Blender Key Terms and Hot Keys

A quick tip guide for those just getting started with Blender with key terms and hotkeys.

Key Terms

3D-View: Also referred to as the “viewport”, this is where all 3D interaction take place.
Properties Editor: Main collection of scene and object parameters.
Orbit: Rotating the user’s “camera” around the focal point
Dolly: Moving the user’s “camera” toward or away from the focal point.
Pan: Moving the user’s “camera” up, down, left, or right, parallel to the focal point.

Object Mode: Default interactive state with objects at their “root” level.
Edit Mode: Granular object interaction; manipulation of object’s components.
Translate: Moving objects and object components in 3D space
Rotate: Revolving objects and object components around in 3D space.
Scale: Enlarging / shrinking objects and object components in 3D space.
Model: 3D object composed of vertices, edges, and faces.
Vertex: Simplest component; a singular point in space.
Edge: Line that connects two vertices and separates two faces.
Face: Planar space that’s bordered by 3 or more edges. Also called a “polygon”.

Modeling: Building objects like environments, characters, and props.
Texturing: Applying digital paint to 3D objects
Shading: Creating materials that reflect real world material properties.
Lighting: Introducing light to 3D scenes with lamp objects and environment textures.
Rigging: Adding a digital skeleton to characters or anything with complex movement.
Animation: The art of creating motion.
Rendering: Computational process of turning raw 3D data into an image or video output.
Compositing: Process of combining and tweaking renders for final output.