Lesson 14: Loop cuts for a head
Why loop cuts matter
A cube has too few edges to make a head. A loop cut adds a ring of edges around the object. More rings give you more places to shape. Think of loop cuts as the "lines" a sculptor uses to plan a face.
Steps
- Tool Add a cube with Shift + A, then Mesh > Cube. Press S, X, type 1.2, Enter, to make it wider like a head. menu path unverified in 5.2.1
- Key Press Tab for Edit Mode, then 2 for edge select.
- Key Press Ctrl + R to start a loop cut. Move the mouse onto an edge that runs around the cube. A green line appears. Click to place it. Ctrl+R shortcut unverified on your Mac
- Check A new ring of edges goes around the whole cube.
- Key Repeat the loop cut twice more, so you have three rings in total.
- Mouse Switch to vertex select with 1. Hold the left mouse button on empty space and drag a box around one row of corners. Release.
- Key Press G, Y, and move the row forward to make a snout. Click to confirm.
- Key Select the top row and press G, Z to make a forehead. Press Tab to leave Edit Mode, then save as
block-head.blend.
Why the row moves all together: a box-selected row is one unit. Moving it moves each corner the same amount. Keep moves small. You will refine the shape later.
Project: block head
A simple head shape with three rows. It's the base for the stylized animal in the next lessons. Save as block-head.blend.