Blender 3D Modeling: Ultimate Shortcuts Cheatsheet

Introduction to Blender Shortcuts

Blender is a powerful open-source 3D creation suite that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking. Mastering Blender’s shortcuts is essential for efficient 3D modeling, as they significantly speed up your workflow and allow you to focus on creativity rather than hunting through menus.

This cheatsheet organizes the most essential Blender shortcuts by category, focusing on the latest Blender version (3.6+). Note that Blender allows extensive customization of shortcuts, so your installation may differ if modified.

Navigation Shortcuts

Viewport Navigation

Object & Editor Navigation

Selection Shortcuts

Transformation Shortcuts

Modeling Shortcuts (Edit Mode)

Mesh Editing – General

Mesh Editing – Advanced

Object Mode Shortcuts

Sculpting Mode Shortcuts

Rendering & Display Shortcuts

Animation Shortcuts

Rigging Shortcuts

Materials & Texturing Shortcuts

General Interface Shortcuts

Common Modifier Shortcuts

Context-Sensitive Shortcuts

Tips and Common Workflows

Efficient Modeling Workflow Tips

1. Use Snap for Precision:

   • Hold Ctrl during transformations to snap to grid/increments
   • Use Shift + Tab to toggle snapping modes

2. Quick Symmetry:

   • In Edit Mode, use Ctrl + M then X/Y/Z to mirror across an axis
   • Enable the Mirror modifier for real-time symmetrical modeling

3. Selection Shortcuts Combinations:

   • Alt + Shift + RMB on an edge to select a loop and add to selection
   • Ctrl + Shift + RMB to select multiple individual elements

4. Viewport Navigation Speed:

   • Hold Shift while using MMB to navigate faster
   • Use Numpad . to focus on selection and then zoom with wheel

5. Custom Views:

   • Ctrl + Numpad 1-7 to save a custom view
   • Numpad 1-7 to recall custom views

Quick Reference for Common Tasks

1. Creating a Basic Model:

   • Start with primitive (Shift + A)
   • Enter Edit Mode (Tab)
   • Select faces/edges/verts (1, 2, 3 keys)
   • Extrude (E), scale (S), rotate (R), move (G)
   • Add loop cuts (Ctrl + R)
   • Bevel edges (Ctrl + B)

2. Unwrapping a Model:

   • Select edges to mark as seams (Ctrl + E → Mark Seam)
   • Select all (A)
   • Unwrap (U → Unwrap)
   • Adjust UVs in the UV Editor

3. Setting Up Simple Animation:

   • Select object
   • Position on frame 1
   • Insert keyframe (I → Location)
   • Move to frame 30
   • Move object (G)
   • Insert another keyframe (I → Location)

Resources for Further Learning

Official Documentation

• Blender Manual
• Blender Shortcuts Reference

Community Resources

• Blender Artists Forum
• Blender Stack Exchange
• BlenderNation

Learning Platforms

• Blender Cloud
• Blender Guru
• CG Cookie
• Udemy Blender Courses
• LinkedIn Learning

YouTube Channels

• Blender Guru
• CG Geek
• Grant Abbitt
• Ducky 3D
• CrossMind Studio
• CGBoost
• Polyfjord

Remember that Blender is continuously evolving, and shortcuts may change with new versions. This cheatsheet focuses on Blender 3.6+, but always refer to the official documentation for the most up-to-date information.