What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Learning Blender 3D

I've been learning Blender, a free 3D modeling and animation application. It one of the hardest programs I've ever tried to learn. This video is about what I've learned in the process and what I wish I knew before I started.

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[juriko]

"I want to run but I can't even walk yet" - this sentence best sums up the learning process. Thanks for this video! I will follow in your steps and hope to learn something like you.

[ajtatosmano]

Hi Brad! The reason your art-hut didn't look as well is the lightning. Just like in painting, you have to find a lightning setup which emphasizes forms and space. (enabling depth of field looks pretty on this style as well) And don't be afraid to post-produce your render in Photoshop!

[Cubeorithms]

Blender is such a powerful software but it is definitely hard to learn. I've been using it for 6+ years and I still feel like a beginner! I definitely agree with you about the importance of repetition though, once you use a feature a few times, the seemingly infinite amount of buttons and options start to become clear and truly epic things can be created.

[aleksandramitic]

I've been using max for 20 years and in the meantime I learned many new programs. Recently switched to Blender, but not completely. One thing I realized 10 years ago is that it's best to first just watch tutorials, from beginner's to advanced lessons, without even trying to follow them, just watch and soak in as much as you can. Then you start again, watch a video and then repeat what they did. That's how I learned at least 5 pretty complex programs in pretty short time. Unreal engine is one of them. My first practice project in Unreal engine was actually my first job in UE for which I got payed. 8 years and few more programs later, still living from UE.

[eugenestarr]

I'm a teacher who decided to switch my college 3D class from 3dsMax to Blender this semester. My classes started on their donuts back in January and can totally relate with your experience so far. Thanks for sharing.

[eyeprops]

What I love about 3d is the ability to render your art at different angles.

[Bakamoichigei]

"Make a donut!" indeed; it's _the_ tutorial these days, and he's been keeping it updated for major Blender revisions. I love how mine turned out! 😁👍 btw, if you think dedouze's art looks amazing on a monitor, you should see it in _actual 3D!_ One of those scenes was a demo included on the Looking Glass Portrait lightfield display. 🤩

[tttechnology]

Just about to dive into blender and found all this very helpful, Thankyou!

[pretendisreal]

Oh my god, I'm so glad you mentioned your experience going through the tutorials - having the exact same experience. Sooo long and they make it seem SO easy!

[QubedSteak]

sometimes its hard to do low poly art because you want to add every detail.. but there really is a art to capturing your vision with a few elements as possible!

[BitterNor]

thanks for keeping my excitement and motivation up for continuing my journey learning Blender. I have no art or cg background but i love learning new tech. Your words and energy make me want to get back in there and finish the isometric room i started :)

[Tronic]

Great Video. I too followed the Donut tut. The one person whose style helped me learn most is Grant Abbitt. His series of low poly tuts are great, and he goes at a great pace, even telling you to pause and go ahead and see if you remember how to do something he's already taught you. I highly recomend his vids.

[Yassir.A.P.]

I know Blender community would recommend the donut tutorial bcos it is like the "rite of passage" into Blender, but I oppose that.
Donut tutorial is great and all, except that it covers all various aspects and features that a beginner shouldn't know on their first day using Blender.

What I'd recommend is the beginner series by Crossmind Studio. He's got accent but the curriculum is imo better: teach beginner about manipulating object in Object Mode, then going into Edit mode, than simple materials, etc.
One should understand Object and Edit mode well first, and not being overwhelmed by simulation, particles, etc on first tutorials (donut tutorial does that).

Anyway, good luck on your journey! 😀

[steprockmedia]

This is excellent advice.

I've been using Blender since before YouTube was much of a thing. Having a good supply of vids and then putting your own spin on it is priceless. I see people who are new to 3D and they're advancing way faster than I ever did. Awesome work.

[alejmc]

Oh man, the lifetime pet peeve of mine is never having learned to draw… you showed it clearly what a great toolset to have with the art hut, creating a high level concept art-ish sketch gave the whole picture of what’s really needed to be done on the modeling phase.
I dig these moments so much… now, onto learning some basic drawing skills.

[beulahfredrick]

Thank you!! Finally someone who understands. Ive just started learning blender through watching tutorials and I gotta say it's exciting and overwhelming at the
same time. I want to dab on everything, but figured I need to focus on one thing at a time. I am currently learning how to do exterior models of buildings. It's a slow process but I'll manage

[HeyBear]

Welcome to the Blender gang, Brad! Hey, relax, you're going to be here for a looong time! I've been a daily user for well over ten years now and still get excited every time I open it! I still haven't even got my teeth into Grease Pencil yet, but I'm in no rush - here to stay :]
If I could give you one bit of advice (you did ask!) - I don't know which option you chose at the start, but I would urge you to PLEASE at least give Right Click to Select a try! For at least a week... or a month... or a year!! Honestly, I'm an old school user and the new kids whined and whined until they put left click up as an 'up front' option, but it's just not right! There's some sort of zen 'click flow' magic that happens with rit=ght click select - something about the way you click through into an object and into edit mode... I don't know, it's unexplainable, but Right Click FTW!!
Also, enable Pie Menus! ;D

[EduaAMD]

You remind me when I started to learn Maya back in 2008. It was a slow process but I managed. I'm also trying to learn Blender, I think is a better 3D software and you can do anything there (even videoediting)! As I already have a 3D background it wasn't that bad when I began but still is very different than Maya or 3DMax or Cinema4D.
I hope to see soon more of your Blender work. Take care man!

[kieranwilliams]

I've been using Maya for over 10 years now and Blender is still one of the hardest pieces of software for me to try use.
Also in regards to the mouse, I almost exclusively use a pen tablet when doing 3D (top button right click, bottom middle click), I find it way more precise and natural to work with.

[kvendy]

seeing what you have created is quite good progress in a month.
I've been using blender for 3 years now and comparing my old projects to the new ones makes me proud of myself, a little bit of patience is require