Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Step By Step Blender 3D Staircase Tutorial

While waiting for parts for various projects that I have going on here at the workshop I have no problem finding other things to fill my time.  This is the case with the work I need to get done for my Blender class I will be teaching next March.  So with all of this in mind I have put together this new in depth tutorial on how to model a staircase in Blender 3D.  It will help anyone wanting to learn something new in Blender how to work with Bezier Curves and Arrays. Check it out and let me know what you thoughts are on my latest effort using this great free software.


 
Blender Staircase Step By Step Instructions......
 no pun intended.
 

 
1. Start Blender with standard layout.... Cube, Light, Camera.
 
 
2. Press "T" key to turn off Tools Window as it will not be needed just yet.
 

3. Press Z key to go to wire frame view.
 
 
4. Enter "Shift C" to get cursor to center of view window. Then Add an Empty (plain axis) (Shift A) to the center of the layout.
 
 
5. Select Cube and add Modifier Array.
 

 
6. Set Fixed Count to 22
7. Deselect Relative Offset
8. Check Object Offset, Select Empty
9. Press Tab to go to Edit Mode
 
 
10. Go to front view (1 on keypad) and move selected Cube 4 squares to the right on X axis
 
 
11. Shrink the height of the Cube down to 10 squares  by entering "SZ.5".
 
12. Press Tab again to go back to Object Mode

13. Select Empty and set Z rotation to 27.5 degrees.
14. Set Transform Z location to 1.0
 
 
15. Press "7" on keypad for top view
16. Press "A" key to deselect vertices of the selected cube.
17. Select both right side vertices of Cube (C key) and move them to the right four squares to make a Step (G key).
 
 
18. Press the "A" key again to deselect all vertices on the cube.
19. Select upper right corner vertices of Step (C key) and move to lower right corner of second Step (G key).
 
 
20. Press the "A" key again to deselect all vertices on the cube.
21. Rotate view to an isometric view and press "Z" key to view in Solid Mode.
 
 
22. Press "7" on keypad for top view.
23. Press "Z" key to view in wireframe.

 
24. Press Ctrl R to create Edge Loop and move to left side of step as shown.
 
25. Press Ctrl R again to create another edge loop to right side of step as shown.

 
26. Create a horizontal edge loop and drag it near the front edge of the step.
 
 
27. Select all vertices on last edge loop and press S-Y-0 (Size Y Zero) to get all vertices in single line.
 
28. Adjust vertices in corners to form squares as shown in image.
 



29. Press the "A" key again to deselect all vertices on the step.
30. Rotate view to an isometric view and press "Z" key to view in Solid shading.
31. Select the four top vertices on the top left front of the step. (C key)
 
 
32. Press "3" on keypad to go to side view and extrude highlighted vertices to the fifth square from center line.
 
 
33. Press the "A" key to deselect vertices again.
34. Rotate view to an isometric view to select the four top vertices on the top right front of the step.
35. Press "3" on keypad to go to side view and extrude highlighted vertices to the fifth square from center line.
36. Press the "A" key to deselect vertices again.
37. Rotate view to an isometric view to see all the posts now in place on the steps.
 
38. Press "Tab" key to switch to Object Mode.
39. Press "7" key on keypad to go to top view.
40. Press "Shift C"  to get cursor at center of model.
41. Press "Shift A" to add Mesh Plane.
42. Enter "S 30" to scale plane up to 30.
 
 
43. Press "Z" key to view wireframe shading.
44. Press "3" on keypad to see side view.
45. Press "Tab" key to go to Edit Mode.
46. Press "Z" key to see Solid shading

 
47. Select first two vertices on bottom left edge of step.
48. Move "Z" axis arrow (blue arrow) down so that the front bottom edge of the second step lines up with the back bottom edge of the first step as pictured.
 

 
49. Select the Mesh plane that will become the floor for the staircase.


50. Move the Mesh plane down to match the front bottom edge of the second step of the staircase using the "Z" axis arrow.
51. Steps and posts are now done.
 
Staircase Rail Instructions
 
 

1. Select Layer two.  Layer one will disappear for now.
2. Enter "Shift C" to get cursor to center of model.
3. Enter "Shift A" Add Curve, Bezier.
4. Press "Tab" to go to Edit Mode.


 

5. Press "7" on keypad to go to top view.
6. Enter "R 90" to rotate Bezier Curve 90 degrees.


 

7. Enter "A" to deselect all vertices on Bezier Curve.
8. Enter "C" and select only the top vertices and handles.  Rotate these so they are aligned vertically with bottom vertices and handles.


 
 
9. Enter "A" key twice to select all vertices on Bezier Curve.
10. Move the Bezier Curve using the "G" key to the top of the outer bottom most post.
11. Enter "A" key to deselect vertices again. 
12. Enter "C" key to select each vertices and handles at a time to positions shown in image. Vertices should be centered on front edge of each post.

 
 

13. Enter "W" and subdivide the Bezier Curve to create an additional Vertices and set of handles.
14. Press "Tab" key to go to Object Mode.

 
 
 
15. Enter "Shift A" to create "Bezier Circle" by selecting "Curve" "Circle".
16. Resize new "Bezier Circle" by pressing "S.30"
17. Select "Bezier Curve"
18. Select "Object Data" from right menu.
19. Select "Bezier Curve" in "Bevel Object" window.  This will create the first portion of the railing for the staircase.


 
 
20. Select "Modifiers" icon, Select "Array".
21. Set "Fit Count" number to 21.
22. Select "Object Offset"
23. Select "Empty.

 

24. Press "Tab" key to go to Edit Mode.
25. Press "A" key  to deselect all vertices in Bezier Curve.
26. Press "C" key and select center vertices and handles on Bezier Curve


 
 
27. Select red arrow (X Axis).
28. Move center vertices in direction of arrow slightly to smooth out curve in railing.


 

29. Adjust vertices and handles to create a smooth transition from one section of railing to the next in the model.
30. The outer rail is complete at this point.


 
 
31. To create the inner rail repeat steps one through thirty in this procedure.

 
32. Press "T" key to show Tools window.
33. Press "Shift A" to add mesh UV Sphere.
34. In the Tools window select "Smooth" under "Transform", "Shading" to give the UV Sphere smooth surface.
35. Scale the UV Sphere down to fit the end of one of the hand rails as shown in the image.  Repeat steps for both lower and upper ends of the hand rails.
36. Once both railings have been modeled set up lighting, colors, and or materials of your choice for your completed staircase.
I hope you find this tutorial helpful in your efforts to learn Blender 3D.  If you should have any problems with the steps I have here or I have missed something please let me know as I would very much like to make this as simple as possible for everyone. When I get another tutorial put together I'll be sure to post it again so check back soon on this and other projects that I'm working on.  Have a good one!
 

 
 

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