3D graphics software is swiftly becoming a standard tool in the artist's arsenal, thanks to developments in ease of use and accessibility.

Blender is a free open-source software that can be used in the creation of motion graphics, animation, visual effects, compositing, digital illustration, and design. With regular updates and a thriving community of artists and animators using the platform, there's never been a better time to give it a try.

This article will examine the basic Blender layout, controls, and workspaces. It will equip you with basic knowledge to delve further into the exciting possibilities that Blender offers.

When you open Blender, you're greeted with a splash screen that allows you to load up an existing project, or create a new one. You have a set of presets available for new projects: General2D Animation, Sculpting, VFX, and Video Editing.

Blender Interface

In this case, we're going to select the General workspace. By default, this opens a new project with a camera and a cube object.

The default layout offers a workspace consisting of a main 3D Viewport (the window in which you move and view your creations in a 3D space), as well as a Timeline at the bottom of the screen to work with keyframes, simulations, and animation.

Finishing off the set is an Outliner panel in the top right that details all the objects and assets in your scene. Meanwhile, the Properties panel in the bottom right allows you to adjust the various settings and parameters.

Blender Interface with Labels

That's the most basic layout. The other available panels and windows include more specific settings and tools for keyframing, shading, nodes, image editing, and much more. For now, let's stick to the default setting.

3D Viewport Controls

Within the 3D Viewport window, there are a number of key and mouse commands that allow for smooth and accurate movement in the 3D space. This takes some practice, but mastering these will make using Blender much easier.

Remember that all controls can be customized by heading to the Edit tab at the top of your screen, and then by pressing Preferences > Input.

If you're using a laptop and do not have access to a mouse, you may wish to enable Emulate 3 Button Mouse in the same location, which will allow you to simulate a right-click and middle mouse button.

Blender input settings

 3D Viewport Modes

The 3D Viewport can switch between a default of six modes, all of which can open up a range of tools and functions depending on what you want to do.

Modes in Blender

Here's a brief overview of each mode:

  • Object Mode allows you to move and animate objects in your scene in relation to one another.
  • Edit Mode lets you manipulate a single object's shape, size, and appearance. It also lets you manipulate polygons through points, faces, or edges.
  • Sculpt Mode has a range of sculpting tools that allow you to manipulate and warp objects into distinct shapes.
  •  Vertex Paint, Weight Paint, and Texture Paint all offer different means in which to add color and texture to objects.

Particle Edit and Pose can also become available while working with specific objects, such as armatures or objects with hair particle systems. However, these modes are more complex, and won't be covered in this article.

Related: The Best Free 3D Modeling Software

Moving Around In The 3D Viewport

To pan around in the 3D Viewer, hold down the middle mouse or scroll button in conjunction with mouse movement. To pan, hold down Shift with the middle mouse or scroll button.

To zoom in and out of your scene, you can either scroll with the mouse or hold down Ctrl (Windows) or CMD (macOS), all while pressing the middle mouse or scroll button.

The number keys at the top of your keyboard will also allow you to reset your position to a fixed point in relation to the center of your screen.

Try to remember the colors of your axis lines so you don't get lost. The red, green, and blue, lines correspond to the X, Y, and Z axes.

The axes and color lines in Blender

Moving Objects in the 3D Viewport

When working in a 3D space, accuracy is everything. As you are viewing a 3D space on a 2D computer monitor, you cannot accurately determine where things are by moving an object with human intuition.

What might look right from one angle may actually be miles out of place when you move your position!

Related: How to Use Mixamo to Animate Custom 3D Models

To resolve this, you have to think mathematically and change the parameters of your objects along fixed paths on the X, Y, and Z axes. You can do this by Moving, Scaling, and Rotating objects.

To Scale the objects you have selected in your 3D Viewport in Object Mode, use the S key. To move objects, use the G key. To rotate objects, use the R key.

Practice this on the cube in the default scene in Object Mode. If an object isn't available, you can create one by clicking Add > Mesh at the top of the screen. You'll then see a list of available basic objects to add to the scene.

You can also use key commands to tell Blender what you want to do. Navigating is very much like plotting a set of coordinates.

If you want to move the cube along the Y-axis (side to side), select the cube and press G > Y. This locks the cube to movement along the green Y axis, and allows you to move it with the mouse on a line.

Moving on Y axis

However, using the mouse is inaccurate. If you want to move the cube 10 meters exactly, you can repeat the exact same process as above, but this time, add the parameter for length.

So, to move the cube 10 meters along the Y-axis, you would select the cube, and type G > Y > 10, followed by Enter.

Similarly, if you want the cube to be twice as tall, you can scale it along the Z-axis by pressing S > Z > 2. This will instruct Blender to increase the scale of the cube on the Z-axis by double.

Scaling on the z axis

And of course, if you want to rotate the cube 90 degrees along the X-axis, you'd use R > X > 90.

Rotating on the X axis

Getting Acquainted With Blender

So, you've moved and scaled a cube around the X, Y, and Z axes. It's not much, but these fundamental actions of movement, rotation, and scale are the language through which Blender functions.

Mastering these will allow you to focus on harnessing other tools and systems which Blender offers, including animation, physics simulation, and 3D design.

If you want to get more acquainted with Blender, it's important to start learning all of the commands and shortcuts within the program.