Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts

Helpful Hints

To ADD an object(cube,sphere,plane, etc.) use shift a.
To ADD IMAGE AS A PLANE make sure the option is turned on in file/user preferences ->file/import/image as plane, make sure shadeless, alpha, and z-transparency are checked. Then it will appear in your add/mesh options.
To be able to PAINT DIRECTLY ON A MODEL try this: first be in edit mode, at the top of the screen is the window layout – mine is usually set to ‘default’, set it to UV Editing, in the right window next to where you set edit mode click mesh choose UV unwrap/smart UV project (you should see it unwrap in the left window), in the left window bottom you should see the word NEW press that to add a new image and choose the base color for your model, now on the right side instead of edit mode choose Texture Paint, you should be set to paint. This is a very simplified way to do a very complex thing but should gt you painting.
To ADD MULTIPLE SKINS/MATERIALS – in edit mode select the faces you want a skin to cover, in the properties panel select the “material” sphere, press the plus sign to add a new material then select new, next click ASSIGN this locks the skin to the faces you have selected. To add a second, third, etc. just repeat the process. You can add separate textures to each skin.

When re-topologizing start with the cube, append object to be retopped and move it to a new layer using m key.