Essential Shortcuts Flashcards
What does the Extrude tool (E) do?
Creates new geometry from faces or edges
Adds depth and complexity, but can create overlapping faces if not careful.
What is the purpose of the Inset tool (I)?
Creates an inner outline of a face
Helps add surface details and edge loops, but can cause unnecessary geometry if overused.
What does the Bevel tool (Ctrl + B) accomplish?
Rounds edges and adds extra loops
Smooths sharp corners for a natural look, but can add unnecessary complexity if overused.
What is the function of the Loop Cut tool (Ctrl + R)?
Adds edge loops to control topology
Great for subdividing cleanly, but too many cuts can cause messy topology.
What is the Knife Tool (K) used for?
Manually cut edges for precise shapes
Essential for custom topology control, but can create unnecessary triangles if not careful.
What does the Merge tool (M) do?
Combines multiple vertices into one
Helps clean up messy geometry, but can destroy edge flow if done incorrectly.
How does the Slide Edge/Vertex tool (G, G) function?
Moves an edge or vertex along its original path
Keeps topology clean while adjusting shapes, but can distort proportions if not careful.
What is the purpose of the Fill Faces tool (F)?
Creates a face between selected edges
Great for filling gaps in models, but avoid using it randomly as it can create N-gons.
What does the Bridge Edge Loops function do?
Connects two edge loops seamlessly
Ideal for organic shapes and mechanical models, but can create stretched geometry if edge counts don’t match.
What is the function of Dissolve Edges?
Removes edges without creating holes
Helps simplify geometry while keeping the shape, but can distort topology if overused.
What does Merge by Distance accomplish?
Removes duplicate vertices
Fixes overlapping vertices and messy geometry, but can accidentally merge important details.
What is the purpose of Recalculate Normals?
Fixes flipped normals that cause shading issues
Essential for clean shading and rendering; if it fails, use Alt + N > Flip manually.
What does Triangulate Faces do?
Converts quads into triangles for game models
Helps prepare models for real-time rendering, but harder to edit compared to quads.
What is the function of Limited Dissolve?
Reduces unnecessary edges while keeping the shape
Great for cleanup, but can remove details if not adjusted properly.
What does the Loop Tools: Circle function do?
Converts selected vertices/edges into a perfect circle
Great for creating even round shapes, but can stretch geometry if not prepared properly.
What is the purpose of Loop Tools: Space?
Evenly spaces out selected edges/vertices
Helps maintain even edge flow, but can distort complex shapes.
What does Edge Loop Select (Alt + Left Click) do?
Selects an entire edge loop
What is the function of Edge Ring Select (Ctrl + Alt + Left Click)?
Selects a perpendicular loop of edges
What does Grow/Shrink Selection (Ctrl +) do?
Expands or reduces selection
What is the purpose of Invert Selection (Ctrl + I)?
Selects everything except the current selection
What does Focus on Object (Numpad .) do?
Centers the view on the selected object
What is Proportional Editing used for?
Adjust large areas smoothly
Use scroll wheel to adjust falloff size.
What does the Shear tool (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S) create?
Creates slanted geometry
Great for architectural details.
What does the Shrink/Fatten tool (Alt + S) do?
Expand or contract along normals
Use for clothing, organic models.
