Review your sketch and decide which primitive will represent each body part.

For example:

• Sphere = Head
• Cube or sphere = Torso
• Cylinders = Arms and Legs
• Smaller spheres = Joints
• Cubes or flattened spheres = Hands and Feet
• Cones = Horns, Ears, Spikes, or other features

Begin with the torso because it will help you position the rest of the body.

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Tutorial

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Step 2: Build the Main Body

1. Open Blender.
2. Delete the default cube if you do not need it.

3. Add your first primitive:

   Shift + A → Mesh → Choose a shape

4. Move and scale the shape to create the torso.
5. Add another primitive for the head.
6. Add shapes for the arms and position them horizontally.
7. Add shapes for the legs and leave space between them.
8. Add hands, feet, or other major features.
9. Check the character from the front and side views.

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Step 3: Maintain the T-Pose

As you build, check that:

• Both arms form a straight horizontal line
• The arms do not touch the torso
• The hands point away from the body
• The legs are separated
• The feet point forward
• The head is centred above the torso
• The left and right sides are balanced
• No body parts overlap

Do not bend the elbows, knees, or torso during this session.

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Step 4: Use These Tools

Tool	Shortcut	Use
Add Object	Shift + A	Add cubes, spheres, cylinders, and other primitives
Select Object	Left Click	Select the object you want to edit
Move	G	Change an object’s position
Rotate	R	Change an object’s orientation
Scale	S	Change an object’s size or proportions
Duplicate	Shift + D	Create a copy of an object
Delete	X	Remove an object
Join Objects	Ctrl + J	Combine selected meshes into one object
Shade Smooth	Right-click → Shade Smooth	Soften the appearance of a surface
Toggle Snapping	Shift + Tab	Help align objects

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Step 5: Use Modifiers

Modifier	How to Access	Use
Mirror	Modifiers Tab	Create a symmetrical copy of one side
Subdivision Surface	Modifiers Tab	Smooth and round a shape
Array	Modifiers Tab	Repeat an object
Boolean	Modifiers Tab	Combine, intersect, or subtract shapes
Solidify	Modifiers Tab	Give thickness to a flat object
Wireframe	Modifiers Tab	Turn a surface into a wire-like structure

The Mirror Modifier is especially helpful for maintaining a symmetrical T-pose.

Step 1: Plan the Character Structure

Use your sketch to identify the central structure of the character: Head, Neck, Torso, Shoulders, Arms, Hands, Hips, Legs, and Feet.

Begin with the centre of the body, then extend outward toward the arms and legs.

Add-On needed

1. Download this ZIP file
2. On Blender, go to Edit → Preferences
3. Go to the Add-ons Tab
4. Click on the top-right down arrow, select Install from Disk
5. Select the ZIP file and click Install from Disk
6. In the search bar, look for Extra Mesh Objects and make sure it is enabled.
7. Follow the tutorial bellow.

If you have problems installing this add-on, please call the instructor.

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Tutorial

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Step 2: Build the Character in a T-Pose

1. Begin with a single vertex.
2. Extrude upward to create the torso, neck, and head.
3. Extrude sideways from the shoulders to create one arm.
4. Keep the arm horizontal.
5. Use the Mirror Modifier to create the arm on the opposite side.
6. Extrude downward from the hips to create the legs.
7. Keep visible space between the legs.
8. Check the model from the front and side views.
9. Adjust the thickness of each body section.
10. Add the Skin and Subdivision Surface modifiers.

The character must remain upright and facing forward.

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Tools You Will Use

Tool	Purpose
Single Vertex	Creates the starting point for the character structure
Extrude — E	Extends connected vertices to create the torso and limbs
Move — G	Positions vertices and adjusts proportions
Skin Modifier	Builds a three-dimensional surface around the connected vertices
Skin Resize — Ctrl + A in Edit Mode	Adjusts the thickness of selected parts
Mirror Modifier	Creates a symmetrical opposite side
Subdivision Surface	Smooths the character’s form
Shade Smooth	Softens the appearance of the surface

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T-Pose Checklist for Path B

Before continuing, make sure:

• The centre line of the body is straight
• The shoulders are level
• Both arms are horizontal
• Both arms are approximately the same length
• The legs extend downward with space between them
• The head is centred
• The body is symmetrical
• The character faces forward
• The elbows and knees are not bent