[Blender] Basic Sculpting Operations 2 (Part 1) Explanation of Sculpting & Brushes using Metaball

Blender’s Sculpting Function

Blender has so many features that you can’t use them all, but one of the modeling methods is “sculpting”.

One of the modeling methods is “sculpting”, which allows you to model in Blender as if you were kneading or sculpting clay by hand.

Please refer to the following article for a detailed explanation of the screen and how to use it.

In this article, we will introduce an even freer modeling method using the “Metaball” object and several brushes not covered in the previous article in the second half of the first half.

What is Metaball?

At first glance, Metaballs seem no different from ordinary spheres or cubes.

However, when you put meta balls close to each other, they affect each other like slime or magnets, and connect or change their shapes.

2つのMetaball(ボール)

Two Metaballs

Let’s try Metaball!

Metaballs can be added by pressing [Shift]+[A], just as you would add a new regular mesh.

The shapes available are similar to those of meshes.

Metaball

Metaball

Ball

It is a spherical meta-ball, the same as the mesh sphere.

Capsule

It looks like the center of a ball stretched out.

Capsule

Capsule

Plane

This metaball looks like a plain mesh with added thickness.

Plane

Plane

Ellipsoid

It is shaped between a ball and a capsule.

Ellipsoid

Ellipsoid

Cube

It is a cubic metaball, the same cube as the mesh cube.

cube

cube

Metaball Advanced Settings

Newly added metaballs can have their radius changed from the menu in the lower left corner, and their resolution, etc., can be changed from the properties on the right.

Metaball

Metaball

Sculpting with Metaball (Preparation)

First, assemble the shape of the object you want to create, using a metaball.

In this case, let’s try sculpting a cat.

It may look difficult, but it can be reproduced with a combination of basic operations and metaball.

The image to be used as a reference should be as close as possible to the true side (+ front) as possible.

Cat photo created by freepik

Cat photo created by freepik

Think of the shapes and sizes of the metaballs as you would assemble them with blocks.

The following image shows an example of a cat’s body using circles and ellipses.

Let’s try modeling this with Metaball.

円と楕円を組み合わせた図

円と楕円を組み合わせた図

After opening Blender and deleting the cube with the [X] key, add a reference image.

Select Image→Reference by pressing [Shift]+[A] key.

Reference

Reference

Then an image selection screen will appear, select a specific image, and click the Load Reference Image button.

Load Reference Image

Load Reference Image


3D Viewportに画像が読み込まれた

Image loaded into 3D Viewport

Increase the number of panels and click Viewpoint→Front from View in the top menu.

This will take you to the screen viewed from the Front (directly in front of you).

画面右上の角からドラッグするとパネルを増やせる

Click and drag the lower right corner


右下の角をクリック&ドラッグ

Click and drag the upper right corner of the screen to add more panels


ViewからViewpoint→Frontを選択

From View, select Viewpoint→Front

If the loaded image is skewed, click on the image to select it.

If the image is skewed, click on the image to select it, then press the [N] key to go to the top tab of the right menu and change the value of Rotation to 0 to correct the angle of the image.

Rotationの値が0ではないため画像が斜めになっている

The image is skewed because the Rotation value is not 0.


YとZ軸を0に設定することで正しい角度になった

Setting the Y and Z axes to 0 resulted in the correct angles.

In this case, the screens were assigned as follows.

(左)自由に動かす/(右上)正面から画像を参考にする/(右下)上部から厚みの確認

(Left) Move freely / (Upper right) Refer to the image from the front / (Lower right) Check the thickness from the top

Sculpting with Metaball (modeling)

Let’s start with the torso.

Select Metaball→Capsule by pressing [Shift]+[A] and add a new capsule.

カプセルを新規追加する

Add a new capsule

Then change the size and position of the capsule according to the reference image.

Movement [G] key → ([X] key / [Y] key / [Z] key any axis) → cursor movement → enter to confirm
Reduce/Expand [S] key→ ([X]/[Y]/[Z] key any axis) → move cursor → enter to confirm
Angle change [R] key→ ([X]/[Y]/[Z] key any axis) → move cursor → enter to confirm

Sキー→カーソル操作で縮小、Gキー→ZキーでZ軸へ移動、Gキー→XキーでX軸へ移動

[S] key → cursor operation to zoom out, [G] key → [Z] key to move to Z-axis, [G] key → [X] key to move to X-axis


胴体ができた

The torso is ready

At this rate, let’s add another metaball in other positions.

With the torso metaball selected, press [Shift] + [A] to add another metaball.

Shift+Aキーで別なメタボールを追加

Add another metaball with [Shift]+[A] key


ボールを追加、2個以上のメタボールの形が位置によって変わる

Additional balls, 2 or more metaballs shape depending on location

Since the feet are outside the center, adjust the position for the thickness of the body at the end.

メタボールを参考写真に沿って並べていく

Arrange the metaballs according to the reference photo

If you want to edit the position or size of another metaball along the way, click on the circle around that metaball.

You can now re-edit it in the same way as the other metaballs.

編集したいメタボールの輪をクリックする

Click on the Metaball ring you want to edit

When modeling small parts such as toes, the meta balls may be chipped or may not be shaped as desired.

先が欠けて鋭利になっている

The tip is chipped and sharp

In such cases, try changing the Resolution value from the properties on the right side of the screen.

The resolution will be finer, and the shape of the metaball will be smoother.

画面右のプロパティからResolutionの値を変更する

Change the Resolution value from the properties on the right side of the screen

If you want to change the influence between metaballs, changing the Influence Threshold value is also effective.

値が小さくなるほどメタボールの丸みを帯び、大きくなるほどディテールが鮮明になる

The smaller the value, the more rounded the metaball, and the larger the value, the sharper the detail

The ears were also created by modeling one ear and moving it along the Y axis, then copying the other ear with [Command]+[C] key → [Command]+[D] key to paste.

片耳を造形後Y軸に沿って移動→Command+Cキーでコピー→Command+Vキーでペースト

After modeling one ear, move it along the Y axis → [Command]+[C] key to copy → [Command]+[V] key to paste

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I copied and pasted the front and back legs in front of the feet as well.

コピー&ペースト後、参考画像を元に角度を変えている

After copy and paste, the angle is changed based on the reference image

The curve of the tail can be edited later with a sculpting brush, so it can be left straight.

細長くしたカプセルを5つ繋げた

Five elongated capsules connected together

We can now use the metaball to create the shape of a cat.

メタボールで造形した猫

Cat sculpted with Metaball[

Finally, convert the metaball to a mesh.

With the metaball selected, right-click and select Convert To→Mesh.

All the metaballs will then be combined and transformed into a single model.

右クリック→Convert To→Mesh

Right click→Convert To→Mesh

The resolution after conversion to a mesh changes with the value of Resolution Viewport in the advanced settings on the right.

In this case, since sculpting will also be performed, it is recommended to set a slightly smaller value, such as 0.05m.

Resolution Viewport

Resolution Viewport


Resolution Viewportの値の違い

Resolution Viewport Value Difference

With the model selected, select Edit Mode from the upper left tab to see how detailed the polygons are.

左上のタブからEdit Mode(編集モード)を選択

Select Edit Mode from the tabs in the upper left corner

In the next article, use the sculpting feature to shape it.