# Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Model a Low Poly Head

| previous module: "Modeling_a_3D_Parachute_in_Blender" | • Table of Contents • Glossary | next module: "Building a House" |

## Overview

This tutorial is designed to teach users to make a low-poly animesque head in Blender.
What you need to know:
* Basic Blender controls

## Add a plane

Noob Note: Using triangles on a subsurfed model may result in "peaks" appearing in some areas. To reduce this problem, merge as many triangles into quads as possible.
Start with a new file, and delete ( X ) the default cube.
Be in Front view ( NUM1 )
Add a plane ( SHIFT + A -> add-> mesh-> plane)
Click on "Align to view" in the settings at the bottom left side.

## Make a pointed chin

Switch to Edit mode
Be in Vertex select mode
Select the bottom two vertices ( SHIFT + RMB ) and press W to bring up the vertex menu. "Select Merge", then "At Center", or just hit ALT + M and choose "At Center".
Now you have a pointed chin.
Select the top two vertices (use the B )
Re-arrange them so they make more of a chin shape by pressing the G to move and Z to constrain the movement to the Z-Axis.
Noob Note: Move it down; don't scale it out.

## Extrude the face

Now extrude ( E ) "edges only", along the Z-Axis ( Z ) so that you have another area.
As a precaution, remove doubles. (WKEY)
Scale it ( S ) so that it's not so cubic.
Now extrude along the Z-Axis again ( E then Z ) and scale ( S ) it down a bit.
One last time... (E) (Z) (S)

## Make the facial features

Select the middle vertices (BKEY) or (RMB) and press (WKEY) to bring up the specials menu. Subdivide it once.
Note: In newer versions you have to check the checkbox: "Quad/Tri Mode" in the lower left corner.
Now select at first the pair of vertices above and subdivide once.
Now subdivide 2 times with the pair of vertices below the center line.
Yours should now look like this one on the right.

### Eyes

Select and subdivide here, so you can make the eyes.
And rearrange the vertices so they make eye shapes.

### Nose

Now select the middle vertex here (right mouse button).
Extrude it along the Y-Axis (EKEY) (YKEY) and move your mouse around to change how far it moves.
Select these three vertices ('SHIFT+RMB) and press (F) to make a face.
Now do the same to the other side, and you will have the nose's base.
Select these vertices (SHIFT+RMB) and make a face (F).
Do this to the other side.
Now you have a nose.

### Remove interior nose faces

Rotate the camera (CTRL+NUM1) so you are seeing the back.
Be in Face select mode.
Select (SHIFT+RMB) the faces behind the nose.
Delete (XKEY) them (on the popup pick "Faces").

## Smooth the mouth region

Be in Vertex select mode
Select the vertex at the bottom of the chin, and the one at the bottom of the nose.
Subdivide them.

## Make the head

Be in Edge select mode
Select all the edges on the outside (shown with blue lines in the photo).
Move (GKEY) the vertices back, along the Y axis (YKEY), a bit to give the face more smoothness
Be in Vertex select mode
Rearrange the chin, by moving (GKEY) the bottom vertice along the Y axis (YKEY) till it looks right.

## Make the back of the head

Be in Edge select mode
Now select the edges all around the back of the head, using (BKEY).
Extrude these along the y axis (EKEY) (YKEY)
Ta da!
Now select a set of 4 back vertices that form sort of a rectangle and press (FKEY) to make a face.
and so on....
and so on....
now select and subdivide these once (W)
and these points too.
Now select the middle and move it back (G) (Y).

## Finishing it up

And here it is with sub-surfacing. You have finished. Hit (F12) to see the final render.
| previous module: "Modeling_a_3D_Parachute_in_Blender" | • Table of Contents • Glossary | next module: "Building a House" |