How to download Dust3D and use it to model circles side by side

This article explains how to use Dust3D, a free software that uses a unique method to create 3D models by arranging circles while looking at the front and side views, from how to download to how to model.

What is Dust3D?

Dust3D is a free, open source 3D modeling software.
It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The best feature of this software is its unique modeling method, where you create a 3D model by placing circles while looking at the front and side views.
The following video will help you get the idea.

Basic operation

First, let’s learn the basic operations without placing a sketch.

Creating a circle

Let’s place a circle.
Press the “+” button from the leftmost toolbar, adjust the size of the circle with the mouse wheel, and click somewhere on the screen.

An orange circle appears where you clicked, and a green circle appears to the left of the orange circle.
A green circle appears to the left of the orange circle, and a cube appears to the left of the orange circle.

The orange circle is the circle for the side view, the green circle is the corresponding circle for the front view, and the cube is the 3D model generated from the circles.
In other words, one circle = one cube.

We will add one more circle further down.

The first circle and the current circle will be automatically connected by joints and reflected in the 3D model. (If you don’t see the wireframe, go to “View” and press “Toggle Wireframe” to display it.

Next, let’s create a new circle between the two circles.
With the two circles selected by dragging, right-click and select “Break”.

Now a new circle is created between the circles.

Moving and scaling a circle

Click on the cursor symbol from the leftmost toolbar to switch to the selection mode instead of the circle creation mode. (You can also use the [A] key to switch.)

Let’s move the middle circle by dragging it sideways.

The orange circle was the circle to be placed in the side view, and the green circle was the corresponding circle to be placed in the front view.

So even if we move the orange circle, the position of the green circle will not change.

You can make the circle smaller by moving the mouse wheel while it is selected. (If it is difficult to make fine adjustments with the mouse wheel, you can also use the [-] and [=] keys to make fine adjustments.

Basically, you create a circle like this, and adjust its position and size to proceed with modeling.

Adjust the shape

As it is now, you can only create an angular model.

To round off the corners, click on the circle icon on the left side of the bottom row of 10 marks in the Parts panel on the right.
The function of this icon is “Subdivide”.

By pressing the U mark to the right of it, you can further round the corners of the top and bottom edges as well.

Adjusting the display position of the 3D model

The 3D model is usually displayed on the left side of the screen, but there may be times when it gets in the way of your work.
In such a case, use the shortcut to adjust the display position of the 3D model.

• [Alt] + [-] to zoom out the 3D model, [Alt] + [=] to zoom in
• [Alt] + left-click to rotate the 3D model.
• [Alt] + [Shift] + left-click to move the 3D model.
  Try Modeling

Now, let’s proceed with modeling

You can find a sample ant model in the Dust3D official documentation, so let’s use this one.
After downloading the JPG data, go to “File” and select “Change Reference Sheet” to set up the rough sketch.

Now, let’s place the circle on the side view on the right side of the screen.
It is easier to model from the edge, such as the head.
Just place the circles roughly along the shape of the picture, as shown below.

If you check the front view, you will see that the green circle is far off from the front view.
We will align it on the front view as well.
Drag it to the appropriate position.

The side view and the front view do not necessarily correspond to each other, so they do not have to be exact.
It doesn’t matter if they are accurate or not. Try to make the front view and side view as consistent as possible.

When placing the circles, the key is to make small circles at the joints between the parts.
For example, if you just made the head and chest parts of the ant respectively, the head will not be clear like this.

So, strike a small circle between the head and the thorax.
This makes the base of the head thinner and more like an ant’s head.

As far as I can tell, it is difficult to add circles after they have been placed, so be aware of the “base” before placing them.

If you want to start from the front view, you can place the first circle on the side view, and then extend the circle on the front view.

Please refer to the following video for the detailed process.

Repeat this process to place circles all over. (It’s hard to tell because the circles are light in color, but they are placed all over the body.

When we create a circle in a new position, the parts will automatically be separated, so we will also create the legs and the sense of touch.

When you finish making the legs and the sense of touch, you are done.

How to upload to STYLY

Export the 3D model

You can export your 3D model from Dust3D in three different formats: .glb / .fbx / .obj.
In the File menu, there are two options: “Export” and “Export as OBJ”.

If you want to output in glb or fbx format, select “Export”. Then the automatically expanded UVs will be displayed.

After selecting .glb or .fbx from the bottom left, click “Save” on the bottom right to proceed to the save screen.
Don’t forget to add “.glb” or “.fbx” at the end of the file name as an extension.

If you want to output the file in obj format, click “Export as OBJ” to go directly to the save screen above.
If you want to upload to STYLY, it is recommended to output in glb format, which preserves the material settings.

Uploading to STYLY

Let’s upload the exported 3D model to STYLY.

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How to upload to STYLY

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