⚠️ CRITICAL INFO: The Rule of Flexibility
To bend an object in Blender, it must have "joints." If you try to bend a long block consisting of only a single face, it will break or simply won't bend.
Solution: Before bending, you must add at least 10-20 cuts to your block using Ctrl + R (Loop Cut). The more cuts, the smoother the bend!
This method is ideal for artistic bends where you have total control:
- Preparation: Elongate your block and add plenty of Loop Cuts with
Ctrl + R. - Enable Proportional Editing: Press
O. The icon at the top center will turn blue. - Selection: Select a line or point in the very center of the block.
- Bending: Press
Gand pull upward. - Pro Tip: While moving, scroll your mouse wheel. The gray circle that appears determines how wide the bend's influence will be.
Used for mathematically perfect 90 or 180-degree bends:
- Apply Scale: Before starting, ALWAYS press
Ctrl + A-> Scale in Object Mode. - Add Modifier: Click the wrench icon, select Add Modifier -> Simple Deform.
- Bend Mode: Click the Bend option inside the modifier.
- Angle Adjustment: Increase the Angle value to see the bend.
- Issue? If the block bends strangely, try the Axis options (X, Y, Z) one by one to find the correct one.
Sometimes it's hard to control where the bend starts. Here is the professional solution:
- Add an
Shift + A-> Empty -> Plain Axis to the scene. - Click the Origin box in the Simple Deform modifier and select this "Empty" object.
- Now, by moving or rotating the "Empty" object, you can dynamically change the center and direction of the bend.