View source for Blender-4.1/C3/Creating-a-Road/English

'''Title: '''Creating a Road

'''Author:''' Sejal Dhiman & Arthi Varadarajan

'''Keywords: '''blender 4.1, object mode, edit mode, loop cut, material, bezier curve, array modifier, curve modifier, solidify, video tutorial.


{| border=1
|-
|| '''Visual Cue'''
|| '''Narration'''
|-
|| '''Slide Number 1'''

'''Title Slide '''
|| Welcome to the '''Spoken tutorial''' on '''Creating a Road '''in''' Blender 4.1'''.
|-
|| '''Slide Number 2'''

'''Learning Objectives'''
||In this tutorial, we will learn to create a road using the options given here:

* Add and edit a''' plane'''
* Use '''Loop cut'''
* Use '''Viewport Shading modes'''
* Add '''Material''' to an object
* Use '''Array''', '''Curve''' and '''Solidify''' '''modifiers'''

|-
|| '''Slide Number 3'''

'''Software and System Requirement'''
||To record this tutorial, I am using

* '''Mac OS version 14.5 '''
* '''Blender version''' '''4.1'''

It is recommended to install '''Blender version 4.1''' or higher.

|-
|| Slide Number 4

'''Pre-requisites'''
||To follow this tutorial 
* The learner must know to add objects in Blender.


|-
|| Blender interface
||I have already opened Blender. 


|-
|| Video editor: '''X'''

Click on '''Delete.'''

The cube has to be selected.
||Let us start creating the road. 

First we will delete the '''cube'''.

Press''' X '''and select '''Delete''' from the shown menu.
|-
|| Cursor on the 3D view port.
|| Next, let us add a plane for creating the road.
|-
|| Video editor: '''Shift''' and '''A'''

'''Mesh >> Plane'''

||Press '''Shift '''and''' A '''keys together to open the ''' Add '''menu.

Select '''Mesh''' and then click on '''Plane '''.

|-
|| Video editor: '''numpad 7'''
||Let us go to the '''Top view''' to work further. 

For this, press '''numpad 7''' to show the top view.
|-
|| Go to the '''Toolbox. '''Click on '''Scale'''

Drag the green handle upward
||Next, let us resize the plane.

Go to the '''Toolbox''' and click on '''Scale '''.

Click on the green handle of the gizmo and drag it upwards.

|-
|| Hover over '''Resize''' option
||To set the exact dimension, go to the bottom left. 

Observe that, '''Resize''' option is available as the '''Scale tool''' is used.

This option may vary as per the action performed on the '''3D viewport'''.

|-
|| Click on the '''Resize. '''

Change the value of '''Y''' to '''3.5'''
||Click on the '''Resize''' option. 

Change the value of '''Y''' to '''3.5. '''Press '''Enter.'''

Observe the change in the '''plane.'''

|-
|| point to the plane.
||Note that we are currently working in the '''Object Mode'''.

To edit the object, we need to go to '''Edit mode. '''
|-
|| Hover over the top left slide corner

Click on '''Object mode drop down.'''

Click on '''Edit mode'''

Press '''Tab''' key twice
||Go to the top left corner. 

Below the '''Menu, '''locate the dropdown named '''Object Mode'''.

Click on it and select '''Edit mode'''. 

'''Tab''' key also helps to switch between '''Object mode''' and '''Edit mode.''' 
|-
|| Point to the 3 icons.
||Next to the '''Edit mode''' option, observe the three icons. 

|-
|| Click on '''Vertex selection mode'''
|| In '''Vertex selection mode,''' we can edit the vertices of the object. 
|-
|| Click on '''Edge selection mode'''
|| In '''Edge selection mode,''' we can edit the edges. 
|-
|| Click on '''Face selection mode'''

Click on''' Edge selection mode'''
||'''Face selection mode '''allows to work and edit the faces of the object.


For now, I will select '''Edge selection mode.'''

|-
|| Hover over the plane
||Now let us add '''loop cuts''' to the plane. 

|-
|| Go to '''Tool box.''' Click on '''Loop Cut '''
||For that, go to the '''Toolbox''' and click the '''Loop Cut'''.

Move the mouse onto the plane.

|-
|| Click when yellow line appears vertically on the '''plane'''
||You can see a yellow line appearing over the plane. 


When it appears vertically, click on it.

Observe that an edge is created in the middle of the plane.

|-
|| Hover over the plane
||Now, we will add another vertical edge.

|-
|| Hover over the bottom left corner

Click on '''Loop Cut and Slide'''

Set the '''Number of Cuts '''to '''2'''

||To do so, go to the bottom left.

On the''' Loop Cut and Slide '''option, set the '''Number of Cuts''' to '''2'''. Press''' Enter.''' 

I will minimize this option.

Now you can see two vertical edges on the '''plane.'''
|-
|| Go to '''Tool box.''' Click on '''Scale.'''

Drag the red handle towards the right side.

||Let us move these edges towards the corner of the plane.

Go to the '''Toolbox''' and click on '''Scale'''.

Click and drag the red handle towards the right side.

|-
|| Release the mouse button
||Once the lines move to the corner of the plane, release the mouse button.

|-
|| Hover over the plane

Click on '''Loop Cut''' 
||Next, let’s add horizontal edges to the plane.

Go to '''Toolbox.''' Click on '''Loop cut.'''

|-
|| Click to create horizontal loop cut
||Move the mouse on the plane.

When the yellow line comes horizontally, click on it.

Let us add 3 more edges to the plane.

|-
|| Go to the bottom left corner

Click on '''Loop Cut and Slide'''

Set '''Number of Cuts''' to '''4 '''
||Go to''' Loop Cut and Slide '''option.

Change the '''Number of Cuts''' to 4 and press''' Enter.'''

We see four horizontal edges created to the plane.


|-
|| Go to '''Toolbox.''' 

Click on the '''Select Box'''.

||Let us align these edges now.

Go to '''Toolbox''', Click on the '''Select Box'''.

|-
|| Click and drag on the first edge
||Click and drag the mouse on the first horizontal edge and select it. 

|-
|| Hold '''Shift '''key. Click and drag on the last edge
||Hold the '''Shift''' key and drag the mouse over the last horizontal edge as shown.

|-
|| Hover over the selected edges
||Let us now move these edges towards the corner of the plane.

|-
|| Go to '''Tool box.''' Click on '''Scale.'''

Select and drag it vertically upward
||Go to '''Toolbox''', Click on '''Scale. '''

Click on the green handle of the gizmo and drag it vertically upwards as shown.

|-
|| Click on '''Select box tool.''' 

Select the second and third created edges of the plane
||Let us align the other 2 edges. Click on the '''Select box tool.''' 

Click and drag to select the second edge of the plane.

Hold the '''Shift''' key and select the third edge.

|-
|| Click on '''Scale tool.''' 

Move the edges closer
||Click on the '''Scale tool.''' 

Move them close to each other using the green handle as shown.

|-
|| Only narration
||Next, let’s add some colors to the plane to make it look like a road.

|-
||  Video editor: '''Z'''
||To preview the changes, we will make use of the '''Viewport Shading Modes'''. 


Press '''Z''' key to open the '''Viewport Shading Modes.'''

|-
|| Hover over '''Solid mode'''

Click on''' Material preview'''
||Currently, '''Solid mode '''is active.

We will change it to '''Material Preview mode'''.

Let us add '''materials''' to the plane now. 
|-
|| Go to '''Properties'''
||Go to the '''Properties '''panel''' on the right. 

Keep the cursor near the left corner of the '''Properties '''panel.

A double headed arrow appears
|-
||  Click and drag on the double headed arrow. 

Click on '''Materials. '''

|| Click and drag the double headed arrow towards the left. 

Like this we can resize the panels in '''Blender.'''

Click on the last circular icon called '''Material.'''

|-
|| Click on''' New'''
||The '''Material properties '''open on the right side. 

Click on '''New.'''

|-
|| Replace '''Material001 '''with '''Road'''

Click on the '''Base Color'''
||Change the '''Material001 '''name to''' Road. '''Press '''Enter.'''


Click on the '''Base Color '''field.
|-
|| Hover over the color wheel

Select black color

Move the mouse
||A color wheel appears.

Drag the mouse and select black color as shown.


Move the mouse outside the color wheel.
|-
|| Hover over the road
||You can see that the color of the road changes to black.

|-
|| Only narration
||Let’s now make it realistic by adding more details to it.

|-
|| Click on '''Select box tool'''


Select the middle box
||Click on the '''Select box tool.''' 

Then drag and select the middle face of the '''plane.'''
|-
|| Go to '''Properties. '''

Click on “+”. 

Select '''New'''

Change the '''Material001''' to '''Yellow stripe'''

||Go to the '''Properties. '''

Click on the “+” option. Click on '''New'''.

In the name field, change '''Material001''' to '''Yellow stripe'''.

Press '''Enter.'''
|-
|| Click on the '''Base Color '''field

Select yellow color

Click on '''Assign'''
||Click on the '''Base Color '''field. Color wheel opens.

Choose the shade of yellow that resembles the yellow lines on a real road.

Click on '''Assign. '''

Observe the color changes to yellow of the selected face of the plane.

|-
|| Drag and select the horizontal top 3 boxes. 

Hold the '''Shift '''key and select the horizontal bottom 3 boxes too.


||Let us now add white lines on the sides of the road.


Drag and select the horizontal top faces. 


Hold the '''Shift '''key and select the horizontal bottom faces too. 
|-
|| Go to '''Properties.''' 

Click on “+”. 

Select '''New'''

Change the '''Material001''' to '''White stripe'''

||Go to '''Properties. '''

Click on the “+” option. Click on '''New'''.

In the name field, change the '''Material001''' to '''White stripe'''.

Press '''Enter. '''We can keep the default white color here.

|-
|| Click on '''Assign'''
||Click on '''Assign'''.

Now the color changes to white on the selected area of the plane.

|-
|| Hover over the road
||Let us now convert this straight road to a curved road.

|-
|| Press '''Tab''' key
||Press '''Tab''' key to change the '''Edit mode''' to '''Object mode.'''

Next, let us add a curve to the '''3D viewport'''.

|-
|| Video editor: '''Shift '''and''' A''' 

Select '''Curve. '''Click on '''Bezier'''
||Press '''Shift '''and''' A''' keys together. 


Select '''Curve''' and then on''' Bezier'''.

Scroll the mouse wheel inwards to zoom in and view the curve properly.
|-
|| Click on '''minus''' key
||Let’s increase the size of the curve. 

Scroll the mouse wheel outwards to zoom out the view as shown.

|-
|| Video editor: '''S''' 

Move the mouse
||Now let us scale the '''BezierCurve.'''

Press the '''S''' key and move the mouse. Observe that the curve gets bigger.

When it covers the whole '''3D viewport, '''click to stop the action.

|-
|| Hover over the road and curve
||Let’s now learn to merge both the road and the curve.

|-
|| Select the '''Road'''

Go to '''Properties'''

Click on the spanner shaped icon
||Click on the '''Select box tool. '''Select the '''Road.''' 

Go to '''Properties. '''Click on the spanner shaped icon. 

This is the '''Modifier Properties.'''


|-
|| Click on '''Add''' and then '''Array'''
||Click on '''Add modifier'''. 

A drop down appears. 

Go to '''Generate''' and select '''Array.'''

|-
|| Hover on '''Array modifier'''
||Observe '''Array modifier '''opens.

It allows us to create copies of an object and arrange them in a pattern.

|-
|| Change the '''Fit Type''' to '''Fit Curve'''

Select '''BezierCurve'''
||Click on '''Fit Type''' dropdown.''' 

Change the''' Fit Type''' to '''Fit Curve.'''

Then click on the '''Curve''' field. Select '''BezierCurve.''' 

|-
|| Hover over the '''road''' 
||Notice the array pattern on the road is enabled.

But the curve and the road are not yet merged.

|-
|| Click on the '''Add Modifier''' and then on '''Deform'''

Select '''Curve'''

||To do so we will add another '''Modifier'''.

Click on the '''Add Modifier''' and then on '''Deform'''. 

From the drop down select '''Curve'''.

|-
|| Click on the Curve''' Object '''field

Select '''BezierCurve'''

||'''Curve modifier''' appears below the '''Array modifier.'''

Click on the '''Curve Object '''field. Select '''BezierCurve.'''

|-
|| Hover over the '''road''' 
||Observe the road is merged with the '''BezierCurve''' and appears in a curved shape. 

|-
|| Click the mouse wheel and drag the mouse in different directions
||Let's view the road from a different angle.

Hold the mouse wheel and drag the mouse in different directions.

|-
|| Point to the road.
||Let's give some thickness to the road.

|-
|| Go to '''Properties.'''

Click on''' Add Modifier. '''Then on '''Generate. '''

From the drop down select '''Solidify'''

Change the '''Thickness''' to '''0.5'''
||Go to '''Properties. '''Click on''' Add Modifier. '''Then on '''Generate. '''

From the drop down select '''Solidify.'''

'''Solidify '''appears below the''' Curve modifier.'''

Here, change the '''Thickness''' to 0.5. 
Press''' Enter.'''

|-
|| Hover over the road
||Notice that the thickness of the road has increased.

|-
|| Click on '''File '''and then '''Save'''

Change the folder name to '''Car-animation. '''

Change the '''untitled.blend''' as '''Road.blend.'''

Click on '''Save blender file'''
||Now the road is created. Let us save the file.

Go to '''File '''and select '''Save'''. Select '''Desktop.'''

You can choose a different location according to your preference.

On the top, click on the folder icon to create a new folder. 

Change the folder name to '''Car-animation'''.

In the bottom change the '''untitled.blend''' as '''Road.blend.'''

Click on '''Save blender file.'''

The file is now saved.

We have come to the end of this tutorial. 

|-
|| '''Slide Number 5'''

'''Summary '''
||Let’s summarize.

In this tutorial, we have learned to, create a road using the options given here:

* Add and edit a''' plane'''
* Use '''Loop cut'''
* Use '''Viewport Shading modes'''
* Add '''Material''' to an object
* Use '''Array''', '''Curve''' and '''Solidify''' '''modifiers'''

|-
|| '''Slide Number 6'''

'''Assignment '''

||As an assignment, please create a zebra crossing.

* Add a '''plane'''
* Add '''Material''' and change the color to yellow 
* Using '''Array modifier '''create a zebra crossing on the road.

|-
|| '''Slide Number 7'''

'''About the Spoken Tutorial Project'''

||The video at the following link summarizes the '''Spoken Tutorial project.'''

Please download and watch it.
|-
|| '''Slide Number 8'''

'''Spoken Tutorial workshops'''

||The '''Spoken Tutorial Project''' team conducts workshops and gives certificates.

For more details, please write to us.
|-
|| '''Slide Number 9'''

'''Answers for THIS Spoken Tutorial'''
|| Please post your timed queries in this '''forum'''.
|-
|| '''Slide Number 10'''

'''FOSSEE Forum'''
|| For any general or technical questions on '''Blender''', visit the '''FOSSEE''' '''forum''' and post your question.
|-
|| '''Slide Number 11'''

'''Acknowledgement'''
||'''The Spoken Tutorial''' project was established by the '''Ministry of Education''', '''Government of India'''.

This is Arthi along with Sejal from '''IIT Bombay''' signing off.

Thanks for joining.
|-
|}