BEAUTIFUL hard-surface curves in MINUTES with Blender

Today I will show you how to create beautiful hard-surface cables in Blender, all without the use of addons (although I will demonstrate a similar method with Hard Ops as well).
►► Our Blender courses & resources - www.blenderbros.com
Get Hard Ops/Boxcutter here (affiliate link): gumroad.com/a/811037811
Instagram: / josh.gambrell
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[@abedz7438]

And thanks for showing the vanilla to the poors like me

[@milkndsugar]

bro that's super simple in vanilla and hard ops, epic.

[@jochem_m]

You can set the count to "Fit curve" to have it automatically pick the number required to fit the curve.

[@JoshGambrell]

Didn’t know that, good note, thanks!

[@minipj6732]

@@JoshGambrell wait a minute, u didnt know that!!!!????

[@JoshGambrell]

@@minipj6732 Contrary to popular belief, I am still a human being when it comes to hard surface :P

[@minipj6732]

@@JoshGambrell yeah, being human!

[@nickperfetti7976]

I’ve just got into 3d modelling last year and your videos have helped me on almost everything I couldn’t figure out how to to. Thanks!

[@LeonIsLate]

Josh this video was a lifesaver I couldn't understand how to use the curve and array synergy before this video. thank you

[@zanian0]

I'm enjoying all of your content regardless of length. Some are just easier to watch the day of, whereas the longer ones I have to save until the weekend.

[@Kholaslittlespot1]

Cablerator makes all this so quick. Still thankful that you guys showed me that.

[@Rafael-xr7ou]

Thank you for showing the simple way of doing it (even vanilla is not complex). I was thinking of buying an add on, but your way is sufficient for me.

[@taksinwatanabe9362]

Thank you Josh, I like the tutorials where you show the vanilla workflow and the use of addons. So everybody can learn and understand the basic workflow and also see how much faster is modelling with paid addons. I mean these addons exist for a reason and nobody is forced to use addons, everybody can use the vanilla Blender and still create awesome models! Another thing I want to mention. You know how to record good videos, you explain difficult and complex technical subjects in an easily understandable and entertaining way, you put a lot of work and time into your videos. And you are successful, your channel is growing. And that is a good thing! If you can earn money this way, good, so be it! We all need to eat and pay our bills. And I prefer you sitting at home, recording tutorials and doing things you like in Blender, so I can learn cool stuff about this awesome Blender software instead of you working at a game developing company or other corporate working 60 to 80 hours shifts for a wage just covering your monthly costs. "money hungry"... yeah, sure... I stop ranting , please keep up the good work, thank you very much!

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks a bunch man, really appreciate it! You are absolutely spot on.

[@icarus1273]

Thanks as usual for the great tutorials. The audacity of some people. It takes lots of time to learn the software, the workflow and the tricks and to make great videos . I think Josh is incredibly generous with is time and sharing is knowledge Weekly !

[@DK_Krieg]

This is perfect. Omg I was looking for something like this for too long. Awesome guide. It helped me a lot!

[@GiuTor73]

Another excellent video! You are really a kind and generous boy, Josh!

[@vikinggameprogrammer7233]

Cool! Thanks Josh!

[@christopherjr7189]

I always think the comparison of vanilla/hardops is really interesting

[@wyndoze11]

I feel like the only difference in this case was that hardops found the correct axis for the curve modifier. Not much else seemed to change.

[@cygnusx1858]

Dumb question but what is vanilla?

[@TheUninstaller2000]

@@cygnusx1858 it means no addons.. so in this case, people who dont have HardOps

[@christopherjr7189]

@@cygnusx1858 blender, the way it is, when you download it, so without using addons

[@cygnusx1858]

@@TheUninstaller2000 oh so i had the right idea in mind, i just didnt get why its called vanilla.

[@FesNaqvi]

This is what I love about your videos, man. You do it both ways. Thanks as always for the knowledge drop!

[@JoshGambrell]

Appreciate Fes, my pleasure as always!

[@robestey5628]

Thats great. Thank you.

[@matthewwong3948]

I love how u add the hard ops and vanilla method! It really shows what money can get and help understand whether it is worth it to buy the hard ops or not

[@JoshGambrell]

Absolutely Matthew!

[@adarshtr9437]

real creative idea there!

[@gehriggosselin9468]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@AlexanderKanaev]

that was real good, thank you!

[@chrisdotdash5154]

I absolutely love your videos. It is so hard to find quality youtubers like yourself who actually love teaching and learning blender.

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks a bunch Chris! I will drink to that 🥂

[@user-tw1do8ky4o]

thank you it's very cool!

[@jerrybot7321]

Very helpful. Will be useful for my own robot.

[@ragecloud5836]

i really love your videos simple and understanable thank you man

[@JoshGambrell]

My pleasure!

[@railbuilderdhd]

I think it is great you do both ways to show with the add one and with the standard process. If you get a few coins for sale good for you. After all you take the time to Make these videos to help us so we can do respect if we like. Don’t stop doing your great work and thanks for helping me learn the software.

[@markwtal9453]

Great. Thanks mate

[@johnmav8309]

Super! Thank you!

[@JoshGambrell]

You're welcome!

[@harier64]

Man you're like a CG-hard surface godsend to me, I would literally still wander around not knowing how to do things if not for you, I'm really really grateful for your tutorials

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks man! I’m grateful to have your support as well.

[@DanielKemeys]

very cool!!

[@azizmalik3455]

Thanks

[@naveenthikshana4223]

Love the video Josh

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks Naveen!

[@ig88andribs]

Once you've done the beginner tutorials - Josh is the content you need to get it done in Blender. Thanks to you. The boolean cleanup videos have, as advertised, changed my life.

[@JoshGambrell]

Glad to help man :)

[@sunshineconch5377]

Good tutorial!

[@WarrenMarshallBiz]

Nice video, Josh, very informative!

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks Warren!

[@chinyembasongiso9328]

Thanks Josh. We are grateful for this tutorial. People always have negative things to say no matter how much you try to please them. So just stop trying. They will have to like you for who you are, not for who they want you to be.

[@JoshGambrell]

Spot on man, you can’t please everyone.

[@olegrazloga]

Good Tutorial !!!! Thank you :)

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks Oleg!

[@MahfuzurRahman19]

You make my life a lot easier. Can't thank you nearly enough man. 💖💖

[@JoshGambrell]

Glad to help!

[@ImpeRiaLismus]

HardOps really is one of the best Plugins to have. Ah and very useful tutorial of course. Thank you!

[@JoshGambrell]

My pleasure!

[@AhmedNassef]

Dude, first, hard ops or no hard ops your videos are treasures. PERIOD! Second, that's a cool design :D Third, how about the Follow Curve option in the Array modifier ? Finally, Keep up the good work..

[@JoshGambrell]

Yep someone mentioned that fit curve option, embarrassed to say I’ve never noticed it! At least array gives you more control.

[@flourfree2K]

Instead of a fixed count in the array modifier, you could choose Fit Curve (and select your curve). It will add as many copies as needed to best match the curve length. Some scaling may be needed.

[@NarekAvetisyan]

cool stuff

[@TerenceKearns]

Nice tutorial man :) I highly recommend blender bros. I got their 3D modelling basics course which I am working through. Then I'm gonna do their trim sheets course.

[@abedz7438]

Great video as always..

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks Abed!

[@jeffspinner6579]

Tyvm, I had no clue, and am very happy with you deciding to share.

[@JoshGambrell]

Sure can!

[@jeffspinner6579]

@@JoshGambrell, I had to learn how to taper the 'dreads' with a curve taper object that of course the blender docs was absolutely no help with implementing, but if I need a definition, it's always there, and I couldn't have done this without your explanation. There's something with double takes with you and Ponte that makes it easier for me to understand. You can add multiple objects to the same curve independently, which I didn't know, but tried and it worked. imgur.com/U282Z4s

[@thibautmodrzyk6215]

Hey ! Thanks for the tut Josh, I'd definitely not call you a money grabber for recommanding an incredible addon which costs literally $40. Incredible value for the price here. Cheers !

[@Drew_Vernon]

Dude, you totally deserve money for your output. You and BlenderGuru got me started - knobbery to the haters!

[@JoshGambrell]

Ah thanks a bunch man, refreshing seeing comments like this! Appreciate your support.

[@LutherTaylor]

people call you money hungry??? wtfff??? dude your videos are a blessing, thank you for sharing them. No shame in trying to sell and promote when you give so much for free

[@electricjafar3839]

helpful, tnx

[@JoshGambrell]

Glad to help!

[@mibrahim4245]

KING

[@sundaydanboyi7782]

thanks bro

[@JoshGambrell]

You’re welcome!

[@patrikondo7684]

I think that the effect could be even better when you set the fit metod in array to fit the curve, just a personal opinion tho

[@topgunpilot2547]

Nah! you are not money hungry, you are an awesome content creator and a 3D artist my friend.

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks a bunch man

[@beekenko2379]

Josh is such a perfectionist

[@abiyyupanggalih854]

4:23 the easy way to do hat is, copy the object location to the curve 👌

[@baronlanteigne]

Quick note. If you rotate your curve in object mode, this will offset the curve modifier. To fix, apply your rotation on the curve first.

[@Actyr]

Thanks, you are cool too.

[@dangerdoberman]

I'm subscribed and watch your videos, but don't have a rig good enough to get this crazy with Blender XD

[@taliesinriver]

I just bought hardops, it's amazing. Should have bought it with your link though :\

[@JoshGambrell]

It's great! Don't sweat it, man.

[@detenatron.3608]

1:27 oh boy guess i'm not alone on this hmm, that's the reason why i does always save my scene every time i add or modify something.

[@nabilbudiman271]

yeah, it really freak me out of nowhere, most of the time. Like no explanation whatsoever, just gone

[@stevendo4357]

Hi Josh how do you come up with these cool designs? Do you sketch them first or do you jump straight to modelling?

[@JoshGambrell]

Depends really. This one I had doodled with before recording it. So I kind of had an idea going into it. Usually I doodle since I struggle just picturing things in its fullest form in my head, and doodling allows me to picture things as I go.

[@bubzer]

Oh! Thanks! But here's little tip, if you want count of your objects to fit the curve, just change fit type of array from "Fixed count" to "Fit the curve" and select your curve!

[@ImNotSmashy]

EPIC

[@JoshGambrell]

;)

[@iainpendery8623]

I like the comparison operations that you show. Don't let the haters get you down - it's a $30 add on for free software that speeds up your work, so ultimately where's the issue?! As for the affiliate link - everyone has to make a living dude!

[@JoshGambrell]

Absolutely man, you can’t please everyone!

[@tazegamer05]

was the Hard Ops addon was what you did to get the circle curves around the edges of the cylinder?

[@cazalpine]

Great learning as always with the Blender Bros ;o) - In suggestion, is it possible to continue on cables and pipes attached to arms, legs (f.e.) rigging, hook-anchoring, movement simulation tutorials...? Could be awesome. Thank you ;o)

[@MrCshx]

I personally watch your videos for the Tips and Tricks in HardOps actually.

[@linkdeous3928]

Hello hello ! aweomse tutorial ! i will do it everywhere on my models where i have cables and stuff hanging around, it make them feel so much prettier ! I just have a question, at 1:50, you make a edge loop, and then you "split it" into 2 more and stuff, but the buttons doesn't show up on the screen like some of your other tutorials, what key/macro/... do you used for this ? it would save me so much time when making cylinoids and stuff ! (i have hardops in case it is added by it !) Also you then "extrude along normals", which is super mega handy, how did you do it ?

[@JoshGambrell]

Just add an edge loop and bevel it with CTRL+B. 1 segment bevel, boom done. You can extrude along normals by making a selection, pressing Q and ALT clicking “EM Macro”; basically does the same thing as E and ALT+S

[@buxtehude578]

Is it possible to duplicate a "boxcutted" mesh including the cutters?

[@trystanbleuven791]

Haven’t tried yet but I’m impatient, does it fit the curve even if it’s not even ? I mean with on side of the curve bigger than the other

[@MayKayy]

Cooll

[@timoschofer2035]

How do you do it that blender shows a temporary centered copy of the object that u edit?

[@Bergerons_Review]

Hope the new sale gonna use addons.

[@channelname8623]

i have hard ops. i can get the vanilla method working sometimes, depends on the save file. but i cant get the hard ops method working at all haha. i assume there was an update and now theres an additional non-intuitive step needed. wouldnt be blender if that werent the case haha.

[@AkimboFennec]

Where did you get add one on minute 2:20-2:40? The circle cut or something you did ?

[@droida9751]

Josh don't listen to people. I'm very grateful You show things with different ways. Thank You!

[@claudiaatteveld4971]

Can it be explained how to achieve the effect from 2:06 untill 2:23? I have no idea what buttons to press how to get the mesh to disappear and to create those curves.

[@IGarrettI]

how's fixed count vs follow along curve mode?

[@JoshGambrell]

Apprently fit curve does it exact

[@damian_madmansnest]

What is that operation at 2:06?

[@TerenceKearns]

Next challenge, achieve the similar results using a displacement map without incurring all the extra verts.

[@HandyAndyG]

OMG, you are soooo "money hungry". LOL. Thanks for presenting both ways. :-)

[@JoshGambrell]

Yeah next time im just cutting out all vanilla portions to force addon purchases mwuhahahaha

[@xavvey]

@@JoshGambrell Don't forget the 'no skip commercials' every minute for the advertised add on 😂

[@Schemilix]

Oh that's how. I tried a method I winged, and it kinda went nuts, I couldn't move anything without ruining it. Anyway I like HardOps content, not many people do content for it.

[@mayursrivastava7883]

At 4:20 your object was not even near the curve and suddenly after 1 sec cut it was snap to the curve...can you please tell me how you did that because same thing happening to me.when I choose curve and snap the object using modifier it is not coming at the curve but rather else where. Is this has to do something with pivot point or so. Hope to get an answer.

[@mikedelaneyart]

I just figured it out myself, the curves origin needs to be same as objects origin. been 6 months since comment so hopefully you figured it out already but letting you know just in case :)

[@apophiz1861]

i love when I do the same thinks but I don't have the same result

[@jerrypaczka2060]

Ignore the milkdrinkers who just know how to talk shit, your content is very f helpfull, props to you my man!!

[@JoshGambrell]

Appreciate it Jerry!

[@tentative4474]

The fact that even professionals have to deal with crashes makes me more tolerable towards my lost projects because if i loose them its nothing. But if they loose them it a whole lot of work just vapourised.

[@scoutymcscoutface2957]

If Blender crashes and you forget to save, try going to the “Autosave” option in the menu. Blender saves your work automatically every few minutes so you can look there for your lost progress.

[@JoshGambrell]

Yup, i actually dont like autosave because often times i like to mess around with some adjustments, then just close Blender without saving to reset when I’m finished doodling.

[@M8cool]

Who the hell calls you money hungry? You are probably the only KZbinr who explains it both with vanilla as well as with HardOps. Don't worry about the hate Josh, you got way more fans who respect your work. Cheers

[@JoshGambrell]

Cheers, my friend!

[@brittoaugustus4060]

why did you need so many verts on that cylinder for the minor detail

[@spydergs07]

Really high detail area maybe

[@JoshGambrell]

32 is too jagged for my liking. 64 is a good even balance.

[@higorss]

@@JoshGambrell But don't you subdivide the model?

[@michajabonski8365]

Can we after that somehow animate this cable with physics?

[@PaulChabot]

Hardops and BoxCutter are essentials, even for the blender hobbyist. ;)

[@JoshGambrell]

Yep!

[@KrisStruble]

It was my first purchase when I started messing with Blender.

[@CryptMhg]

that blender crash was a F momento

[@jeffosborne440]

I tried in vanilla and tried all axis but none seem to be right. The closest one seems offset...ideas?

[@trystanbleuven791]

Reset scale and/or rotation with crtl A ?

[@jeffosborne440]

@@trystanbleuven791 I tried both but didn't help. I tried again in a new file and then it worked so not quite sure. Thanks for the input.

[@trystanbleuven791]

@@jeffosborne440 sometimes you just don’t know lol No worries

[@afrosymphony8207]

lovve hardops but for some weird reason i prefer the vanilla version here. lool

[@FilippoRomeoMEZZOTINT]

There You said it again : vanilla😈

[@cr0uchingtiger]

I say this with every Blender tutorial I watch but, this didn't work for me at all. First, the object doesn't move to the curve, it floats in space. Second, when I finally get it to array in a sensible tube-like repetition, it follows a curve that doesn't even exist in my scene. Like a crazy zig zag curve I never made. Edit: I think I fixed it... it has something to do with moving the object, whereby the object getting closer in space to the curve, makes it behave more predictable, and as you move it away from the curve it starts to spaz out.

[@ishitrealbad3039]

hmm, mine is incredibly streteched.... scales applied too.

[@Al-tk5zp]

Or just buy Cablerator :)

[@devendrapal9]

You know that blender has an autosave feature right

[@JoshGambrell]

Yeah, I don’t like it though because I doodle a lot and want to reset those changes by closing Blender without saving.

[@devendrapal9]

@@JoshGambrell I actually meant that for when you lost the work when Blender crashed, you could have gone to autosave and retrieved it. Anyway, I guess that wasn't the objective of the tutorial

[@jaydenhayden8592]

Don't pay attention to the hate mob. You give us super professional free how-to videos so frequently, most people love to see you succed and make a living with what you're doing. Cheers!

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks a bunch Jayden! Really appreciate the support man.

[@rpm370]

Wp1 channel

[@TerekkiTerekki]

And the moral of the story is: HardOps is worth 20 bucks ;-)