Turn Cube Into Cylinder Blender After Wrapping Object

Turning a Cube into a Cylinder in Blender: A Post-Wrap Transformation Guide

This tutorial details how to transform a cube into a cylinder in Blender after you've already wrapped another object around it. This is a common workflow in modeling, particularly useful for creating objects like wrapped candies or cylindrical objects with textured coverings. We'll cover the process step-by-step, ensuring a smooth and professional result. This process utilizes modifiers, providing non-destructive editing, allowing for easy adjustments later on.

What you'll need: A cube, an object wrapped around the cube (using modifiers like the Shrinkwrap modifier), and basic Blender knowledge.

Step 1: Preparing the Cube

First, ensure your cube is centered and properly scaled. This is crucial for a consistent cylindrical shape later. We’ll be using the Screw modifier, which works best with objects that are centered on their origin. If your cube is not centered, use the cursor as a pivot point and select the object then press Alt + G to snap the object to the 3D Cursor.

Step 2: Applying the Shrinkwrap Modifier (If Necessary)

If you haven't already wrapped your object around the cube, apply a Shrinkwrap modifier to your wrapper object. Target the cube as the shrinkwrap target. This will ensure your wrapper conforms to the final cylindrical shape. It's vital to apply the modifier before converting to a cylinder; otherwise, distortions might occur.

Step 3: Converting the Cube to a Cylinder Using the Screw Modifier

This is the core of the process. Select the cube. Go to the Modifiers tab in the Properties panel (usually on the right). Add a Screw modifier. Experiment with the settings:

• Screw: This determines the axis of rotation. Experiment with X, Y, or Z to find the best alignment for your model. The default should work if your cube is properly aligned.
• Steps: This controls the number of segments in the cylinder. Higher values provide smoother cylinders. Aim for a high enough value to avoid visible polygon edges. A value of 64 or higher should be sufficient for many applications.
• Render: Ensuring this is checked will apply the modifier during rendering.

Step 4: Fine-Tuning and Adjustments

• Radius: Adjust the radius to control the thickness of the resulting cylinder.
• Angle: Experiment with the angle of the screw. A full 360° creates a complete cylinder. Lesser angles produce partial cylinders or cone-like shapes.
• Iterations: Increasing the number of iterations might slightly improve the cylinder's smoothness, however, it is computationally more expensive, so only increase this if it is necessary.

Apply the modifier once you’re happy with the resulting cylinder. This will permanently integrate the changes into your mesh.

Step 5: Refining the Wrapped Object (Optional)

After applying the Screw modifier, your wrapped object might need some readjustment. You might need to re-apply the Shrinkwrap modifier to ensure it conforms perfectly to the new cylindrical shape. You might also need to use other tools to refine the result, depending on your original model and the level of detail required.

Step 6: Cleaning Up

After applying modifiers, you may have overlapping vertices or unnecessary geometry. Consider using Blender’s tools like Remove Doubles to clean up the model.

This detailed guide allows for the creation of a cylinder from a cube, even after the application of other modifiers, resulting in a much smoother workflow for more complex models. Remember, experimenting with the modifier settings is key to achieving the desired result. Using non-destructive editing through modifiers allows for easy changes and iterations throughout your modeling process. Happy modeling!