Blender objects with the help of AI

[CSXT Q-317]

With all the AI talk going around. I got around to experiementing what was possible with AI.

I took a actual photo and asked Gemini to help me make a script to make the building in question.

Overall it did all right, it did miss a section of building but it did get the shape of it correct. Now obviously some tweaks will need to be made. Such as dimensions possibly and that is probably due to the bad angles.

If trying in Blender 4.3 Blender 4.3 is more strict about "Context." When you run a script from the Text Editor, Blender sometimes doesn't realize you want the command to apply to the 3D Viewport, causing a poll() failed error.

So you need a context safe script.

I think on simpler objects it will go much better. But for this complex object it's not too bad for a test. Obviously better imagery would probably work better. I essentially did a few hours work in a mere minute.

I do need to play around more with this, but it is promising.


BO_Chilli-9-22-1979.jpg Screenshot 2025-12-30 132612.png Screenshot 2025-12-30 131122.png

[wacampbell]

Great idea!
Now ask it to make a repeating brick texture for you. And a shingle texture. And ask for another for the windows. ...

[CSXT Q-317]

Now ask it to make a repeating brick texture for you. And a shingle texture. And ask for another for the windows. ...

Strangely enough I have been playing around with that on the texture side. Creating these textures is still a rough go for me at least, especially brick texture.

[pwillard]

Actually, you can create a seamless 4096 x 4096-pixel brick texture in only a few minutes using the free tool Affinity Studio.

You get better results if your brick is already seamless... but it's not an absolute requirement as you will see.

I usually start with a blank 4096x4096 pixel image... but hey, you do you.

Then I use "place" to install a sample image we want to use as the pattern... as shown below.

1.jpg

NOTE: I moved from PIXEL mode to VECTOR mode for the rest of the steps.

Next, I convert this to vector format using "convert to curves," located under the vector tab, which initially seems illogical. But hang on...

Now that it's set as a vectorized shape, we can use the NODE TOOL to "expand it" to fill the screen... grabbing the vectors at each edge and dragging them to the image extents.



2.jpg
Yeah, looks awful... but do this on all sides, relying on SNAP to find the document edges.

image.png

Now, keeping the current object selected, select the gradient/fill tool by pressing "G"... and you will see 3 dots connected by lines mid screen... These are the horizontal/vertical "handles" with which you can scale the size of your new fill pattern. Important. Change the "EXTEND mode (context panel at the top) from REPEAT to WRAP. Now, carefully adjust using the dot handles to the size you need...

image.png
Sliding the horizontal dot left towards the center of the screen, will allow you to shink the fill pattern so you get a bazillion bricks if you like.

image.png

Now, export this to a 4096x4096 PNG file and you have a pattern for all your future brick needs.

[CSXT Q-317]

I will definitely give that a whirl Pete, I assume this technique would work on more than just brick? Thank you for that explanation.

[pwillard]

Correct... It works on anything you want to use as a fill pattern that starts as a small-ish sample, and you do get better results if the sample is seamless (which you can create yourself, but that's a whole other quickie tutorial)

Once you get the hang of this technique, it only takes a couple of minutes to have a new pattern. (And you CAN ask Gemini to take a texture and make it seamless for you)


brownbrick1K.png
For example, the process is the same for stonework, concrete, roof tiles, grass, etc.

Sadly, there aren't many hobbyist-friendly texture sites left on the planet that don't want *all your non-existent money* for the luxury of using them as materials for your free content.

Did I mention that Affinity Studio is free? https://www.affinity.studio/


Also, Chatgpt is really good at refining your Blender scripts to make them "safer" and smarter.

[CSXT Q-317]

Thank you, I tried this and it worked far better than I could have ever imagined. I can use AI to create a sample and make it seamless and then use this to nail them down. This definitely helps move along a few projects.

[superheatedsteam]

The following didn't use AI but I searched blenderkit kit for “brick” and filtered on procedural materials and got over 90 results and applied one at random to the default cube. Less than a minute.

Being procedural you can often tweak the materials to suit your requirements.

blenderkitBrick.jpg

[pwillard]

While I'm sure that's probably the most sensible option in the long run, the average Blender person just starting (granted, this is my opinion) might be a bit overwhelmed by the Node Editor. It's a lot to digest and takes a while to understand, even when the hard work is done for you, like with Blenderkit.

Also, heads-up: the Blender kit add-on is free... access to all the resources is not (to be fair, you do have access to 50K assets for free).

Nodes can make Blender seem scary and ultra complex until you understand the underlying concepts.

But heck, I'm an old fart with an old fart brain that accepts new concepts with some difficulty. Others may try the procedural methods for Geometry and Textures and realize it to be what they have been dreaming about, and not be aware that they "have it now".

There are other add-ons, such as UCUPAINT and PAINT SYSTEM, that provide Photoshop-like editing features within Blender, which might be just what some people are looking for.

[CSXT Q-317]

Appreciate the info, I will have to check out all of those options as well. I agree, it's a bit overwhelming at first. There is still things to learn that is for sure.