Introduction to Blender Interface

• After you install the blender, point your cursor on the blender logo and double-click it. You will enter in the blender program. The first time you open the blender version 2.79 you will find by default the 5 main window:

  1.  Information Window,
  2. 3D Window,
  3. Outliner Window,
  4. Properties Window,
  5. Timeline Window

In the 3D window by default we will see a cube, a camera and a lamp. Cube is an object that by default exists to help us define the point 0 when we first open the blender. By default we will see axisnya X, Y and Z. X are red, Y green and blue for Z axis.

Mouse

In blender by default when we select object or select an object then we use mouse with right click, But if you are familiar with left click you can change it.

Open File – User Preference or with button (ctrl + alt U) select input section, change select with: Right to left, so you can select object by using left click.

• Viewport

When we open the blender then by default we have 1 viewport but we can also divide it into more than 1.

The trick is:

  1. Close Mouse on divider / divider between menus and viewport until mouse turns into shift mark.
  2. Then right click and select split area.
  3. We will get the dividing line and left click to confirm.

In addition we can also share it horizontally by:

  1. Move the mouse over the viewport barrier until the mouse turns into a sliding sign.
  2. Then Right click and select split area.
  3. We will get the dividing line and left click to confirm.

• View

In order to work fast in blender then we must know how to change the view in viewport, such as orbit, zoom, pan and roll. We can use two frequently used ways to control viewport in viewport.

The first way to use the Middle Mouse: To rotate the middle button drag view wherever we want, here the object remains and does not move moving is the way of view camera.

The second way by using Numpad:

Numpad 1: we will see the exact object of the Y axis.

Numpad 3: we will see the exact object of the X axis.

Numpad 7: we will see the object right on the Z axis or from above.

Ctrl + Numpad 1: we will see the exact object from behind the Y axis.

Ctrl + Numpad 3: We’ll see the exact object from the back of the X axis.

Ctrl + Numpad 7: We’ll see the object right from the bottom.

Numpad 2: Camera rotates down.

Numpad 4: Camera rotates left.

Numpad 6: Camera rotates right.

Numpad 8: Camera spins upward.

In addition to rotate we can also shift our view (not object).

Ctrl + Numpad 2: camera shifted down means the object looks like upwards.

Ctrl + Numpad 4: Left-shifted camera means the object looks right.

Ctrl + Numpad 6: Camera shift right means the object is visible to the left.

Ctrl + Numpad 8: Camera shifts up means the object is visible down.

In addition to rotate and shift we can also zoom in and out or called zoom by:

  1. Scroll Up Mouse down. To zoom simply turn the scroll mouse button forward and backward. Then the object will come closer and look bigger but it does not mean the object is enlarged.
  2. Ctrl + Drag the middle mouse forward backward mouse.
  3. Numpad +: to move away and Numpad – to approach.