You don't add modes in Blender in the sense of creating new ones. You switch between existing modes depending on the object type you're working with. Blender provides different modes tailored for various tasks like object manipulation, sculpting, editing, and painting.
Switching Between Modes
The primary way to change modes in Blender is:
-
Using the Mode selector: Look in the 3D Viewport header (usually at the top left). A dropdown menu allows you to select the desired mode.
-
Using the Pie Menu: Press Ctrl + Tab to bring up a pie menu around your cursor. This is a faster way to switch between commonly used modes.
Available Modes
The available modes depend on the type of object selected. Here's a breakdown:
| Object Type | Available Modes |
|---|---|
| Mesh | Object Mode, Edit Mode, Sculpt Mode, Vertex Paint, Weight Paint, Texture Paint |
| Curve | Object Mode, Edit Mode |
| Armature | Object Mode, Edit Mode, Pose Mode |
| Grease Pencil | Object Mode, Edit Mode, Sculpt Mode, Draw Mode, Weight Paint, Vertex Paint |
| Lattice | Object Mode, Edit Mode |
| Metaball | Object Mode, Edit Mode |
| Volume | Object Mode, Sculpt Mode |
Object Mode: Used for general object manipulation (moving, rotating, scaling).
Edit Mode: Used for modifying the object's geometry (vertices, edges, faces).
Sculpt Mode: Used for sculpting the object's surface, similar to working with clay.
Vertex Paint: Used for painting colors directly onto the vertices of a mesh.
Weight Paint: Used for assigning weights to vertices, controlling the influence of bones in an armature.
Texture Paint: Used for painting textures directly onto the object's surface.
Pose Mode: Used for posing and animating an armature.
Draw Mode: Used for drawing and editing grease pencil strokes.
Example: Switching to Edit Mode for a Cube
- Select the Cube: Right-click (or left-click if you have that configured) on the default cube in your scene.
- Open the Mode Selector: Look at the top-left of the 3D Viewport. It probably says "Object Mode".
- Choose Edit Mode: Click the dropdown and select "Edit Mode". You'll now see the cube's vertices, edges, and faces, which you can manipulate.
Alternatively, you can select the cube and press Ctrl + Tab, then move your mouse to "Edit Mode" in the pie menu.
