Lesson 3: Viewing Objects in 3D

viewing in blender can be one of the hardest things to get used to. after all, you are editing a 3 dimensional object in a 2 dimensional space! To view your 3D creations there are several methods, each having their own uses and advantages.

by using the number pad (of course making sure that "num lock" is on) you can view different perspectives of the object with a gridded background. pressing 1 will yield a front view of the object--like you are standing on the ground looking at the front of a building. pressing 3 will show you the side of the building; 7 the top; and 8,4,6, and 2 are orbiting tools allowing you to gradually change perspectives each number corresponding to their orientation on the number pad itself. (note: in pressing 5 we can switch from orthographic view to perspective view, meaning that the objects will appear to "pop out" at you)

the second primary method for navigation in blender is the scroll button. if you do not have a scroll wheel on your mouse, then there is, unfortunately, no reason to read this paragraph! by PRESSING the scroll button and moving the mouse you can see that the camera position orbits around the object allowing you to see those areas of your creation that the number pad may otherwise not have shown.

reasons to use the number pad method:
you are given a grid in Ortho mode so you can easily scale, measure and rotate objects with the precision necessary in 3D art.
the object is displayed exactly perpendicular to the camera so there is no doubt that when you adjust something it is happening in only one plane. (with exceptions)

Reasons to use the scroll method:
it's easy. you can easily rotate and move around in the 3D space.
you cant always see everything with the number pad and can use the scroll button to see things you otherwise would not be able to.
you can simulate camera motions when you learn to animate.


review:
8,4,2, and 6 rotate you around the object
7-top
1-front
3-side
5-perspective view

click AND HOLD the scroll button to orbit around the object


FINALLY: a bit off of the topic but while im talking about the scroll button: when in a view with a grid (or any other view for that matter)holding ctrl and scrolling will move the camera side to side, and holding shift and scrolling will move the camera's perspective up and down--just try it and you will see what i mean.