How to Use Shrink Wrap in Blender

Wrap a 3-D object with a tight skin using Blender Shrink Wrap.

Blender is an open-source, 3-D-creation suite that covers all aspects of 3-D design, from modeling to animation. Available for all three major operating systems, Blender is a package commonly used by those both new to and highly experienced with 3-D art generation. To simplify creative use, Blender includes several tools, among which is the Blender Shrink Wrap modifier.

Instructions

1. Start the Blender application and click on a work window to make that window active.

2. Press the spacebar and then highlight the "Add" option in the pop-up window to add the object to the Blender screen, to which the Shrink Wrap modifier will be applied. Select the "Mesh" option, then select the object from the sub-menu. The target object will appear centered in your active Blender window.

3. Add an object to use as a wrap by pressing the spacebar and then selecting "Add," followed by "Mesh" and then "Plane."

4. Click on the plane mesh to select it and then click on the "Add Modifier" button on the bottom of the Blender screen. Choose the option "Shrinkwrap" from the pull-down menu to open a new tab titled "Shrinkwrap." Enter the name of your target object in the space labeled "Ob:." The plane will move against the object’s surface. You can move the plane away slightly from the object by typing in a new amount in the "Offset" box. The larger the number, the further away the wrap is situated.

5. Alter the placement of the mesh by extruding the sides of the plane around the object. Extrude the plane by using your mouse to select the two points at the edge where you’re creating a new portion of the mesh. Click the button labeled "Extrude" and then press "OK" on the confirmation menu. Move the mouse in the direction you wish to extend the surface and then release the mouse button to create the new extended surface.

6. Continue to extrude the mesh until you’ve placed it over all the areas you wish to wrap. If the object pokes through the mesh, adjust the offset further away from the object. Use the mesh as though you’re placing a piece of cloth around the object.

7. Press the "Apply" button in the modifier window to apply the shrink wrap. The mesh will tightly cover the target area where applied at the offset distance, shrink-wrapping the object.

References

• Blender 3D Club: Using the Shrink Wrap Modifier
• Blender Documentation: Extrude

Resources

• Blender: Open Source 3D Content Creation Suite