How do I change selection mode to edit mode in Blender?

To change to Edit Mode in Blender, you must first have an object selected in Object Mode. Then, you can switch to Edit Mode in a couple of ways:

• Using the Mode Menu:

  1. Locate the Mode menu in the header of the 3D viewport. It likely displays "Object Mode" by default.
  2. Click on the dropdown menu.
  3. Select "Edit Mode" from the list.

• Using the Tab Key:

  1. Select the object you want to edit in Object Mode.
  2. Press the Tab key. This is a quick shortcut for toggling between Object Mode and Edit Mode.

Understanding Selection Modes in Edit Mode

Once in Edit Mode, you have options to select different elements of the geometry: vertices, edges, and faces. These selection modes are controlled by three buttons in the header of the 3D viewport when in Edit mode.

• Vertex Select (Points): Vertices are the individual points that make up the geometry. When in this mode, you can select, move, and modify individual vertices.
• Edge Select: Edges are the lines connecting vertices. You can select edges to manipulate the shape of the object.
• Face Select: Faces are the surfaces created by three or more edges. When in this mode, you select entire surfaces to perform edits on them.

Switching Between Edit Mode Selection Modes

As the reference text states, you can easily change between these selection modes by selecting one of the three buttons in the header. Each button represents a different selection mode:

1. The first button represents Vertex Select.
2. The second button represents Edge Select.
3. The third button represents Face Select.

Practical Example

Let's say you have a cube selected in Object Mode.

1. You want to reshape one corner of the cube.
2. You would switch to Edit Mode using one of the methods above (either the Mode Menu or the Tab key).
3. Then, to manipulate the corner you'd select Vertex Select and select the desired vertex.
4. Now you can use the transform tools (move, scale, rotate) to modify the vertex.

These steps show how you move between modes in Blender and the selection modes available in Edit Mode.