Learn the fundamentals of using modifiers in Blender, a powerful, non-destructive way to alter an object's geometry and appearance without permanently changing its underlying mesh.
In the 3D Viewport, left-click to select the object you want to modify. The selected object will have an orange outline.
Navigate to the Properties panel on the right side of the interface. Click on the blue wrench icon to open the Modifier Properties tab.
Click the Add Modifier dropdown menu. A list of available modifiers will appear, categorized by type (Generate, Deform, Modify, Physics).
Select a modifier from the list, for example, Subdivision Surface. Once added, its settings will appear in the Modifier Properties panel. Adjust the parameters, such as 'Levels Viewport', to see the effect in real-time.
You can keep the modifier active non-destructively. To make the changes permanent, click the dropdown arrow next to the modifier's name and select Apply. To remove it, click the 'X' icon.
Pro Tips for Working with Modifiers
Modifiers are applied from top to bottom in the stack. You can reorder them by clicking and dragging the grid icon on the right side of a modifier to change the final result.
Avoid applying modifiers until you are certain about the result. This allows you to go back and tweak settings at any point in your workflow.
Use the icons at the top of each modifier (screen for viewport, camera for render) to toggle its visibility. This is useful for performance and for comparing the before-and-after effect.
Select multiple objects, with the object containing the modifiers selected last (active object). Press Ctrl + L and choose 'Copy Modifiers' to quickly apply the same modifier stack to all selected objects.
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