How To Model a 3D Human In Blender

We are here with another tutorial, and this time it is Modeling a 3D Human in Blender. We hope you are as excited as we are to share it with you!

How To Model a 3D Human In Blender

Iconscout is back with a new tutorial from our 3D Journey Series. Today we will help you create humans in 3D with this easy tutorial. If you are new here or missed our previous blog from our 3D Journey Series, do not forget to click below and start your 3D Designing Journey with Iconscout!

Iconscout Want To Start Your Journey In 3D Designing

So let's get right into the action with this detailed step-by-step procedure, and by the end of it, you'll be a pro at designing 3D humans!

Run Blender for the first time, and you will be welcomed with this user interface as your default screen. Your 3D Space, know as the Viewport is your playground to explore and learn. Do not hesitate to play with it. The default object in Blender is this cube that you view on the screen. This is the building block with which you will create your 3D human. So get your tools ready, and let's begin!

Step 1: Setting Up Your Board

Open Blender.exe On Your PC/Mac
  • Open Blender.exe on your PC/Mac
  • The default scene will appear before you
  • Keep the default cube you can see on your screen. We will be using it as our base geometry mesh
  • Press 1 in your number pad so that we can access the side view
  • Select the cube by pressing the left click on the mouse

Step 2: The Cube

  • Now let us divide the cube into two by adding a loop in the middle
  • Press Ctrl+R after selecting the cube
Divide the cube into two by adding a loop in the middle
  • You will get an incision highlighted in yellow
  • Press left click once again to confirm the addition of the loop
  • Press Alt+Z so that you enter the X-ray mode. This mode will help you to select the Mesh as well
Select the left half of the cube
  • Now that you have X-Ray mode turned on, select the left half of the cube by dragging and selecting the left click of your mouse
  • Press X to delete that face.
  • You will get a pop-up menu to select to delete an edge, vertex, or face.
  • Press the 'Faces' option.
Select the menu with the Wrench icon
  • Now let us further work on this halved cube so that we get the equivalent side. To do that, let us add a "mirror modifier"
  • Hover over to the properties shelf on the right
  • Select the menu with the "wrench" icon, which is the "Modifiers tab"
Add Modifier
  • Next, select the Add Modifier to the drop-down option
Select the mirror option
  • Select the "Mirror" option
Enable the clipping option
  • Enable the "clipping" option from the same menu so that you can see jointed edges

Step 3: Construction

  • Now, once we have our mirror modifier enabled, we can start with constructing the rest of our model
Thinner Cube
  • Let us scale the cube in the Y-axis, so it's thinner
  • Press S+Y and move your mouse till you get a familiar shape
Side View
  • Now go back into the side view by pressing 1 again on the number pad
  • Scale it directly on the X-axis by pressing S(to scale)+X (X-axis) and then again moving your mouse
Go to the edge selection mode by pressing 2
  • Let us go back to the 3D view and select two edges
  • To do that, go to the edge selection mode by pressing 2
Press S(to scale)+Y(on the Y-axis)
  • Once done, press on one of the edges and Shift+Select the other edge to group select it
  • Once we have selected these edges, let us scale them in the Y-axis
  • Press S(to scale)+Y(on the Y-axis) and then move the mouse accordingly till you get a result

Step 4: Wireframe

Wireframe
  • Now let us go into the wireframe model to see things more clearly
  • Press the located on the top right corner of your screen
Press the located on the top right corner of your screen
  • Now go back into the side view by pressing 1 again on the number pad
  • Now, let us go into the Vertex selection mode by pressing 1
  • Select two vertices from the geometry
Move the vertices by pressing G and Z
  • Now let us move these vertices a bit to the top by pressing G(to move) + Z(on the Z-axis)
  • Scale the same vertices in the X-axis as well
Scale the same vertices in the X-axis
  • Let us extrude the same vertices below by pressing E(to extrude) + Z (on the Z-axis)
  • Scale it once again in the X-axis by pressing S+X and then moving the mouse
Press Viewport Shading to go back into solid view
  • Now let us go back into the solid view mode by pressing the "Viewport shading" button on the top right corner
Go to the angle in the viewport
  • Go to the angle in the viewport and let us select this face in the model
  • Back to the front view, by pressing 1 on the number pad
Rotate the axis on the Y-axis
  • Rotate the axis on the Y-axis by pressing R(to rotate)+ Y (on the Y-axis)
  • We have our torso ready
Click the checkbox to disable clipping
  • Now let us turn off clipping to extrude the legs
  • Click the checkbox to disable clipping
Drag the mouse till you get thigh's shape
  • Click E(to extrude) and drag the mouse till you get the thigh's shape
  • After you extrude the thighs, let us straighten them. Press R(to rotate) and rotate the same face until they become straight
Press G + X(on the X-axis)
  • Move the thighs a bit closer together by pressing G(to move) +X(on the X-axis) and then drag the mouse to bring them closer
Press E + Z(on the Z-axis)
  • While having the face selected, Extrude it once again to the bottom by pressing E( to extrude) + Z(on the Z-axis) and dragging the mouse to get the desired shape
Extrude Using E+Z to create shin area
  • Now we have the thighs and knees ready
  • Extrude it using E+Z and drag the mouse once again to create the shin area

Next, let us fix a few things on the body.

 Fixing few things on the body-3D human in blender
  • Rotate freely in the viewport by moving the mouse while pressing the middle mouse, rotating to the top angle of the body, and selecting the face
Drag the mouse till to get a shape - 3D Human in Blender
  • Jump back into the front view by pressing 1 and rotate this face by pressing R(to turn) + dragging the mouse till we get a shape
Create a loop on upper torso side of the body
  • Now let us create a loop on the upper torso side of the body
  • To do so, let us press Ctrl+R and then drag it down and press the left click of your mouse to confirm the cut
Select this particular face from upper torso- 3D human in blender
  • Next, let us select this particular face from the upper torso.
Scale down little bot using S button
  • And then let is scale down a little bit, using the S (to scale) button
Go back to front view by pressing one on number pad

  • Go back into the front view once again by pressing 1 on the number pad

While having the same face selected, let us extend it by pressing E and dragging the mouse so that we get the beginning of the shoulders

Turn on Xray mode- 3D Human
  • After that, let's go into vertex selection mode by pressing 1 on the number pad
  • Turn on the X-Ray mode by pressing (Alt+Z)
  • Drag and select the individual vertices into the desired shape
Go back to face selection mode
  • Now, go back to face selection mode by pressing 3 on the number pad and selecting the face below
Extrude the arms - 3D Human
  • Go to the front view by pressing 1 on the number pad
  • Extrude the arms out by pressing E then mouse to drag and select to confirm the desired length
Create the palm - 3D Human
  • Once you have created the arms, let us also create the palm by extruding another set
  • Press E(to extrude) and drag the mouse and left click to confirm the desired proportion
Create an edge loop where arm bends
  • Create an edge loop where the arm bends
  • Press Ctrl+R to create the edge loop and click the left click of the mouse to confirm it
Create the feet - 3D Human
  • Let us also create an edge loop around the lower shin area to create the feet
  • Press Ctrl+R and drag the mouse till you get a shape
Select the desired face - 3D Human
  • Once you have created the edge loop, select the new face you have made
  • To do so, let us go into face selection mode by pressing 3 in the number pad
  • Select the desired face
Extrude Feet -  3D Human
  • Now let us go into the side view by pressing 3 in the number pad
  • To extrude these feet, press E(to extrude)+ Y( in the Y-axis) and extrude it out till you get the desired shape
Edge selection mode- 3D human
  • After doing so, go into the edge selection mode by pressing number 2 on the number pad. Now select this particular edge
Move the edge downwards
  • Press G(to move) + Z(in the Z-axis) and move that edge downwards using the mouse and click left-click to confirm it till you get a shape, like so

Now, let us once again go back to the upper body part of the human

Face selection mode - 3D Human
  • Once you have navigated there using the middle mouse button, select this particular face near the shoulder area by shifting to face selection mode
  • To do that, press 3 on the number pad
Scale the extrusion - 3D Human
  • Now press E(to extrude)+S(to scale) and scale the extrusion inside till you get the desired shape
Neck's diameter size - 3D HUman
  • While having the same face selected, scale it along the X-axis by pressing S(to scale)+X(in the X-axis) to shrink it down the neck's diameter size
Front View- 3D Human
  • Now, go back to the front view by pressing 1 on the keyboard
  • The face is still selected. Rotate in the Y-axis by pressing R(to turn)+Y(in the Y-axis) until you get a horizontal neckline
Create the neck - 3D human
  • Extrude the neck towards the top to create the neck
  • Press E (to extrude) + Z( along the Z-axis) and drag the mouse and confirm it by pressing left-click on the mouse till you get a shape somewhat similar to this
Extrude the neck again - 3D Human
  • Extrude the neck once again by pressing E(to extrude) + Z(on the Z-axis) to create the front portion of the face
Create the front portion of face
  • Repeat it once again to achieve this form
Hop into the face selection
  • Let's hop into the face selection mode by pressing 3 on the number pad. Next, select these two faces
Extrude in Y-axis by pressing E + Y (along Y axis)
  • Once the faces are selected, let us extrude them in the Y-axis by pressing E(to extrude)+Y(along the Y-axis) and by moving the mouse and clicking left click on your mouse till we get the desired shape
Human's Head - 3D Human 
  • Now we have the base for the head complete
  • Let us select these sides so we can give width to a human's head
Press G & Move it in the X-axis
  • Press G and move it in the X-Axis by pressing G(to move)+X(along the X-axis)

Our head is complete now!

Create the fingers - 3D Human in Blender
  • Now let us start to create the fingers for our humans
  • To do so, let us select the human's left hand and click on this end face of its hand
Select the subdivide option
  • Let us right-click on this face and select the "Subdivide" option
  • Repeat that once again to get one more subdivision
Deselect Everything By Pressing elsewhere On Viewport
  • Next, let us deselect everything by pressing elsewhere on the viewport and selecting these particular faces, as shown below
Pull Down By Pressing G + Z (on the Z-axis)
  • Now let's enter the front view mode by pressing one on the number pad
  • Pull down these vertices below by pressing G(to move)+Z(on the Z-axis), drag the mouse down below, and click left click with the mouse until you get a shape
Press Two on Numerical Array
  • Select this edge by pressing 2 on the numerical array and selecting it using your left click on the mouse
Dissolve this line by pressing Ctrl+X
  • Dissolve this Line by pressing Ctrl+X
Face Selection Mode
  • Go back into face selection mode by pressing number 3 on the numerical array
  • Now let us select these faces as shown below
  • Once selected, let us inset all these individual faces
  • To do so, let us press the Inset Key (I) twice and press the left click to confirm the inset

Now let us extrude this down below to create the fingers.

Extrude this down to create fingers
  • To do so, let us press E(to extrude)+Z(on the Z-axis) down below by dragging the mouse and clicking left-click to confirm the selection
Create the area for the thumb
  • Next, let us select this new face to create the area for the thumb
Inset this face by pressing I
  • Inset this face by pressing I(top inset) and clicking left click on the mouse to confirm the selection
Use the Knife tool (K) and make an incision
  • Use the Knife tool (K) and make an incision
Select this new face
  • Select this new face
Inset this face as well by pressing I
  • Inset this face as well by pressing I (top inset) till you get a shape
Extrude the part of the thumb
  • Next, let us extrude the part of the thumb
Press E(to extrude) and pull in towards the Y-axis by pressing Y
  • Press E(to extrude) and pull in towards the Y-axis by pressing Y
  • Let us angle it in a way a normal thumb would be
  • To do so, let us move it by pressing G
  • Next, let us adjust the height of the fingers by going into vertex selection mode by pressing 1 on the numerical array and changing it manually by pressing G

Now we have our fingers ready. Let's move onto the toes.

Face of the feet
  • Once in the face selection mode, select this face of the feet
Incisions for the toes
  • Using the knife tool (K), let us mark the incisions for the toes. Which will be four vertical lines
Incisions for the toes - 3D Human
  • Next, let us do the same method we did for our fingers
  • Select the entire five faces. And press I twice(to inset individual faces)

Next, let us extrude so that we get our toes.

Extrude To Get Our Toes - 3D Human
  • Press E(to extrude) along the Y-axis
Press E along the Y-axis
  • Let us do the final step. Which is subdividing our Mesh
  • Press Ctrl+1 on the number pad
  • And we get a humanoid result like this

Step 5: Add Background

Let us add a background.

Add Background
  • To do so, let us press Shift+A. In the Menu that appears, let us go to Mesh>Plane and select left click
  • Scale this plane by pressing S+5
Scale this plane by pressing S+5
  • Now let us bring this down by pressing G(to move)+Z(On the Z-axis)
Select the northern edge of the plane
  • Go into edit mode by pressing "Tab" and select the northern edge of the plane
  • Press E(to extrude)+Z(on the Z-axis) to extrude the edge towards the top
Add lights - 3D Human
  • We have our background ready for the human
  • Next, let us add lights
  • To do so, let us press Shift+A and select "Sun" from Lights
Select Sun From Lights
  • To frame the camera. Press Ctrl+Alt+0 at any angle. And hit F12 to start the render
  • Once the rendering is over. You will get a result like so

Voila! Our human is complete. You have successfully created a 3D character of your own.

We hope you had fun and learnt a lot with this tutorial. If you have faced any diffucilties or have any suggestions, please drop a comment below! We would love to hear from you.


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Until then, happy designing!

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