[Introduction to Blender] Using modifier tools (1) Introduction – Generate(Array/Bevel/Boolean)

Modifier tool is very useful when working with Blender.
It doesn’t directly change the shape of the object, so you can redo and tweak it many times without destroying it until you apply the settings.
Combine a number of functions and change the order of processing to create the ideal object.

Modifier List

There are four main categories of modifiers, each with more detailed functions.
The modifiers introduced here are those of version 2.92.0.

Modify

This function can be used to modify an object, such as projecting UVs onto another object or changing its shape.

• Data Transfer
• Mesh Cache
• Mesh Sequence Cache
• Normal Edit
• Weighted Normal
• UV Project
• UV Warp
• Vertex Weight Edit
• Vertex Edit Mix
• Vertex Edit Proximity

Generate

Generate is used to twist, increase the number of objects, or change the shape of objects.

• Array
• Bevel
• Boolean
• Build
• Decimate
• Edge Split
• Geometry Nodes
• Mask
• Mirror
• Multiresolution
• Remesh
• Screw
• Skin
• Solidify
• Subdivision Surface
• Triangulate
• Volume to Mesh
• Weld
• Wireframe

Deform

Deform an object by smoothing its surface or following its shape to another object.

• Armature
• Cast
• Curve
• Displace
• Hook
• Laplacian Deform
• Lattice
• Mesh Deform
• Shrinkwrap
• Simple Deform
• Smooth
• Smooth Corrective
• Smooth Laplacian
• Surface Deform
• Warp
• Wave

Physics

This function controls the physical movement of real-world objects that require the calculation of gravity and time, such as cloth flapping in the wind or water poured into a glass.

• Cloth
• Collision
• Dynamic Paint
• Explode
• Fluid
• Ocean
• Particle Instance
• Particle System
• Soft Body

When exporting objects that use modifier functions in animation to external services or software such as STYLY, you will need to follow some steps and the data size will be large.
Also, some functions can only be used in Blender, so you need to be careful.

In this article, I will introduce three functions from the Generate modifier that I often use in Blender.

Generate Array

This is used to place multiple identical objects at equal intervals.

Fit Type(Fixed Count)	Increases the number of objects by the number of counts.
Fit Type(Fit Length)	Increase the number of objects that fit into the length of Length.
Fit Type(Fixed Curve)	Increase the number of objects that fit into the specified curve length.
Relative Offset	Sets the distance between objects.
Constant Offset	Sets the distance between the origins of objects
Object Offset	Reflects the angle and size of another specified object
Merge	Merge the increased objects together
UVs	Sets the UV offset of the duplicated object
Caps	Place another object at each Start/End

Relative Offset and Constant Offset allow you to specify the X, Y, and Z of each axis direction simultaneously.

With Object Offset, you can change the angle or size of the specified object, and the changes will be reflected in the object using the Array.
For example, if you specify a cube that is rotated 45 degrees on the Z axis, the connected spheres will also be rotated 45 degrees.

Generate Bevel

Generate Bevel is a function that smoothes out the angular edges of an object, also called “beveling.
Also known as “beveling,” it is often used in mechanical and product modeling.

Vertices/Edges	Vertex only/Vertex and Edge
Width Type	Wide to define the amount of bevel
Amount	Width to apply bevel
Segments	Number of segments in the bevel area
Limit Method	Controls where the bevel is applied to the mesh
Angle	Bevels only edges that are less than or equal to 180 degrees (angle of adjacent faces + value)
Profile(Superellipse)	Sets the value of the unevenness of the beveled area
Profile(Custom)	Allows you to set more detailed values for bevels

When multiple vertices are overlapping, the bevel cannot be used.
In such a case, select all vertices with A, and then select M→By Distance.
The overlapping of the vertices will be removed.

Generate Boolean

This function allows you to hollow out or merge two overlapping objects.

Intersect	Intersect
Union	Merge
Difference	Difference
Operand Type	Selects either a single object or a collection
Object	Add the affected object

Intersect will subtract Suzanne except where she overlaps the cube.

Union combines the two objects into one where they meet.

Difference hollows out the shape of the cube.

In the next article, I will introduce Build/Decimate/Edge Split from Generate.