Blender Basics · scottaferguson.org

Lesson 3: Edit mode and vertices

About 14 minutes · Blender 5.2.1 LTS · Mac Mini + Magic Mouse

Object Mode vs Edit Mode

Object Mode moves whole objects. Edit Mode changes the shape inside one object. Press Tab to switch. Press Tab again to switch back.

Object Mode whole object moves Tab Edit Mode corners (dots) are selectable Select modes 1 Vertex (dots) 2 Edge (lines) 3 Face (surfaces) Number keys need the Numpad setting from the Mac setup page.
What you should see: in Edit Mode, orange dots appear on the corners. That means you can change the shape.

Steps

  1. Tool Select the cube in Object Mode by clicking it.
  2. Key Press Tab. Dots appear on the corners.
  3. Key Press 1 for vertex select.
  4. Mouse Click one corner dot. It turns orange.
  5. Key Press G and move the mouse. Only that corner moves. Press Esc to cancel.
  6. Mouse Box select. Hold the left mouse button on empty space and drag a rectangle around the top four corners. Release. Those four are selected.
  7. Key Press S, then type 0.5, then Enter. The top shrinks.
  8. Key Press A to select everything, then A again to deselect everything.
  9. Key Press Tab to return to Object Mode.
Common trap: If nothing moves, you are probably in Object Mode. The mode menu is the dropdown in the top bar of the 3D Viewport, just right of the small editor icon in the top-left corner. It reads Object Mode in the screenshot. When you are in Edit Mode, it reads Edit Mode.

Project: tilted shield plate

An original shield shape for later use. It is not a team logo. Start from a new cube.

Finished: flat top, sloped sides, pointed bottom
Finished product: a shield-shaped plate with a flat top and sloped sides. Your version can differ, as long as the sides slope.
  1. Tool Add a cube: press Shift + A, then choose Mesh > Cube. menu names unverified in 5.2
  2. Key Press Tab for Edit Mode, then 3 for face select.
  3. Mouse Click the top face to select it.
  4. Key Press Delete and choose Faces. The top is open now.
  5. Key Press 1 for vertex select. Select the bottom four corners.
  6. Key Press S, Z, type 0.1, Enter to flatten the bottom.
  7. Key Select the two bottom corners on the left, press G, Z, and move up a little. Repeat on the right side.
  8. Check The sides slope inward toward the bottom, like a shield.
  9. Key Press Tab to leave Edit Mode, then Cmd + S to save.
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