Introduction to Blender
3D tools like Blender have made visual storytelling even more attainable for artists. Join me as I teach you all the tools and techniques you need to get started in creating your own 3D artwork in Blender at Schoolism.com.
Blender Version:
Custom Configuration Files
Download my custom configuration files for Blender by clicking on the corresponding Blender version button on the left and follow the installation video below.
I will do my best to test and update my scripts as new blender versions get released but the blender team is a very active one and a difficult one to keep up with so if you notice any broken tools or functions, please do let me know via my contact form.
Thank you so much!
Installaton Video
RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS?
Read here
Some hotkeys don't work for me...
If only certain hotkeys don’t work for you but the main pie menu shows up when you press spacebar, please try importing the hotkey script manually.
### = insert your Blender version number
- Go to Blender > Edit > Preferences
- Select keymap (1) and click on import (2). Select the ###_HOTKEYS.py script. It should then show up in field (3) –
IF it doesn’t, check to see if you are getting a permission error in the bottom of the preference windows (somewhere around field (4). If you are getting either a permission error – please go to the I’m getting a permission error question. Enable permissions first and then try importing the hotkey script again
I'm getting a permissions error...
If you are getting a permissions denied error when trying to install the scripts or importing the hotkeys, you need to adjust the permission settings on your blender folder.
### = insert your Blender Version Number
1. Go to C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender ###
2. Right click on the ### folder and select properties
3. Go to Security (1), check that your user ID (2) has full control allowed (3). If it doesn’t, click on edit (4).
How can I update only the custom hotkey file?
If you need to update only the hotkey script, please follow these step by step instructions:
###= insert your blender version number
- Go to Blender > Edit > Preferences
- Select keymap (1) and click on import (2). Select the ###_HOTKEYS.py script.
It should then show up in field (3) – IF it doesn’t, check to see if you are getting a permission error in the bottom of the preference windows (somewhere around field (4). If you are getting either a permission error – please go to the I’m getting a permission error question. Enable permissions first and then try importing the hotkey script again.
I prefer to use the Blender Default Hotkeys. Could you share the correlating default hotkeys to your custom ones?
Of course – here is a list of my custom hotkeys and their correlating blender default hotkeys.
Please note: some actions don’t have any hotkeys assigned to them in the blender default setting. If you’d like to add your own, you can see my question below on how you can add your own hotkeys. I’ve also listed the custom scripts I use and a brief explanation of what they do.
| Tool Name | My Custom Hotkey | Blender Default Hotkey |
| Bevel Edges | B | Ctrl B |
| Select Less | Ctrl , | Ctrl Numpad + |
| Select More | Ctrl . | Ctrl Numpad - |
| Select More > next active | Shift . | Shift Ctrl Numpad + |
| Bridge Edgeloops | Shift B | no hotkey. When in edit mode go to the Edge menu > bridge edge loops |
| Frame Selected | Ctrl F | Ctrl Numpad . |
| Select Linked | Double LMB or L | Shift L |
| Extrude Faces | Shift E | E |
| Extrude Faces Along Normals | E | Alt E |
| Camera to View | Ctrl K | no hotkey. Click N to bring up your sidepanel, go to the View Tab, open up the View options and under View lock, you can find the option “Camera to View” |
| Set Parent | Spacebar – Button, Ctrl P | Ctrl P |
| Remove Parent | Spacebar – Button, Alt P | Alt P |
| Join Objects | Spacebar – Button, Ctrl J |
Ctrl J
|
| Split to New Object | Spacebar – Button, P |
P |
| Isolate | Spacebar – Button, / |
/ |
| Custom Script – Main Pie Menu | Spacebar | |
| Custom Script – smart delete | x | this will bypass the popup menu you get when you hit X to delete and will automatically delete the component based on your selection. This script was created by Vaughan Ling. |
| Custom Script – toggle subdivision modifier** | ` | this will add a toggleable subdivision surface modifier with level 2 in viewport to your selected object. you can toggle modifiers by clicking their visibility icons. |
| Custom Script – quick pivot*** | Ctrl RMB |
there are 2 ways you can achieve this without using the script: 1. enable the Interface: Dynamic Context Menu. In edit mode – Press F3 and search for ‘Origin to Selected’. 2. enable 3D Viewport Pie Menu addon. Ctrl Alt X will bring up the origins pie which includes ‘Origin to Selected’ in Edit Mode. |
| Custom Script – Boolean Pie Menu**** | Ctrl B | this will add a boolean modifier to your selection and select various settings for you automatically. This script was created by Vaughan Ling. |
| Custom Script – Bridge Smooth ***** | Spacebar | this is the Bridge Edgeloops tool with smoothness set to 1 and the number of cuts set to 12. |
| Custom Script – Remove Doubles ***** | Spacebar | this is a Merge by Distance with the Distance set to 0.0001. |
| Custom Script – Subdivide Cylinder ***** | Spacebar | this selects the edge ring of your selected edge and applies a bevel (set to 25%) to those edges. |
| Custom Script – Split to New Object ***** | Spacebar | this will select all the vertices of your objects and then separate them by loose parts (mesh > separate > by loose parts) |
| Custom Script – Display as Wire ***** | Spacebar | this sets the viewport display to wireframe in your object properties (the tab with the orange square icon) |
How do I set up my own Hotkeys?
- RMB click on the action/command you want to assign a custom hotkey to.
- Select Change Shortcut
3. Press desired hotkey
I have another problem that's not addressed here...
If for any reason, you run into issues and none of the information on this site helps you resolve the issue, please reach out to me via my contact page.
I’m not an IT specialist but I will do my best to help you resolve your problems.